Peperomia Obtusifolia (Baby Rubber Plant) Care & Propagation Guide

Peperomia Obtusifolia also called Baby Rubber Plant, is an ornamental foliage plant with beautiful round leaves. Peperomia Obtusifolia is not tall so it can plant in a small pot. Peperomia Obtusifolia has a strong air purification effect, which can grow indoors including living room, office, study room, etc. Every time after you read or work for a long time, you can look at the green leaves of Peperomia Obtusifolia, which can effectively relieve visual fatigue. It is not difficult to grow Peperomia Obtusifolia. Read following on Peperomia Obtusifolia care, propagation and tips for common problems of Peperomia Obtusifolia.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Care Quick Info

Botanical/Scientific Name	Peperomia obtusifolia
Common Name(s)	Hanging Peperomia, Baby rubber plant, Pepper face plant, American rubber tree, American rubber plant
Varieties	Peperomia obtusifolia green, Peperomia obtusifolia variegata
Uses	Peperomia obtusifolia can be used as hanging garden plant, ground cover in shade and low growing potted indoor plant (Find more best indoor hanging plants here.)
Origin	South America
Light Care	Scattering Light but not direct light
Soil Care	Well-drained and breathable soil
Temperature Care	Ideal temperatures of 20-30ºC, and no lower than 10ºC.
Humidity Care	High humidity
Watering	Water Peperomia obtusifolia thoroughly before the soil totally dry.
Pruning Care	Repot Peperomia obtusifolia every 1- 2 years in spring
Fertilizer Care	Mainly nitrogen fertilizer for Peperomia obtusifolia but not fertilize in winter
Propagation	Peperomia obtusifolia commonly propagation methods: Leaf propagation, division propagation, water propagation
Toxic	Peperomia obtusifolia is not toxic and is pet-safe.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Care in Detail

Peperomia Obtusifolia Watering

Peperomia Obtusifolia (Baby Rubber Plant) prefers wet conditions and cannot tolerate prolonged droughts. So when it comes to caring for peperomia Obtusifolia, water it in time. Do not let the soil dry or Peperomia Obtusifolia will fail to grow well. Before the soil is almost dry, water it thoroughly.
Peperomia Obtusifolia likes wet conditions, but it is also afraid of waterlogging, avoiding overwater that could cause root rot. So how often to water Peperomia Obtusifolia? In spring and autumn, water Peperomia Obtusifolia once every 2 or 3 days. In summer, water Peperomia Obtusifolia once every day to replenish water. In the growing season, you can water Peperomia Obtusifolia frequently. When the temperature is higher than 25℃ or the air is dry, water Peperomia Obtusifolia more. When the temperature is lower than 25℃ water it when the pot soil is going to dry. When the temperature is below 10℃, it can dry for days without water.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Soil

Peperomia Obtusifolia (Baby Rubber Plant) prefers loose, fertile soil to ensure air permeability, which can add siltstones to mix. Turned over the soil frequently to improve Peperomia Obtusifolia root absorption. The mixed-use of leaf mould soil and peat soil can effectively promote the growth of Peperomia Obtusifolia. Drain away water for Peperomia Obtusifolia timely in rainy days.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Light

Peperomia Obtusifolia is shade-loving and ideal plant for indoors, where the lighting is just right. Strong sunlight can cause sunburn of leaves. Peperomia Obtusifolia needs to grow in a ventilated and cool place, with enough scattering sunlight to promote the continuous growth of leaves. Appropriate shading is necessary for Peperomia Obtusifolia in Spring, Summer and Autumn to avoid strong light. However, if the light is too weak, it can make leaf color becomes light and lose the kind of green bright color.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Temperature

Peperomia Obtusifolia grows well at the temperature between 20 ℃ and 30℃. If the environment is dry, water can be sprayed on the air and leaf surface to cool and moisturize. Peperomia Obtusifolia is not hardy to cold. As the temperature drops in winter, Peperomia Obtusifolia needs to be moved indoors to avoid frostbite. In summer, the temperature for growing Peperomia Obtusifolia can not exceed 35℃. In winter, try to keep it above 10℃, which is better for its growth.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Humidty

