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In this post, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Peperomia obtusifolia care as well as how to propagate a Peperomia obtusifolia. Plus, information about Peperomia obtusifolia variegata.
Peperomia obtusifolia is an absolutely gorgeous plant known for its obovate, thick, glossy leaves and thick branch-like stems.
You might also hear this plant referred to as “baby rubber plant” or “pepper face.”
Baby rubber plant because it looks somewhat like a smaller version of a rubber plant, and pepper face because it looks similar to a pepper plant.
They are native to South American rainforests and are actually epiphytes. Epiphytes grow on the surface of another plant (like a tree) and draw nutrients from the air, water, and debris around them.
Epiphytes’ roots help them cling onto a surface. For this reason, they tend to do well in hanging baskets and on wall mounts as an alternative to a pot.
What is Peperomia obtusifolia variegata?
Peperomia obtusifolia variegata is the variegated version of the plant. The leaves will look speckled with light green/yellowish marks, rather than being one solid color.
Variegated peperomias will lose variegation if there is not enough light. We’ll cover more on light further down.
Where Can I Find Peperomia Obtusifolia?
Peperomia obtusifolia is not exactly rare, but depending on where you live they can be tough to find, especially the Peperomia obtusifolia variegata. I believe your best bet for finding one would be on Etsy.
Check out this gorgeous Peperomia obtusifolia and this stunning Peperomia obtusifolia variegata from some of my favorite Etsy sellers!
Is Peperomia obtusifolia a succulent?
This plant is not categorized as a succulent but does have some succulent-like qualities. Its fleshy leaves store water and it prefers dry soil. However, they’re not suited for intense or direct light.
Peperomia Obtusifolia Care
What often confuses people about these plants are their succulent-like qualities, making them somewhat tricky to understand because they should not be cared for exactly like a succulent.
However, after a small learning curve, Peperomia obtusifolia are relatively easy plants.
Their basic care requirements are:
- Medium to bright, indirect light
- Water when almost dry
- Provide with humidity
- Use a loose and well-draining potting mix
Read on for a full care and propagation guide!
How much light does Peperomia obtusifolia need?
Peperomia obtusifolia prefers medium to bright light, but not direct light.
This plant should not be sitting in intense, direct light or the leaves might burn. This plant is also tolerant of low light, however, insufficient light may cause some leaf drop.
How much light does Peperomia obtusifolia variegata need?
Darker peperomia varieties will need less light while Peperomia obtusifolia variegata will need more light in order to maintain their variegation.
If you have a Peperomia obtusifolia variegata, or lack enough natural light in general, grow lights can be very beneficial.
I’ve used many different grow lights, but this clip-on, gooseneck grow light continues to be my all-time favorite because it is extremely easy to position in just about any angle you need it to reach!
For more help, check out my post on grow lights for indoor plants.
How often should you water Peperomia obtusifolia?
Peperomia obtusifolia likes to dry out almost completely in between waterings, so make sure you use your finger to feel down into the soil first.
Instead of watering on a set schedule, you should simply check with your finger whether or not it needs water.
Also, the leaves tend to droop and will become a lot more flexible and less rigid if the plant is too dry.
You’ll want to be extra careful not to overwater this plant. Because of its succulent-like qualities, Peperomia obtusifolia stores water in its thick stems and leaves and can go longer between waterings.
Overwatering can cause root rot, which is difficult to fix.
Should I mist my Peperomia obtusifolia?
This plant can tolerate dry conditions but prefers humidity since it’s native to rainforests. One way to provide humidity is by misting your plant every other to every few days.
However, I feel that using a humidifier is a lot more effective than misting for humidity. It’s also easy and lasts longer.
This is my current favorite humidifier because it can last over a full day! Longer lasting = less I have to worry about!
What kind of soil does Peperomia obtusifolia need?
Because Peperomia obtusifolia likes to be on the dry side, and because it’s epiphytic, a well-draining, loose potting mix works best.
Epiphytes grow on the surface of another plant, like a tree, and don’t need to be tightly packed in soil.
I used a mixture of potting mix, orchid bark, and perlite for my Peperomia obtusifolia variegata. I eyeballed this, but I’d say it was about a 2:1:1 ratio, and I made sure not to pack it down as I planted.
When should you repot Peperomia obtusifolia?
Peperomias are OK with being somewhat rootbound and therefore don’t need to be repotted often. They can go a few years in the same pot, so as long as it’s happy and growing well, you can leave it alone.
Instead of going by a number of years, repot your plant when you see roots coming out of the drainage holes, if it looks generally unhappy with stunted growth, or if it looks way too large for its pot.
Choose a pot one size up that has good drainage, and repot in the spring or summer (the growing season), if possible.
I really love terra cotta pots because they dry out quicker putting your plant at less risk of root rot!
Pruning
Pruning Peperomia obtusifolia isn’t always necessary, but as they get larger they have a tendency to grow wonky branches and might be a bit floppy. In this case, you may want to do a bit of pruning.
You can also pinch them just above a node to encourage new growth and branching.
Fertilizing
These plants don’t need fertilizer to thrive. They are slow growers and don’t have large root systems, so they sometimes fall victim to over-fertilization.
Currently, I do not fertilize mine, but if you’d like to fertilize yours, you can use a balanced, indoor plant fertilizer diluted to half its strength every four weeks during the spring and summer (the growing season). Be sure to read the instructions on the label.
Peperomia Obtusifolia Propagation
Propagating Peperomia obtusifolia is relatively easy! You can do this in soil or in water. Always take a few cutting if you can because propagation success is never guaranteed.
How to propagate a Peperomia obtusifolia in soil
Pick out a healthy stem that is a few inches long with a few leaves at the end and, using a clean pair of scissors, cut about a quarter-inch below a node.
