Peperomia

Peperomia obtusifolia

Baby Rubberplant

Peperomia obtusifolia is a small, semi-succulent member of the Piperaceae with thick, water-storing leaves, which means it tolerates drying out far better than sitting wet. Give it bright indirect light and let the top inch or two of mix dry before watering again. Its fleshy stems and roots rot easily, so err toward under-watering and use a free-draining mix.

Peperomia argyreia

Watermelon Pepper

Peperomia argyreia is a small subshrub to epiphyte in the Piperaceae, with thick, water-holding leaves and stems that store moisture and rot easily if kept wet. Its epiphytic tendency means it wants fast-draining mix and airflow at the roots rather than constant moisture. Let the top inch or so of mix dry out before watering, and err toward letting it run dry rather than staying damp.

Peperomia prostrata

String of Turtles

A trailing epiphyte from Ecuador, this Peperomia grows clinging to bark rather than in soil, so its roots drain fast and rot if left sitting wet. The small bead-like leaves store some water, letting it tolerate drying out between drinks. Grow it in a loose, airy mix in bright indirect light, and water only when the top inch of mix is dry.

Peperomia pellucida

Man To Man

Peperomia pellucida is a soft, succulent-stemmed annual herb of the pepper family that grows as a short-lived plant in moist, shaded ground and on damp rock faces across the tropics. Its fleshy, translucent leaves hold water and rot if left soggy, so let the top inch of mix approach dry before watering again, and give it warmth, steady humidity, and gentle filtered light rather than direct sun. Because it is naturally an annual, expect a fast life cycle; it readily self-seeds rather than persisting for years.

Peperomia caperata

Emerald-Ripple Peperomia

A small perennial from the forests of southeastern Brazil, growing in shade among leaf litter and on mossy surfaces. Its semi-succulent leaves and stems store water, so it prefers to dry out between drinks and rots easily if kept wet. Water when the top inch of mix is dry, and give it bright indirect light rather than direct sun.

Peperomia rotundifolia

Yerba Linda

A small trailing epiphyte from tropical Central and South America, growing on bark and rock with fleshy, water-holding round leaves. Its succulent foliage stores moisture, so it tolerates and prefers drying between waterings; water only when the top inch of the mix is dry, and use a fast-draining, airy medium since the roots rot if left wet. Give bright indirect light and good airflow rather than direct sun.

Peperomia polybotrya

Raindrop Peperomia

Peperomia polybotrya is a small Piperaceae native to the humid forests of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, where it grows in dappled understory shade. Its thick, coin-shaped leaves store water, so it tolerates and prefers drying out between waterings; water only when the top inch or two of mix is dry, and err toward keeping it on the drier side to avoid rot. Give it bright indirect light and a freely draining mix.

Peperomia serpens

Vinagre

Peperomia serpens is a trailing epiphyte from Colombia, naturally rooted in bark and leaf litter where its roots drain fast and never sit wet. Give it bright indirect light and a loose, airy mix, and water only when the top inch of the mix has dried out. Its somewhat succulent leaves and stems store water, so it tolerates a missed watering far better than soggy roots.

Peperomia urvilleana

Peperomia urvilleana is a small subshrub to epiphyte from islands of the southwest Pacific, where it grows in airy, fast-draining situations. Its somewhat fleshy leaves store water, so it rots if left sitting wet; let the top inch of mix dry before watering, and give it a loose, well-aerated medium. Bright indirect light suits it, with no direct midday sun.

Peperomia argyraea

Watermelon Peperomia

A small Brazilian Peperomia that grows as a subshrub or epiphyte, with thick, water-storing leaves that let it tolerate drying between waterings. Give it bright indirect light and a fast-draining mix, and water only when the top inch of mix is dry, since its fleshy stems and roots rot if kept wet. Average household humidity suits it.