Peperomia Plants: The Complete Care & Growing Guide

How to care for peperomia plants:

1. Place in medium to bright indirect light
2. Prefers specific soil conditions
3. Infrequent watering
4. Loves warm, humid environments
5. Less fertilizer is key
6. Doesn’t need frequent repotting
7. Takes regular pruning well
8. Ideal for small spaces
9. Common problems

Peperomia plants are cute, small, and tolerate occasional neglect well — making them a smart choice for beginner house plant enthusiasts. 

That said, if you want to amass a collection of plants that include their spectacular variety of colors and textures, then you have to know how to care for peperomia plants. 

If you’re a total newbie to this plant family, you’ve come to the right place! Keep scrolling to see what you should do to take good care of your peperomia plants:

Place in medium to bright indirect light

These plants do best in bright, indirect light, but are okay even in medium indirect light. 

The amount of light it gets is important if you want your plant to maintain its thick foliage and vibrant colors! Insufficient light will result in fewer leaves and drab coloration. And, their growth will start to get leggy as it attempts to stretch towards light sources. 

On the other hand, too much direct light can scorch their leaves. So be careful about where you place them. We recommend placing them in a shaded area by the window to make sure they get enough sun.

Prefers specific soil conditions

The soil you use is essential for your peperomia’s health. They are a type of epiphyte, which means they grow in the nook of a tree in the wild. So, the best soil for your plant will need to mimic these conditions. 

We recommend using a well-draining potting mix that is chunky, loose, and acidic. You could use an orchid potting medium, which fits these characteristics. Or, you can buy potting mix and lighten it with peat moss and perlite or coarse sand for the same effect.

Infrequent watering

Peperomia plants have succulent leaves — which means they can store water for themselves. As a result, they don’t need frequent watering to keep healthy. We recommend watering your peperomia plants once every seven to ten days. 

But, always remember to check the dryness of the soil before you do. If the top two inches of the soil are completely dry, then it’s a good time to water your peperomia plant thoroughly. Avoid overwatering this plant at all costs — they easily fall victim to root rot! 

Loves warm, humid environments

Peperomias naturally grow in warm and humid climates — so they’d love it if you placed them in a similar environment! This is especially true in the summer months when their growth is most active. Aside from placing them in rooms like your bathroom and kitchen, you can also put them on a tray of pebbles and water to keep them nice and humid. 

That said, they can tolerate low humidity levels and moderate temperatures well enough. Just avoid placing them in cold or drafty rooms, as they can’t handle that at all.

Less fertilizer is key

When it comes to fertilizing these plants, less is more. They are slow-growing and durable, so they generally have very light fertilizing requirements. In fact, they can go perfectly fine their entire lifespan without a drop of fertilizer! It’s a very hardy plant that gets what it needs from its soil and water. 

That said, if you do plan on fertilizing this plant, we recommend doing it very, very infrequently. If you add too much, it can cause problems with its growth.

Doesn’t need frequent repotting

Peperomia plants, as we mentioned, are fairly slow-growing. This means they can live just fine in the same container for years. They also enjoy being in a small container, as they prefer a somewhat root-bound existence.

So, your peperomia plant doesn’t need to be repotted too often. So, feel free to keep your plant in its container for the time being. The only time you should repot them is if they show signs of serious root binding, or you see roots coming out of the drainage holes. This tends to happen around every two to three years. 

That said, make sure to aerate the soil now and again to prevent your plant from being too compacted. Otherwise, it will experience drainage and nutrition problems over time. 

Takes regular pruning well

While you don’t often need to prune this plant, they do take it quite well. So there’s no need to be too delicate when you prune your peperomia. You can be aggressive in pruning to keep their characteristic delicate, compact appearance. 

You should also regularly remove any dead growth and leaves that show signs of damage or disease to take some pressure off of your plant. Doing this will not only keep your peperomia looking great — but it will also keep them healthy! 

Ideal for small spaces

These plants are normally compact growers — they rarely reach higher than a foot, with only a few varieties reaching up to two feet long. Some varieties lean towards bushy and trailing growth, but peperomia plants generally are quite small plants. This makes them perfect choices for container planters, windowsills, desktops, balconies, or small indoor spaces. 

Common problems

Thankfully, peperomia plants don’t deal with many common plant problems — such as pests or toxicity. Generally, these plants are safe for humans and pets, meaning you don’t have to worry about placing these plants where your pets or children can reach. 

Key Takeaway

Peperomias are great beginner plants. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and grow very easily given the right conditions. So, use our guide on how to care for peperomia plants to help them thrive in your home! Click here to check out Unbeleafable’s peperomia collection — if you order from our website, we can deliver your pots of nature right to your doorstep!