The peperomia obtusifolia is a beautiful, slow-growing and low maintenance houseplant that has thick, sturdy, glossy green leaves. They are perfect tabletop plants, because they usually only grow to around one foot by one foot in size. They can also be placed in terrariums because of their size, and they can be propagated using soil or water.
To learn more about propagating and caring for peperomia obtusifolia, keep reading.
Peperomia obtusifolia care
1. Light
This plant, like most houseplants, grows best in bright, indirect light. Place the plant a few feet away from a window and it should be perfectly fine. An east- or west-facing window is ideal, but if you only have south-facing windows, you can diffuse the intensity of the light by placing a curtain over the window. Make sure the plant is never under direct sunlight, because the leaves will get sun-damaged.
The plant will survive in low light, but if you have the variegated variety, the lack of light will affect the definition of the variegation. Low light can also result in leaf drop.
2. Water
Peperomia obtusifolia stores water in its thick, fleshy leaves and body, which means it can last longer than most plants without being watered. This is also why it can very easily become overwatered if its owner is a little too enthusiastic when it comes to watering.
Let the plant’s soil dry out completely between waterings. You can do this by checking the soil before watering it. Touch the top inch of soil with your index finger. If the soil is still damp, do not water the plant yet. If the top inch of soil is dry, you can water the plant.
Another sign that the plant needs water is if the leaves are droopy and more flexible than normal. Hydrated leaves feel rigid and firm.
You should not simply base your watering on a set schedule; it is best to actually check the moisture level of the soil to determine whether the plant needs water or not. Adjust your watering according to the weather and local climate.
3. Temperature and humidity
This plant will do just fine with the temperature you are comfortable with in your home. Just make sure you do not leave it outside during the winter when the frost can do considerable damage to the foliage.
It likes its environment to be quite humid, since the leaves collect water from the environment and the root systems are quite small.
If you live in a place with a dry climate, you may want to wet the plant’s foliage while watering it. You can also leave it out in the rain a few times a year to wash the leaves and keep it moist.
If conditions are drier than normal, mist the leaves using a spray bottle a couple times a week. You can also place a saucer or tray of water near the plant to increase the humidity around it. If you have a hard time following these methods, you can also just buy a humidifier to maintain the humidity for longer periods.
4. Soil
Because the peperomia obtusifolia is epiphytic and likes its soil to dry out between watering, the type of soil that you use must be well-draining and loose. The plant does not like tightly-packed soil; this does the plant more harm than good.
Use a mixture of two parts gardening soil to one part perlite, and avoid packing down the soil mix so that it remains as airy and porous as possible.
Peperomias have slow-growing roots and are not really affected if they become rootbound, so regular repotting is not that important; about every five years is sufficient. As long as you can see that the plant is healthy and doing well, you do not need to repot it.
If you see the roots of the plant starting to grow out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot, it may be time to repot it. Repotting may also be needed if the plant’s growth has become stunted or when the plant looks way too big for the pot.
The new pot should be one size bigger than the old one, and must have drainage holes at the bottom.
5. Pruning
Pruning is not that important for the plant’s health, but it may be necessary if you want to keep its aesthetic symmetry. The branches may grow unevenly in different directions and become floppy, so pruning will keep those at bay.
6. Fertilization
Peperomia obtusifolia does not need to be fertilized, because it is a slow-growing plant with a small root system. It is actually quite easy to overfeed the plant and end up doing it more harm than good if you give it fertilizer.
If you want to fertilize your plant, use a fertilizer made specifically for indoor plants, but dilute the formula to half-strength and apply it once a month in the spring and summer.
Peperomia obtusifolia propagation
Propagation in soil
If you want to propagate the plant in soil, choose a stem that has some leaves at the end and is several inches long. With a pair of sterile scissors, cut a quarter-inch below the node. A node is where leaves or roots shoot out from the main plant.
Plant the cutting in a small pot that contains soil mix made specifically for the plant. The soil should be slightly moist. Make sure at least one node is buried in the soil and make sure none of the leaves are under the soil.
Do not water the plant, because the moisture in the potted soil should be enough to last a few days. Also, the roots need to be given time to recover and establish themselves in the soil before you water it.
Put the plant in a spot where it can get bright, indirect light and make sure the soil does not dry out.
Do not expect any new growth for at least a few weeks, because propagation takes some time.
You can help the plant even more by covering it with a plastic bag for a few hours a day to raise the humidity.
Check the root development by tugging on the plant; if there is resistance, that means the roots have grown in nicely.
Propagation in water
You can root peperomia in water by cutting a stem a quarter-inch below the node with a clean pair of scissors. Place the cutting in a jar with enough water to submerge at least one node. Do not submerge any leaves; remove them if you need to.
Place the jar in a spot with bright, indirect light and make sure to change the water when it becomes cloudy.
The roots should grow to about three inches within a few weeks, and you can then plant the cutting in fresh soil.
Conclusion
Peperomia obtusifolia is one of the easiest plants to grow, especially for novice gardeners. They are hardy and low-maintenance but offer a great addition to the beauty of your home.
Give the plant bright, indirect light, room temperature, medium to high humidity, and only water it when the soil is dry.
You can propagate this plant by planting the stem with a node directly into new soil, or by letting the roots grow out in water first.
Image: istockphoto.com / Elena Shikanova