Peperomia Obtusifolia likes to grow in a high humid environment so that it can grow luxuriant and brightly colored leaves. When the temperature is high or the air is dry, water spraying on the leaves or take other ways to promote air humidity, which is very beneficial to the growth of Peperomia Obtusifolia.
Peperomia Obtusifolia can also tolerate a dry environment indoors, but can not stay in a dry environment for a long time. It can often spray the plants with water close to room temperature to increase humidity.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Fertilizer

Peperomia Obtusifolia (Baby Rubber Plant) prefers fertilizer. It should be fertilized with nitrogen fertilizer, but not fertilize in winter. The frequency of fertilization varies between the Peperomia Obtusifolia growing season and summer. Generally in spring and autumn, which is its growing season, fertilizer can be applied every 2-3 weeks. In summer, fertilizer can be applied once every 2-3 months. Peperomia Obtusifolia is fertilized with thin liquid fertilizer or foliage fertilizer every 2 to 3 weeks during its growing period. In winter, Peperomia Obtusifolia should receive as much sunlight as possible, stop fertilization, strictly control watering, and maintain room temperature above 10℃. When the temperature is higher than 18℃, a small amount of fertilizer is needed. When the temperature is lower than 18℃ or higher than 30℃, less or no fertilizer is appropriate. It is best to fertilize Peperomia Obtusifolia a small number of times。 It is best to apply dilute fertilizer instead of water.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Pruning

For New Peperomia Obtusifolia seedlings, in order to make the future plant plumper, improve the ornamental value, it is necessary to remove the top branch when the plant height is about 10 cm to increase the number of branches. The pruning of mature peperomia obtusifolia plant depends on the growing situation commonly.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Repotting

Peperomia Obtusifolia should be repotted every one to two years in Spring. Basin soil requires loose and breathable soil with rich in humus and good drainage. You Can use rotten leaf soil or peat soil, decomposed horse dung or cow dung and a small amount of perlite or coarse sand, vermiculite mixed after preparation, and planted with large and shallow POTS, to facilitate drainage.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Pest & Disease Control

Peperomia Obtusifolia (Baby Rubber Plant) has fewer pests and diseases. In general, the diseases are caused by improper care and inappropriate environment. Insect pests are mainly red spiders, but they can be prevented by maintaining a higher air humidity. When the pests occur, they can be wiped by wet cloth or spray special killing agents to prevent and control.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Propagation

Peperomia Obtusifolia is propagated by cutting and division. You can also propagate Peperomia Obtusifolia in water.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Leaf Propagation

Peperomia Obtusifolia leaf peopagation are usually carried out in late spring and early summer. Leaf cuttings can be cut robust and substantial leaves, and with a part of the petiole. After drying for a day, directly insert or oblique insert the Peperomia Obtusifolia leaf cutting in the pot with coarse sand or vermiculite, the depth of about 1/2 to 1/3 of the petiole. Keep the soil slightly moist, and do not cover glass or plastic film, otherwise it is easy to decay. Under the condition of 20℃ to 25℃, small adventitious buds and roots could be generated in the wound part after 2 to 3 weeks. After 5 to 6 weeks, the adventitious buds grow on the soil surface. Dug out and plant into the pot together with the old leaves, which became the new plants of Peperomia Obtusifolia.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Divisoin Porpagation

It is mainly used for marble Peperomia Obtusifolia propagation. Basin soil can be made of leaf mould soil, peat soil and some perlite or sand, and appropriate amount of base fertilizer. 
Add fertilizer every half a time in the growing stage, control water in winter. Temperature changes directly affect the color of marble peperomia obtusifolia leaves. The optimum temperature for colorful leaves in winter is 18-20℃ and about 15℃ for green leaf Peperomia Obtusifolia species.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Propagation in Water

Peperomia Obtusifolia can also be propagated in water. Cut longer branches or the whole basin to wash the root soil, remove dead roots, dead leaves. Soak the peperomia obtusifolia plant in 0,05% potassium permanganate solution for 10 minutes, after cleaning. Then plant it in a hydroponics container. Water can soak 1/2-2/3 of the root system.
The temperature should be 20-25 ° C. Changes water every 2-3 days in the early stage of Peperomia Obtusifolia hydroponics, and new roots can grow in 1-2 weeks. When the new roots grow to more than 5 cm long, move the container with the plant to a place with sufficient scattered light, and then use nutrient solution special for foliage plant to cultivate. After that, change the nutrient solution every two weeks. Compared with other hydroponic plants, hydroponic Peperomia Obtusifolia requires fewer nutrients and requires little fertilization.

