Peperomia has 1000 known species, and most of them reach up to 12–18 inches in height. There are trailing varieties that can be used to decorate your corridor.
With proper sunlight, water, and regular fertilization, you can grow Peperomia fast.
Knowing how big or tall peperomia plants grow isn’t worth it when you don’t know how to grow and care for them. Without proper sunlight exposure, you can’t expect the plant to grow to its maximum extent.
Read on in this article, where I’ll discuss a few common peperomia varieties and how to care for them.
With its thick, round leaves, peperomia is one of the most popular houseplants. Most of the plants in this species are small and ideal to grow as indoor plants.
Native to tropical climates, Peperomia is a drought-tolerant plant that blooms occasionally.
If you’re starting your gardening journey, then Peperomia plants are the best choice. They don’t demand much from you and often forgive your gardening mistakes.
Though spring is the ideal season to grow this houseplant, you can start planting peperomia indoors year-round.
Is Peperomia Easy to Grow?
Peperomia is grown for its enticing leaves and has simple care requirements. This houseplant proves that growing an attractive plant doesn’t have to be a complicated pursuit.
Provide indirect sunlight, well-drained potting soil that is rich in nutrients, and regular watering.
Though it looks simple, most gardeners go wrong with their watering schedule. Overwatering is the most common gardening problem faced by container gardeners.
How Big Does Peperomia Grow?
Peperomia plants can grow up to 12–18 inches in height.
But there are some varieties available on the market that are sold as mini peperomia plants that can grow up to 6 inches.
Depending on your requirements, you can choose any of them.
I prefer a medium-sized plant and a mini peperomia plant on my computer desk. Having greenery on your working table can reduce stress and is good for mental well-being.
On top of this, peperomia plants are known to clean the air in your room.
Also known as radiator plants, Peperomia has 1000–1500 species. Below are the common varieties and how big they can get.
Watermelon Peperomia
Prominent for its distinctive foliage that resembles watermelon, this peperomia plant is easy to grow and can reach up to 12 inches in height.
In some favorable cases, this houseplant can also reach more than twelve inches.
Mini watermelon peperomia plants are available on the market that can reach only 6 inches in height.
Considering the size of the plant, the leaves of watermelon peperomia are relatively large.
The peltate leaves of this plant are attached to red stems.
Though these plants are grown for their aesthetic foliage, occasional flowers may appear. You can remove the flower spikes if you’re looking for only attractive blossoms.
Providing bright indirect sunlight and regular watering with fertilizing once a month is enough to have a thriving peperomia plant.
Peperomia Obtusifolia
Due to its glossy leaves and upright stems, this variety resembles a rubber plant. So, it is prominently called a baby rubber plant.
This peperomia can reach up to 12 inches. While some may surpass this length, twelve inches remains a frequently observed size for these plants.
This variety of peperomia is also referred to as the baby rubber plant and occasionally as the American rubber plant.
With its appealing appearance and relatively easy growth, even beginners can start growing this houseplant.
A recurring theme becomes apparent when considering the various peperomia plants mentioned. Many of them tend to reach a maximum length of around twelve inches.
Peperomia Polybotrya
Leaves on Peperomia polybotrya resemble raindrops, thus being also known as the Raindrop Peperomia.
Just like watermelon peperomia, this plant variety also reaches nearly 12 inches. However, there can be cases where it can easily surpass this height.
Similarly, you can get some Peperomia polybotrya varieties that reach minimal height.
It’s recommended that you check the instructions label to confirm your requirement.
Peperomia Asperula
This plant is native to the Andes, and it has special-looking folded leaves. It is much like a normal peperomia plant but with little variation.
With proper indirect sunlight, Peperomia asperula can grow to 12 inches tall.
As you can see, most peperomia plants are known to reach 12 inches tall with proper care.
According to your requirements, you can choose any of these varieties, as most of them reach similar heights. I prefer watermelon and asperula peperomia plants in my room with bright sunlight.
It is known to reduce stress and remove volatile organic compounds from the air.
Peperomia trailing varieties
Not just in containers you can grow trailing peperomia plants in hanging baskets.
With well-drained soil and bright sunlight, you can decorate your corridor with peperomia trailing plants.
Below are a few of them:
- Peperomia Ginny
- A string of turtles
- Variegated Cupid Peperomia
- Trailing Jade Peperomia
- Parallel Peperomia
- Beetle Peperomia
- Red Log Plant
Apart from adding beauty, trailing peperomia plants can reduce space utilization, purify air, reduce human stress levels, and be easy to maintain.
