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Baby rubber plant care
Peperomia obtusifolia · Piperaceae
Also called American rubber plant, Blunt-leaf peperomia, Pepper face.
A small, upright plant from Florida, the Caribbean and tropical America with thick, waxy, rounded leaves on fleshy stems. The leaves store water, so it copes with missed waterings far better than with wet soil. Plain green forms tolerate lower light than the variegated ones.
Light
Bright IndirectWatering
Every 2 weeksDifficulty
EasyPets
Non-toxic to cats and dogsHeight indoors
15-30 cm
Growth
Moderate
TemperatureUnconfirmed
18-26 °C
Not below 12 °C
Humidity
40% - 60%
Average room humidity
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Slightly acidic soil
Native to
- United States
- Mexico
- Belize
- Guatemala
- El Salvador
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Costa Rica
- Panama
- Colombia
- Venezuela
- Guyana
- Suriname
- French Guiana
- Ecuador
- Peru
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Bahamas
- Cuba
- Cayman Islands
- Jamaica
- Haiti
- Dominican Republic
- Puerto Rico
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Antigua & Barbuda
- St. Kitts & Nevis
- Anguilla
- Montserrat
- Guadeloupe
- British Virgin Islands
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Dominica
- Martinique
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent & Grenadines
- Grenada
- Barbados
- Aruba
- Curaçao
- Caribbean Netherlands
Through the year
Let the top half of the soil dry out before watering; the leaves hold water, so err on the dry side.
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Spring
Every 2 weeksRepot only if needed, into a mix with extra perlite.
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Summer
WeeklyWater a little more often and keep it out of hot afternoon sun.
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Autumn
Every 2 weeksStop feeding and let the soil dry further between waterings.
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Winter
Every 2 weeksWater sparingly and keep it away from cold glass.
Feeding
Every 6 weeks in spring and summer. Balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Do not feed in winter.
Care tips
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Use a small pot
It has a small root system and stays healthier slightly root-bound.
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Give variegated forms more light
Cream or gold leaves need brighter light to keep their colour.
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Pinch to keep it bushy
Cut back long stems; the tips root easily in moist mix.
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Grow new plants from leaves
A single leaf with its stalk can root and form a new plant.
Common problems
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Yellow, mushy leaves
What you seeLeaves yellow, then stems turn soft at the soil line.
What to doWater much less often, let the soil dry well and repot into a gritty, free-draining mix.
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Leaf spots
What you seeDark, sunken spots appear on the leaves.
What to doRemove affected leaves, keep foliage dry and avoid crowding plants together.
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Mealybugs
What you seeWhite, cottony tufts where leaves meet the stem.
What to doDab them off with alcohol and treat with insecticidal soap.
Pets
Is baby rubber plant safe for cats and dogs?
Non-toxic to cats and dogs. The ASPCA lists Peperomia obtusifolia as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Good to know
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Peperomias belong to the pepper family, the same family as black pepper.
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Peperomia means 'resembling pepper' in Greek, and obtusifolia means 'blunt-leaved'.