Peperomia Varieties

There are types of Peperomia plants.

• Watermelon peperomia (Peperomia argyreia)
• Metallic peperomia (Peperomia rosso)
• Jayde Peperomia (Peperomia polybotrya)
• Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia obtusifolia) 
• String of Turtles Peperomia Plant (Peperomia prostrata) 
• Trailing Jade (Peperomia rotundifolia)
• Peperomia Hope (Peperomia tetraphylla) 
• Peperomia Jelly (Peperomia clusiifolia)
• Red Ripple Peperomia (Peperomia caperata)
• Emerald Ripple Peperomia (Peperomia caperata)

The main types of Peperomia Obtusifolia are:

• ​​Peperomia obtusifolia green
• Peperomia obtusifolia variegata or marble Peperomia obtusifolia

Peperomia Obtusifolia Benefits

Peperomia Obtusifolia (Baby Rubber Plant) has lovely, oddly shaped leaves that can be green or varietal. Peperomia Obtusifolia's flowers are not showy, but they are fresh and pleasant. It can grow normally in indoor conditions for a long time. It is a kind of small foliage plant which is very suitable for indoor display and appreciation.
Meanwhile, Peperomia Obtusifolia helps clean indoor air. Its dark green leaves are soothing for those who have been reading or working too long.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Care FAQs

Peperomia Obtusifolia Dropping

Peperomia Obtusifolia's leaf dropping, which occurs in spring and autumn, should be due to a lack of water. For the care of Peperomia Obtusifolia in the growing season of spring and autumn, attention should be paid to keeping the basin soil moist. In the absence of water, the leaves of Peperomia Obtusifolia drop away from the junction of branches and leaves, resulting in poor growth.
Dropping leaves in winter can be caused by low temperatures. Peperomia Obtusifolia protects itself in winter when temperatures are low, reducing the supply of nutrients and water after some leaves drop, and maintaining its growth state at a certain level. In this case, just move the Peperomia Obtusifolia plants to a place where the temperature is higher than 10 degrees Celsius.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Brown Spots

Peperomia Obtusifolia's brown spots may be caused by indicating bacterial. It should be paid attention to more ventilation at ordinary times. Also pay attention to the temperature that can not be too high, otherwise the plant is easy to infect by bacteria. It may also be too much water caused by brown spots on leaves. Too much water is easy to stuffy root, so that the leaves will be yellow, fall, rot and so on. 

Can Peperomia Obtusifolia Bloom

Peperomia Obtusifolia flowers. Peperomia Obtusifolia (Baby Rubber Plant) has white flowers but is not pretty. It will use up some of its nutrients to flower. If you don't want the plant to bloom, you can cut the inflorescence from the bottom with a knife to reduce the nutrient consumption and avoid harming the growth of the whole plant. If you want to keep the peperomia obtusifolia flowers for viewing, you can strengthen the conservation and management. Apply thin liquid fertilizer to Peperomia Obtusifolia to supplement the nutrients consumed by flowering, and keep them in a place with good light, which is conducive to nutrient synthesis and accumulation.
In order to promote the flowering of Peperomia Obtusifolia, it is necessary to provide sufficient nutrients to the plant, applying thin liquid fertilizer that is ripe every two to three weeks during the growing period, and adding phosphate and potassium fertilizer before the flowering period to promote the growth and differentiation of flower buds and make peperomia obtusifolia bloom luxuriously.

Is Peperomia Obtusifolia Toxic to Cat

Peperomia Obtusifolia is not toxic and is safe to cat. Some plants are harmful to cats because they contain alkaloids in their SAP, which can cause discomfort when touched or ingested. But Peperomia Obtusifolia has no toxins in its leaves or SAP, and can grow safely indoors.