Baby Rubber Plant – Peperomia Obtusifolia Care Tips

Peperomia Obtusifolia Introduction

Looking for a compact, pet-friendly, attractive, low-light, easy care indoor plant? Then Peperomia Obtusifolia is the plant for you! Commonly known as the Baby Rubberplant, American rubber plant, or Pepper face, Peperomia Obtusifolia has been selected as 2022’s Houseplant of the Year, by America’s – National Garden Bureau.

Baby Rubber Plant is characterized by its thick, green and shiny leaves, usually in a friendly oval shape. The leaves of cultivars show variegation of either green and white or yellow and white. The Peperomia Obtusifolia is a semi-succulent and its thick way leaves store water. Known as “rat tail” inflorescences, Peperomia flowers are small, white-green, and non-showy.

The non-woody stems of Obtusifolia Peperomia can reach a height of 25 – 30 cm. The roots show characteristic of its epiphytic nature that allows the Baby Rubber Plant to cling on to surfaces, making them ideal to plant in hanging baskets or on shelves.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Planting

Naturally found along the understorey of tropical rainforests, Baby Rubber Plant shows preference for humid and indirect sunlight. This makes them a perfect option to grow indoors. Stem tip cuttings are usually used to propagate a Peperomia Obtusifolia. Indoors it can be placed over a window sill, or as a hanging basket, where the sunlight is bright but indirect.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Lighting and Position

Most varieties of Peperomia prefer medium to bright indirect sunlight but they are also famous for surviving in low light conditions. Intense sunlight can give your shiny Baby Rubber Plant leaves sunburn. In darker spaces for variegated varieties, the variegation can start to fade out. Even kept in low light conditions, brief exposure to morning sunlight promotes better leaf growth and variegation patterns. In Peperomias prefers an average temperature of 18°C to 24°C for optimum growth but can usually handle low temperatures.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Soil and Fertilizer

Your Baby Rubber Plant will prefer a loose and fertile potting mix. Even though Peperomia Obtusifolia thrives in wet and humid habitats in the wild, they prefer a well-draining soil, when planted indoors. A mix of peat and soil, in a ratio of 2:1 will be perfect potting recipe for your Peperomia.

You can feed your young Obtusifolia Peperomia with diluted liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks during Spring to promote growth.

We recommend using our Plant Food available here. 

Peperomia Obtusifolia Watering

It’s generally better to underwater your Baby Rubber Plant, rather than overwater it. Peperomia Obtusifolia dislikes water-logged soils, so let the soil dry out after each watering. The root of Baby Rubber Plant is susceptible to root rot, and water-logged soils can promote the growth of root rotting fungi.

During Winter months watering should be done sparingly, as the Peperomia leaves contain stored water. But leaving your Obtusifolia Peperomia without water for longer periods can reduce the growth and appearance of the foliage.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Propagation

Cuttings taken from a few centimetres of stem tip are commonly used as the propagation material of Peperomia Obtusifolia. These tips should have one or two leaves on it. These Peperomia cuttings can be placed in a well-draining potting mix after dipping in rooting hormone to increase the chances of success. Place the entire set-up in a place that receives indirect bright light. Avoid direct sunlight as it may damage the leaves on the cutting. Leaf cuttings along with a small portion of a node can also be used for propagation.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Vulnerability to Pests and Diseases

Peperomia Obtusifolia is an easy-care plant and generally very hardy and resilient to pests and disease. Fungal attacks, mainly from root rot will be a major risk if your Peperomia is overwatered.

Frost attacks or a sudden drop in temperatures can cause leaves to struggle and possibly fall in Obtusifolia Peperomia.

For more information on how to manage common plant pests head to our blog here.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Pruning and Maintenance

To keep your Baby Rubber Plant in shape without becoming rangly pinch out the top of stems. Regular pruning can create a bushy and more compact appearance for your Peperomia.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Popular Varieties

Peperomia Obtusifolia Jade – is as the name suggest a dark green or jade colouring.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Albo Marginata – is a variegated variety with cream variegated margins around the outside of the jade leaves.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Marble – like the Albo Marginata, this is another variegated variety but the variegation placement is usually opposite, occurring more in the centre with the margins usually without variegation and jade. As the name suggests the variegation isn’t flat blocks but has different shades of variation.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Lemon and Lime – is another attractive variegated variety, more similar to the Albo Marginata in patterning but with yellow variegation instead of cream.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Red Edge – Similar to the Jade but with a dark red lipstick edge around the leaves.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Design Tips

The Peperomia Obtusifolia is not a loud plant, but more from the humble and timeless elk. Amongst other plants it can easily become lost. It perhaps best in more minimalist designs, such as a Japanese design in an old, rustic pot or terracotta pot, where it has its own space, filling perhaps a dark space or corner. The jade green goes well with timber, terracotta or pink if going more modern. The different varieties have a bit more pop and the Lemon and Lime is no doubt more showy. This can go great with dark charcoal or black pots or even dark blue.

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