How to Grow and Care for Peperomia Rosso

Peperomia rosso (Peperomia caperata 'Rosso') is a compact plant known for its textured, colorful leaves. The fleshy, almost succulent foliage of this plant is silver with green veining on top and deep red on the underside. Peperomia rosso is easy to grow as a houseplant with moist, well-drained soil, moderate watering, and bright, indirect light. It can also be planted outdoors as a perennial in USDA zones 11 and 12. This plant is a cultivar of Peperomia caperata, also known as ripple peperomia.

Peperomia Rosso Care

Peperomia Rosso prefers the following growing conditions:

• Put peperomia rosso in a warm place with medium to bright indirect light.
• Plant peperomia rosso in loose, well-drained soil that holds moisture.
• Water peperomia rosso when about half its soil has dried out.
• Feed peperomia rosso with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer during the growing season.

Light

Peperomia rosso grows best in a place with bright, indirect light. This plant can also tolerate medium indirect light, but avoid putting this plant in a low-light area. Choose a spot out of direct sunlight or use a sheer curtain to filter direct light, which can burn the leaves and damage the plant.

Soil

Grow peperomia rosso in a loose, well-drained potting mix that holds moisture. You can purchase a standard houseplant potting mix or make your own mix by blending equal parts perlite with peat moss or coconut coir.

Water

Water peperomia rosso when the top half of the soil in your plant's container has dried out. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely. Allow water to drain fully out of the holes in the bottom of the pot. Check drip trays and saucers to make sure the plant isn't sitting in water as overly wet and soggy soil can cause root rot and kill the plant.

Temperature and Humidity

Ppeperomia rosso is a cultivar of a tropical plant, so it prefers similar warm, humid conditions. This plant prefers temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees, with humidity around 50 percent.

Fertilizer

As with many houseplants, peperomia rosso only needs fertilizer from early spring until late summer, when the plant is in active growth. During this time, feed your plant with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength. Stop fertilizing in the fall and winter, then resume when you see the first new growth in spring.

Pruning

Peperomia rosso doesn't require regular pruning. Unless the plant is growing leggy, it's best to simply remove the occasional dead or dying leaf using clean, sharp scissors or pruners. If you do want to prune your plant into shape, do so sparingly, ideally in spring. Save any healthy leaves you've removed to propagate into new plants.

Propagating Peperomia Rosso

Peperomia rosso is easy to propagate by rooting stem cuttings in water. You'll have the best chance of success during spring and summer. You'll need a small glass or jar, water, and clean, sharp scissors.

1. Choose a healthy leaf on the mother plant. Remove it with scissors by cutting the leaf stem close to the base of the plant.
2. Place the cutting in the glass or jar, then add water so that most of the stem is submerged.
3. Put the cutting in a warm place with bright, indirect light. Add water to keep the level consistent, and change the water if it starts to get cloudy. After a few weeks, you should see tiny white roots begin to form along and at the end of the stem.
4. When the roots are at least an inch long, pot up the cutting in a small plant pot with light, well-drained potting mix and water it well, then care for it as usual.

Potting and Repotting Peperomia Rosso

Repot your peperomia every two to three years or when you see roots growing out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Go up only one pot size and use fresh potting mix. You can use a plastic, glazed ceramic, or terracotta pot as long as there are drainage holes in the bottom to let water flow out.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases 

Peperomia rosso can become the target of common houseplant pests like mealybugs, thrips, fungus gnats, and scale. Peperomias aren't subject to many diseases, but a virus called ring spot can damage leaves and stunt growth. Soil-borne pathogens can also cause root rot in overly wet conditions.

How to Get Peperomia Rosso to Bloom

While peperomias are generally known for their attractive foliage, peperomia rosso also offers prominent if unshowy flower spikes that add color and texture to the plant. The best way to get peperomia rosso to bloom is to give it ideal growing conditions, water, and fertilizer.

Bloom Months

Peperomia rosso generally blooms in the spring and summer months.

What Do Peperomia Rosso Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Peperomia rosso's flowers appear as spikes of tiny, unscented pale green flowers at the end of red, tendril-like stems.

Deadheading Peperomia Rosso Flowers

When the flowers begin to fade, you can trim them off at the base of the flower stalk or let them fall off naturally.

Common Problems With Peperomia Rosso

Leaves Turning Yellow

Yellowing leaves typically indicate that your peperomia rosso is receiving too much water. Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again. Check soil moisture regularly to know when it's time to water.

Curling Leaves

These plants don't like to be waterlogged, but lack of moisture can also be a problem. Curling, dull leaves can indicate underwatering. Give the plant a good soaking, then keep an eye on the soil to keep your plant from drying out too much between waterings.

Plant Leaves Falling Off

Leaves falling off indicates a severe lack of water, especially if leaves are dry and crispy. Remove affected leaves and water the plant well, then keep the soil consistently moist to help revive it. You can also tent a clear plastic bag around the entire pot to hold in moisture—just remove it for an hour or so each day to allow for ventilation.