What Are the Factors Affecting the Growth Rate of the Peperomia Plant?
Every plant, including peperomia, thrives in a favorable environment. It’s the responsibility of the gardener to replicate native climactic conditions on the houseplant.
Below are some important things that can impact plant growth.
1. Sunlight
Plants need to get ample amounts of light exposure. Plants carry out a photosynthesis process that allows them to make food and energy.
The Peperomia plant, which is renowned for its beautiful and lush foliage, needs indirect, bright sunlight. Direct sunlight can burn peperomia leaves and result in stunted plant growth.
If your plant isn’t getting enough sunlight, you can use artificial light for about 12–16 hours.
Morning sunlight is ideal for an adequate amount of light. It allows the plant to utilize water and nutrients from the soil and prepare the necessary food to promote plant growth.
You can also place a peperomia pot outdoors, but choose a shady spot. Avoid direct sun exposure.
Not getting enough sunlight can result in discoloration of leaves, stunted growth rate, and leaf drop.
2. Water
Water is the medium through which plants get essential nutrients from the soil. Combined with sunlight and water, plants trigger a reaction to produce energy and release oxygen.
Overwatering is the common reason why most houseplants die.
With excess water, peperomia leaves turn black or yellow. Over-watering can also result in root rot, and the plant stops growing.
Similarly, underwatering a peperomia plant can result in slow growth or stunted growth.
To avoid this, you should water Peperomia only when the top 2 inches of the soil are dry.
3. Soil
Watering can’t be effective if you choose the wrong potting soil.
The soil needed to grow peperomia should be well-drained and fertile enough to encourage initial plant growth.
At the same time, it should be able to retain enough moisture for plant growth.
You can mix old compost, perlite, or peat moss with the garden soil.
4. Pot size
Most peperomia plants need a 4-inch pot, and it should have a drainage hole to let excess water out.
This epiphytic plant doesn’t need to be repotted every year.
Choose terracotta pots to grow houseplants, as they absorb excess water and help to avoid root rot.
Repot if you notice the plant is root-bound. Otherwise, the plant will stop growing.
5. Temperature and humidity
The ideal temperature to grow a peperomia plant is 55F to 75F. This houseplant doesn’t thrive in colder climatic conditions.
In colder regions and in winter, when the humidity drops, you can use a humidifier or water plant leaves to increase moisture levels in the air.
Avoid placing plants in locations that get exposed to extreme cold or heat.
6. Fertilizing
You can use homemade organic fertilizer to enrich the potting soil once during the growing season.
It is recommended to use liquid fertilizer as it can be easily absorbed by the plant roots.
Nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium all contribute to the formation of leaves, stems, and root growth.
If you fail to provide an adequate amount of nutrients, eventually plant growth stops.
7. Pruning
Pruning boosts the growth of new leaves, so remove dead leaves and stems that aren’t performing well.
Prune the peperomia plant before spring to encourage optimal growth of the plant during the growing season.
How to Make Peperomia Grow Faster?
The Peperomia plant is a slow-growing houseplant that stays small, making it ideal for small spaces.
You can take some important steps to make it grow faster; however, when compared to other plants, the growth rate of peperomia can’t be rapid.
- A plant needs energy for its optimal growth, which it gets from sunlight.
- Place your peperomia plant near a northeast-facing window so that the plant can get bright light exposure.
- Potting soil should be well-drained and filled with essential nutrients.
- Roots uptake these nutrients along with water to produce energy for plant growth.
- You can also use liquid fertilizer to fertilize the potting soil.
- If you notice the plant is root-bound, repot it in a larger pot to encourage plant growth.
Avoid relocating the plant now and then.
Choose an ideal location that gets ample amounts of indirect sunlight and is away from extreme temperatures.
Conclusion
As mentioned already, Peperomia has over 1000 species of plants. Most of them are slow-growers, but they are gaining popularity in recent times due to their captivating foliage and ease of growth.
The Peperomia plant reaches up to 12–18 inches in height and needs bright sunlight with regular watering.
Fertilizing once a month will be enough to encourage the optimal growth of peperomia plants.
There are few peperomia varieties with trailing stems. You can hang them on your balcony for pleasant air.
Khaja Moinuddin, a computer science graduate, finds joy in gardening and homesteading. Join him on this blog as he shares his experiences in homesteading, gardening, and composting