Light: Provide bright, indirect light. Low light levels can lead to dark leaf spots and plant decline.

Temperature: 60-80 F

Peperomias hate the cold! Avoid cool windowsills and corner rooms in winter months.

Humidity: low to medium

Radiator plant has its name for a reason. Peperomias can tolerate low humidity because of their semi-succulent foliage.

Water: Drainage. Drainage. Drainage. Peperomias are not cacti, nor are they your typical foliage plant. They have shallow root zones that like frequent wet-dry cycles.

Repotting: To help with your plant’s wet-dry cycles, plant in shallow containers and avoid upsizing containers too quickly. Repot every 2-3 years into a slightly larger container (1-2” increased diameter or depth). Use a fresh general purpose potting mix.

Fertilizing: Either…

1. Water Application: Incorporate fertilizer into your watering cycle once per month March through September. Dilute an all purpose fertilizer (20-20-20) by half OR use your favorite fertilizer rated for houseplant use in your water.

2. Slow Release: Incorporate slow release fertilizer pellets into the top inch of potting soil every 6 months. Apply the rate indicated for indoor plants on the label. If no recommendation for houseplants is present, apply 1/4 to 1/2 the listed rate.

Cleaning: Peperomias can get dusty and require periodic cleaning. I suggest 1-2 times per year, use a wash cloth with room temp water to remove dusts and spots, especially on plants with smooth foliage. You can also shower them in a sink or tub. If grimy spots persist, try a dab of baby soap! Learn how to clean plant effectively on my YouTube episode!

Even though peperomia is in the pepper family, the peppers we think of are not related at all.

Table pepper comes from this family, completely unrelated to Capsicum annuum, the vegetable.

Plants in the Piperaceae family all share a unique inflorescence that looks like a tentacle. (If you know you know…) There are microscopic florets along each stringy spike. When pollinated, they form “corns” (a.k.a. peppercorns)! Look it up!

(Listed in order of commonality…)

• Root decay caused by overwatering

• Lack of growth or leaf loss due to low temperatures

• Physical damage

Are peperomias pet safe?

Yes