Peperomia Rubella Care | Top Tips!

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Peperomia Rubella stands out due to its succulent green foliage and vibrant red undersides. As a member of the Peperomia family the Rubella doesn’t need too much care and will do well from a little neglect. Even so, we’ve created a Peperomia Rubella care guide to help you look after your plant and make it thrive.

Light

The Peperomia Rubella will do well in bright to medium indirect light. Filtered or dappled light and partial shade will also work well. Try to avoid direct sunlight as this can scorch the plant especially if you live somewhere with lots of sunlight. If the light is too low then this can cause the plant to become leggy with long pieces of stem in between each section of leaves. For a small compact bushy effect you want brighter light.

Watering

It’s important that you allow the soil to dry out between waterings as Peperomia plants are prone to root rot when left wet for too long. Try sticking your finger into the top two inches of soil and when it’s dry give your plant a drink. Or if you find this difficult to gauge then you can use a moisture meter to help you. This works by inserting the probes into the soil to detect the moisture level, you will then get a reading on the display so you know exactly when your plant needs a drink.

Soil

As this plant doesn’t like to be water logged its important that you pot it in well draining soil to avoid issues like root rot. A good way to achieve this is to use regular potting soil mixed with cactus soil and perlite to give a light well draining potting mix. Loam and sandy mixes will also be good for your Peperomia Rubella.

Temperature

Peperomia Rubella like to be kept warm so avoid keeping them in rooms where temperatures drop or they’ll be affected by droughts. Instead you want to keep your plant in the 18 – 24°C range although they can tolerate warmer and a little cooler temperatures.

Humidity

Although Peperomia Rubella will do well with the humidity in most households it prefers medium to high humidity so try keeping your plant in a bathroom or using a humidifier or mister to help increase the moisture around your plant.

Propagation

Propagation can be done via taking a cutting. For most success take a stem cutting with leaves in tact. However, you can also take a cutting of a leaf. You can either propagate in water or directly into soil depending on which method you prefer. We would recommend taking more than one cutting for better chances of success as not all of them will take.

Fertiliser

We would recommend using a half strength fertiliser no more than once a fortnight during the growing seasons and leave your plant during the winter months.

Peperomia Rubella FAQ

Here we’ve compiled a Peperomia Rubella FAQ with some of the most commonly asked questions about the Peperomia plant incase your haven’t found what you’re looking for in our Peperomia Rubella care guide.

How can I make my Peperomia Rubella more bushy?

If you want to create a more bushy like appearance with your Peperomia Rubella then you need to expose your plant to brighter lighting conditions. When the plant receives low light it can cause the stems to elongate giving your plant a leggy look. If you don’t like this you can simply cut away the elongated stems, expose your plant to brighter light and watch it push out new growth.

Why are the leaves of my Peperomia Rubella squishy?

The leaves can become squishy is you are overwatering your plant. As this is a succulent type of plant it stores a lot of its water in its leaves and therefore doesn’t need to be watered that often. Overwatering this plant will cause these leaves to first become squishy and then to fall off. If you notice the leaves of your plant having a softer appearance then try to go longer between watering your plant.

Are Peperomia Rubella easy for beginners to care for?

Yes this plant is very easy for beginners and does not require a great level of skill to keep it alive. Being a succulent the are not too different to care for than other succulents and don’t require much more effort than looking after a cactus.

Does Peperomia Rubella grow up?

Initially your Peperomia Rubella will grow vertically however as it ages and it’s stems become heavier you will notice it starting to grow downwards and trail over the sides of your pot.

Does this plant need a pot with holes?

Yes like most plants, this plant definitely needs a pot with holes otherwise the soil can become water logged which is very bad for the plant.