Growing Peperomia

Latin Name Pronunciation: pep-per-oh' mee-uh

A large and diverse genus of evergreen perennial plants, many Peperomia species are native to tropical rainforests of Central and South America. Compact, with attractive fleshy leaves that absorb moisture from the atmosphere, they are undemanding windowsill and tabletop plants.

Light: Peperomia is an adaptable houseplant, thriving indoors in rooms with low light, filtered, or bright indirect light. Move your plant to brighter light if growth gets leggy; avoid strong direct sun, which can burn leaves.

Watering: Water, preferably with tepid water, when the top 1" of the potting mix is dry to the touch. Apply water more sparingly in winter. Avoid overwatering or allowing water to sit inside the cachepot or saucer, which can cause root rot.

Temperature: These adaptable plants do fine in typical, daytime household temperatures (65-75°F is ideal). Temperatures cooler than 55°F can cause leaf drop.

Fertilizer: When plants are in active growth from spring through summer, use a balanced (18-18-18) houseplant fertilizer monthly, diluted to half strength.

Humidity: Moderate humidity is beneficial; keep away from radiators and vents that blow dry air from heating or air conditioning systems. Mist a few times a week to increase humidity, set plants on top of pebbles in a tray with water (water level should be just below pebbles to prevent saturating soil in the pot), or run a humidifier nearby. Occasionally wiping leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust is beneficial.