Grow this small-space houseplant with big presence and add drama — and delight — to your indoor garden. Here's how to care for peperomia.
How to Grow a Peperomia Houseplant
- Common name: Radiator plant, shining bush plant
- Scientific name: Peperomia spp.
- Growing zones: 10 to 12 (outdoors, houseplant elsewhere)
- Light needs: Full to part sun
- Size: 6 to 12 inches tall, 6 to 12 inches wide
- Grown for: Small size and eye-catching leaves
- Cultivars to try: ‘Watermelon peperomia’ offers striped green leaves that look just like the exterior of a watermelon, while ‘String of Turtles’ grows foliage on vines that resemble turtle shells.
Add a stunning houseplant to your collection with peperomia. Commonly grown for their beautiful and sturdy leaves, peperomia requires minimal tending-to and can be a valuable addition to an indoor garden.
These plants stay compact and are a good choice for gardeners who are tight on space. They don’t seem to mind crowded roots and are happy in a small pot.
Light Needs
This plant grows best in bright, indirect light; for best results, make sure your plant is in front of a window. Two to three hours of morning or afternoon sunshine can help encourage peperomia to grow its best. In growing zones 10 to 12, peperomia can be kept outdoors.
Watering Needs
Keep the plant in a well-draining potting mix when planted in containers. As is the case when watering many succulents, peperomia doesn’t require frequent watering. The top inch or two of soil should be allowed to dry between watering. Keep the plant in temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They also require less humidity than other houseplants.
Benefits of Growing Peperomia
Many grow peperomia for its leaves, which can vary in appearance from green, to silvery, to striped. Better yet, this houseplant doesn’t require an abundance of care. Aside from adhering to its light and watering requirements, you can largely leave it alone.
While the plant does occasionally flower, it flowers in spindly spikes. Some gardeners remove these spikes to help redirect the plant’s energy to its leaves. The plant is non-toxic to dogs and cats, so pet owners don’t need to avoid it.
Sources
- National Garden Bureau, “The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Peperomias“
