Peperomia Prostrata Care Guide

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Peperomia Prostrata is a beautiful trailing plant with almost succulent like leaves. The Prostrata has distinct leaves that mark it out from other species of Peperomia. The small round leaves have markings which resemble the back of a turtle which is where it gets the name String of Turtles from. It belongs to the Peperomia family.

The Peperomia makes a fantastic hanging plant but as it doesn’t grow that fast and it stays relatively small it’s also a great desk plant (you just might need to cut the vines back more often.)

Important! The string of turtles is a very delicate plant and can break easily. You might want consider this when moving your plant or untangling the vines as breakage is common and you don’t want to lose any beautiful foliage if you can help it.

Peperomia Prostrata Humidity Requirements

Peperomia Prostrata prefer to be humid. This doesn’t mean you need to turn your home into a jungle but if you have a humidifier or even a plant mister your Peperomia will definitely benefit from the added humidity. If you’re not sure of the humidity levels in your home then try a hygrometer to help you.

Prostrata Lighting needs

The Peperomia Prostrata does not need bright direct light and will do better in low to medium lighting conditions. A good place for this plant would be near a north or east facing window. This is definitely a plant that prefers dappled lighting conditions.

Watering

Although Peperomia Prostrata isn’t a succulent, their succulent like leaves mean they don’t like to be watered too often. Try not to water this plant too often as it can rot quite easily. With the Peperomia Prostrata it’s better to underwater rather than overwater. A good way to gauge this is to allow the top level of soil to dry out completely before rewatering.

You also may need to change your watering habits during the winter months as with lower temperatures and less light the plant will need watering less.

String of Turtles Soil Needs

As this plant doesn’t like to sit in water we would recommend an aerated soil. Perlite is a great way to achieve this in your soil and we would recommend adding it to your potting mix.

Our favourite brand is Espoma Organic Perlite that you can find on Amazon

Propagation

Peperomia Prostrata is a houseplant that is relatively easy to propagate. The simplest way is to take a cutting on the stem. You can then place this cutting straight into soil or if you want to watch the roots grow you can place the cutting in a glass of water and pot it once roots have started to grow.

So to summarise our Peperomia Prostrata care guide:

• Don’t overwater
• Aerated soil
• Low to medium light

Our Top Recommended Resource

Our recommended resource is the Levoit Humidifier. If you are short on time and don’t want to mist your Peperomia every day then having a humidifier can really come in handy.

Pros

• Cool and warm mist
• Self regulating humidity levels
• 6L tank capacity

Cons

• Can be expensive

Peperomia Prostrata FAQ

Before you go, check out some of the most frequently asked questions about Peperomia Prostrata to see if this can help you with your care.

Is Peperomia Prostrata toxic to cats?

Yes, this plant can be toxic to cats. If ingested it can cause irritation, vomiting and diarrhoea. We would therefore recommend keeping this plant away from cats or even out of your home completely if you think there is a risk your cat could access and consume the plant.

Do Turtles Strings bloom?

Yes, string of turtles will bloom and put out flowers.

Why do Turtle Strings turn yellow?

If you’re noticing your leaves turning yellow then this could be a sign of overwatering. Make sure you allow the soil to dry out between waterings to avoid over watering.

Is String of Turtles a succulent?

The string of turtles is not a succulent however it has almost succulent leaves meaning that it has similar care requirements.

When should you repot a Turtle’s String?

As this is a slow growing plant it does not need to be repotted very often at all. If your plant has outgrown it’s pot then repot in the spring time. Otherwise you can leave it in the same pot but you may need to replace some of the soil.