Peperomia Care - Teak And Terracotta

In general peperomia care is easy to care as they are unfussy tropical house plants, they like the humidity and heat of most households, just give them plenty of indirect sunlight and water them when they dry out…

Peperomia Care Summary

Light needs:	Bright indirect sunlight, no direct
Watering needs:	Water once a week but only if completely dry
Fertilizer:	Balanced feed, once a month in summer
Soil:	Rich, well draining
Humidity:	50%.
Temperature:	10°C-25°C (50°F-77°F), keep away from drafts
Where to buy:	Try our list of Rare Plant Shops.
Other names:	Radiator plants.
Common issues:	Do not overwater, they are really sensitive to it and will wilt.

Intro

Welcome to our peperomia care guide, a run down of of how to look after these popular little tropical plants that originate from South and Central America.

Tip: we recommend Etsy for buying plants. Look for the best rated seller you can, and try to buy as close to your home as possible so the plant does not travel too far.

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Peperomia Light Needs

Peperomias like bright but indirect sunlight. Give them as much as you can without direct sun (which can burn the leaves).

How Often to Water A Peperomia

Let your peperomia dry out totally before you water it again. In the summer this could mean watering it every week or so, just check it is dry first.

Peperomia Care: Fertilizer

Peperomias will do well with a balanced fertilizer. If there is any sign of leaf browning in the week after feeding, then dilute the fertilizer down before using again so as not to burn the plants. They will be fine if you don’t feed them at all, it just encourages them to grow faster and sometimes lusher too.

Peperomia Soil

A well draining peat moss soil with plenty of perlite is ideal for peperomias. You can mix you own or buy a good peat based compost.

When To Repot A Peperomia

Peperomias will be ok if left in their pot and the roots get a bit packed and cozy! But you can repot them up a few sizes, ideally in spring, but I have done it year round.

Peperomia Care: Humidity

They are tropical plants that like humidity, they will also do well in household humidity levels. So 40-50% is ok with 50% being ideal- But if there are times of the year where humidity is low in your household them consider misting your plant.

Peperomia Care: Temperature

Peperomias like 10°C-25°C (50°F-77°F) so they will be fine in most homes. Dropping below this range can kill them quickly so move them back from cold windows or drafts in the winter.

Peperomia Propagation

The easiest way to propagate peperomia is to take stem cuttings, then root them in water. They root quite quickly, normally a month is enough. Then you can move them to soil. Keep them humid and they should be well rooted in the soil in another month.

See also: Propagating Peperomia.

Peperomia USDA Zone

They can live outside in zones 10-12. The bigger the plant the more variations in temperature they can take.

For more on peperomias see our peperomia category with all our peperomia care guides.

Where To Buy Peperomia

These are popular and fairly cheap plant that are sold every where even supermarkets sometimes. Support you local garden center or plant shop!

Other Names for Peperomia

Radiator plants.

Peperomia FAQs and Common Issues

What are the different types of peperomia?

There are hundreds of types of peperomia, especially when you add in variegated varieties, here are a few…

Beetle Peperomia – Peperomia Angulata
Belly Button Peperomia – Peperomia Verticillata
Columbian Peperomia – Peperomia Metallica Columbiana
Cupid Peperomia – Peperomia Scandens Variegata
Isabella Peperomia – Peperomia Hoffmanii
Jelly Peperomia – Peperomia Clusiifolia
Peperomia Argyreia – Watermelon Peperomia
Peperomia Caperata – Peperomia Emerald
Peperomia Frost – Peperomia Caperata
Peperomia Ginny – Peperomia Clusiifolia
Peperomia Graveolens – Ruby Glow Peperomia
Peperomia Happy Bean – Peperomia Ferreyrae
Peperomia Japonica – Peperomia Japonica
Peperomia Obtusifolia – American Baby Rubber Plant
Peperomia Orba – Teardrop Peperomia
Peperomia Perciliata – Peperomia Perciliata
Peperomia Prostrata – String Of Turtles
Peperomia Puteolata – Parallel Peperomia
Peperomia Rosso – Peperomia Caperata
Peperomia Ruby Glow – Peperomia Graveolens
Peperomia Sandersii
Peperomia Tetraphylla – Peperomia Hope
Piper Peperomia – Peperomia Scandens
Raindrop Peperomia – Peperomia Polybotrya
Teardrop Peperomia – Peperomia Orba
Watermelon Peperomia – Peperomia Argyreia

Is Peperomia Toxic To Cats?

Good news for cat owners: peperomias are non-toxic.

Do Peperomia Like To Be Root Bound?

Peperomias will be ok if root bound but will grow better if the roots are given space. When really root bound you can get issues with root rot it can cause drainage issues.

Can Peperomia Grow In Water?

You can grow peperomias in water alone, just root a cutting in water and then keep it there indefinitely. Top the water up when needed and keep an eye on it in case it goes cloudy.

Can Peperomia Grow In Low Light?

Peperomias can grow in low light areas of your home. They will grow quicker and fuller if given more light though.

Can Peperomia Grow In Leca?

Peperomia will grow in leca, it is a vey easy way to grow them. You can et away without using any fertilizer too, they are a good choice when starting out using leca / clay aggregate pebbles.

Why Are Peperomia Called Radiator Plants?

They are called radiator plants as they like warm temperatures.

Is Peperomia A Succulent?

A lot of the peperomias you see for sale are succulents. Some are epiphytes.

Is A Pilea A Peperomia?

Although often confused due to the name, the Pilea (pilea peperomioides) is a completely different plant from the Peperomia. With regard to growing conditions they are similar in some ways to peperomia care, but for more on the Pilea, see our guide to pilea peperomioides care.