Peperomia obtusifolia: care, propagation & toxicity

Peperomia obtusifolia is a great indoor plant for beginners. It is relatively undemanding and forgiving of occasional care mistakes. Discover some of the different varieties and get our top care tips.

Peperomia obtusifolia is a small plant that goes nicely in any room. Although it naturally grows at ground level in the rainforest, it can be grown as a houseplant in our climate. Find out everything you need to know about caring for and propagating Peperomia obtusifolia.

Peperomia obtusifolia: origin and characteristics

Peperomia obtusifolia is also known as the baby rubber plant, American rubber plant or pepper face. It is a succulent-like plant belonging to the pepper family known as Piperaceae and is a relative of the well-known pepper vine (Piper). The genus Peperomia is very diverse and even has a few edible species. Peperomia obtusifolia is native to the Caribbean, Florida and Mexico, where it grows as a carpet-forming herb in tropical rainforests. Its leaves are glossy, oval and rich green. Thanks to its water storage tissue in these leaves, the baby rubber plant can store water for a very long time. It grows upright and reaches a manageable height and width of 25 to 30 cm. Peperomia obtusifolia flowers are delicate and white and bloom between April and December.

Our favourite Peperomia obtusifolia varieties

There are plenty of other Peperomia species, but there are also a few varieties of Peperomia obtusifolia that are worth taking a look at:

• Peperomia obtusifolia ‘Variegata’ is probably the best-known variety. This variegated peperomia’s leaves are beautifully marbled with creamy white to light green edges which contrasts nicely against the otherwise lush green colour.

• Peperomia obtusifolia ‘Albo marginata’ is a lesser-known variety that develops comparatively large leaves.
• Peperomia obtusifolia ‘Bohemian Bravour’ has dark green, shiny leaves and closely resembles the original species.
• Peperomia obtusifolia ‘Green Gold’ has leaves which can range in colour from a creamy white to a light green in brighter locations.

• Peperomia obtusifolia ‘Golden Gate’ has equally patterned, but rounder leaves.

Planting and growing Peperomia obtusifolia: where, when and how

Peperomia obtusifolia prefers a relatively bright location without direct sunlight, but does enjoy a little bit of morning sunlight. It should be kept somewhere relatively warm, ideally around 18 °C. While it can hack cooler temperatures during the winter, it will tolerate no lower than 10 °C. Like so many houseplants, Peperomia obtusifolia does not like cool draughts.

When planting or repotting Peperomia obtusifolia, opt for a loose and well-draining soil to prevent waterlogging, as this can lead to root rot. While this relatively undemanding houseplant will grow in poorer and sandier soils, an organic and more nutrient-rich soil will help it to thrive. Our Plantura Organic All Purpose Compost is a peat-free compost that contains all the nutrients your plant needs. It has a relatively loose structure, which also helps to prevent waterlogging.

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To plant your Peperomia obtusifolia, transfer it to a pot, fill the pot with suitable soil and water well. This plant also grows nicely in a hanging pot.

Tip: Peperomia obtusifolia grows quite slowly, so go for a pot that isn’t too large or else water will linger in the unrooted substrate. Also make sure the pot has a drainage hole to prevent waterlogging.

Peperomia obtusifolia care

Peperomia obtusifolia only needs watering once the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch. To prevent root rot, ensure there is sufficient drainage and do not water too often. Greatly reduce how much you water in the winter months. These plants do not require a lot of nutrients either. That said, as the substrate loses nutrients over time, it is a good idea to fertilise from time to time. Fertilise your Peperomia every four weeks from spring to autumn. Our Plantura Liquid Houseplant Food is ideal for this and is convenient to apply. You simply dilute it into the water you use for watering. With an NK ratio of 3:4, this potassium-enriched fertiliser supports plant growth and ensures strong shoots that are less vulnerable to pests and harmful fungi. It is unnecessary to fertilise Peperomia obtusifolia in the winter.

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Due to its tropical origins, Peperomia obtusifolia does prefer higher humidity, but will do perfectly fine at normal humidity levels.

Tip: Regularly remove dust from your Peperomia obtusifolia. This not only makes the leaves look nice and shiny, but also allows the plant to photosynthesise more efficiently.

As baby rubber plants are slow growers, they will only need repotting about every four years. However, we recommend replacing the soil with fresh (and thus more nutritious) soil every two years. Repot your Peperomia obtusifolia into a larger pot once the roots start growing out of the top or peaking through the drainage holes at the bottom. The best time to repot is in the spring, before the active growth period. This is also the ideal time to prune the tips of the shoots to encourage bushier growth. Peperomia obtusifolia is generally a very robust plant and is not particularly susceptible to diseases or pests. However, a plant in poor health is more vulnerable to spider mites, mealybugs and scale insects.

Peperomia obtusifolia losing leaves? This is usually a sign of overwatering or improper growing conditions. To remedy this, create a drainage layer and pour off excess water from the trivet after watering. Also, check that you are keeping your Peperomia in a bright enough location with the right humidity level.

Propagating Peperomia obtusifolia

Propagating Peperomia obtusifolia is quite simple, can be done at any time of year, and works particularly well with stem cuttings. Here is how to go about doing this:

• Get a clean and sharp knife
• Cut off an approximately 13 cm long young shoot above a leaf
• Now cut the shoot to just below the first leaf from the cut end

Tip: To increase the chances of success, take several cuttings at once. There is no guarantee that all of them will form roots.

• Remove half of the lower leaves and place the cutting into potting soil
• Plantura Organic Herb & Seeding Compost is ideal for cuttings as it is low in nutrients and therefore stimulates root growth
• For better drainage and to prevent the cutting from rotting, mix about a third of sand into the soil
• Press the soil down a little and moisten it
• Place the cutting in a bright and warm place at around 18 °C
• To increase the humidity, place a plastic bag over the pot
• Remove the plastic bag once a day to prevent mould from growing
  

If all goes well, it should take three to six weeks for your Peperomia obtusifolia cutting to start growing some roots.

Is Peperomia obtusifolia poisonous?

No, Peperomia obtusifolia is not poisonous, neither for us humans, nor for cats and dogs. Nevertheless, as this is a houseplant and not an agricultural crop, we advise against consuming any part of the plant.

Originally from Africa, sugarbushes (Protea) also come from tropical regions. Unlike Peperomia, these beautiful plants can reach up to 10 metres high. However, this genus also offers species of a smaller, more manageable height that are ideal as houseplants.