PEPEROMIA CARE:
(PEPPER-OH-MIA)

Peperomia are popular houseplants, kept for their easy maintenance, unique foliage and beautiful colors.  They tend to do very well in just about any household setting.  Peperomia is a genus of flower plants in the Piperaceae family, with over 1500 unique species. They are easy to take care of, come in a wide range of colors, textures and sizes and those that find their love for Peperomia continuously look to add to their collection. 

Peperomia do best is bright, indirect sun, out of the way of harsh sun rays. Some can be acclimated slowly to more direct sunlight,  they are also well equipped for low light applications and full shade, making them wonderful little plants to have all over your home or office.

Peperomia have thick stems and fleshy leaves, and too much water can cause rot.  Generally speaking, watering your Peperomia once a week is good.  Check your Peperomia every 3-5 days until you have a schedule set to make sure it hasn't gone too dry.

While it is not completely necessary, you can use a general purpose, high quality fertilizer from Spring through Fall.  We recommend diluting the fertilizer to about 50% strength.  Fish Head Farms soil conditioner is a great option to use year round to provide essential nutrients and promote strong, healthy growth.

Most Peperomia are epiphytic, growing on rotting wood in their natural habitat of South and Central America.  Because of this, they prefer a well draining, loamy soil, with lots of Perlite or Vermiculite to keep it airy.

Most Peperomia do not get very large, and therefore do not typically need a large pot.  Our Peperomia are in pots appropriate for them, at the time of purchase, for quite a while.  We recommend repotting every 1-2 years, and even then, you only want to move up 2" or so in pot sizes to reduce stress.  This should be done in the Spring or early Summer months.  If you have just recently purchased your plant, do not repot it for at least 6 months.

The most common pest issues for Peperomia Mealy Bugs and Red Spider Mites, however, even Scale Bugs can cause issues.  It is always best practice to isolate any new plants you bring in to your home for a few weeks to watch for little pests.  For help and tips on prevention and treatment of pests, see our At Home Pest Recipes  here!

If you have any more questions, or need further assistance, please feel free to give us a call or shoot us an email!