The node is where leaves and roots grow out of the main stem, and where new roots will sprout from.
Place your cutting into a small pot with moistened soil. Make sure at least one node is buried, but don’t bury any leaves.
Place the pot in bright, indirect light and keep the soil moist, but not wet, as the roots develop. Propagation takes some time. It’ll take at least a few weeks before you start to see new growth.
As an additional measure, you can place a clear plastic bag over the entire pot to lock in beneficial humidity. Open this daily to let in fresh air.
After a few weeks, you can test your cutting by giving it a very gentle tug. If there is some resistance, a root system has developed and you can treat the cutting like a normal plant.
Can you root peperomia in water? Peperomia obtusifolia propagation in water
Yes, you can easily root peperomia in water. Pick out a healthy stem that is a few inches long with a few leaves at the end and, using a clean pair of scissors, cut about a quarter-inch below a node.
The node is where leaves and roots grow out of the main stem, and where new roots will sprout from.
Place a cutting into a jar of water and make sure at least one node is submerged, but remove any leaves that end up being submerged.
Put the jar in bright, indirect light. Monitor the water level and top it off when needed. You’ll also want to replace any filmy/grimy water, probably every week or so.
You should start to see tiny roots developing within a week or two. Wait a few weeks until the roots are three-or-so inches long, and then transfer the cutting to its permanent pot and give it a good watering.
How do you propagate variegated peperomia?
Propagating variegated peperomia, or Peperomia obtusifolia variegata, follows the exact same instructions as propagating a non-variegated peperomia!
Pick out a healthy stem that is a few inches long with a few leaves at the end and, using a clean pair of scissors, cut about a quarter-inch below a node, and. Then, root your cutting. See the full propagation instructions in the previous sections.
Additional Information
How fast does Peperomia obtusifolia grow?
Peperomia obtusifolia is generally a slower grower but in optimal conditions it has a moderate growth rate.
Pests
While they are relatively resilient plants, Peperomias sometimes get mealybugs. Check the stems and leaves from all angles as part of your regular care routine.
Is Peperomia obtusifolia poisonous to cats and dogs?
Peperomia obtusifolia is non-toxic to cats and dogs, but it’s always best to keep plants out of a curious pet’s reach regardless.
Cleaning Leaves
I’ve noticed that my peperomia is my one plant that needs to have its leaves cleaned more frequently. Perhaps the thick, sturdy leaves are able to collect more grime.
Cleaning grimy leaves will allow a plant to photosynthesize better. Check out my post on how to clean your plants’ leaves.
Maintaining Even Growth
Be sure to rotate your peperomia for even growth all around. I find these plants tend to grow dramatically towards the light source, but they also even out quickly when rotated.
Peperomia Obtusifolia Care Summary
- Provide with medium to bright, indirect light
- Water when almost dry
- Provide with humidity
- Use a loose and well-draining potting mix
- Repot every few years when it gets very root bound
- Use a balanced fertilizer diluted to half-strength once a month during the growing season
Convinced this is the plant for you? Check out this gorgeous Peperomia obtusifolia and this stunning Peperomia obtusifolia variegata!
More Peperomia Posts
- Peperomia Raindrop
- Peperomia Hope
- Peperomia Prostrata (String of Turtles)
- Watermelon Peperomia
- Peperomia Frost
- Cupid Peperomia
Elaine says
Hi I have these plants but they are the lighter shade ….all is well then after a month , all of them just suddenly drooped , as in the whole stem …… I don’t know what went wrong I just placed a stick underneath to keep them standing … dont know for how long.
Julie says
Hi Elaine – My experience with these plants is that when they start to droop they’ve been underwatered and need a good soaking. Another thought (since I can’t see what your plant looks like) – Is it definitely drooping or is that just how the plant is growing? Depending on how large the plant is and where it is relative to the light source, the stems might start to grow down and out towards the light.
Mary Ann says
Mine dropped as well. Could it be a trailing plant? I only have 2 stems and both have basically dropped within 2 days of each other. The plant was dry so I gave it a good drink and propped up the stems but not sure if that is the right thing to do.
Julie says
Hi Mary Ann – Yes, these plants do tend to trail as they grow. It sounds like you did the right thing, especially if you felt the potting mix was dry! Right now, I water mine about every two weeks because I have it in low light. Pretty much as soon as it dries out completely is when I water it again, and this is also when I notice it getting droopy.
Karyn Adams says
Hi, if you are looking for one of these and live in the pacific northwest, Safeway and Albertsons store frequently get them. They carry alot of foliage plants in their floral depts.
Waly says
Hi recently I reported mines.perhaps I didn’t push my plant inside the skin deep enough. It had always beenen by the window and in ever knee this was.wrong. almost 10 months. The bottom of the steam is black and I know something wrong. I think I need to propagate her, but also my concern is how can I save my plant as I cought the change early I’m the root changing
Julie says
Hi Waly – From what you wrote, it’s a little difficult to understand what the problem is, but if the stem is turning black that could be a sign of root rot. I would ease up on the watering until your potting mix dries out. If your plant has root rot I would not try to propagate it since the plant is already under stress. Good luck!
Barb says
Hi Julie,
My plant is about 2 years old & very healthy but is only growing upwards on one main stem, which is about 18” high now. I’ve propped it between sticks as it’s starting to fall over. Two small leaves have sprouted from the base. I’m afraid to make any cuts at this point as encouraging branching will only make it more top heavy. Please help!
Julie - Houseplant Aficionado says
Hi Barb – What you do here is really up to you! While making a cut will cause your plant to branch, it will also make it shorter and wider which might help a little bit. And you could plant the cuttings in the same pot to fill out your plant if you want. Some plants just need some extra support. Maybe try something more sturdy, such as a moss pole?