How to Propagate Your Peperomia Obtusifolia (Baby Rubber Plant)

The Peperomia plant is very simple to grow from seed. It is grown from cuttings of the stem, leaf, or tip.

The cutting ends should be covered in a high-quality rooting powder, and the rooting medium itself should be very light and airy.

A new plant can be quickly produced with easy, regular care.

Peperomia Obtusifolia (Baby Rubber Plant) Overview

Common Name	Baby rubber plant, pepper face plant
Botanical Name	Peperomia Obtusifolia
Family	Piperaceae
Plant Type	Perennial, Herbaceous
Mature Size	Up to 1 ft. tall
Sun Exposure	Partial
Soil Type	Clay, Sand, Loam
Soil pH	Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Bloom Time	Periodic through the year
Flower Color	White
Hardiness Zones	10-12 (USDA)
Native Area	South America

Choose the Right Rooting Mix for Peperomia Propagation

Perlite and peat moss mixed 50/50 is the ideal and most straightforward kind of soil to use as a Peperomia rooting mix.

When rooting the Peperomia plant, this lightweight mixture always works well and is inexpensive and accessible.

Choose the Right Time of Year

When the growing season is just getting started in the spring, peperomia propagation is at its best.

When bringing outdoor peperomia plants inside for the winter in the fall, it is also possible to take cuttings and root them.

Steps to Follow for Peperomia Stem Cuttings

Follow these simple instructions on how to propagate peperomia from stem cuttings:

• Pick one or more stems that are healthy and have a few dark green leaves on each end.
• Using a sharp cutting tool, cleanly cut the stems off at the joint.
• Aside from the two or three leaves at the stem's tip, all other leaves should be cut off.
• Dip the stem ends in a rootone rooting hormone.
• Simply poke the stem ends of your leaf cuttings into the prepared potting mixture to position them one inch apart in a pot or seed tray filled with rooting medium.
• Instead of just sticking the stem end into the ground to make the holes, if you want to get fancy, use a dibbler, a special tool created just for this purpose.
• Around the cuttings, lightly compact the soil by watering it.
• Make a label stake to bury in the ground to identify your plants if you are planning to plant more than one type of peperomia or if you simply want to be sure of remembering which type you are planting.
• To help keep the humidity inside the pot, poke a few holes in a clear plastic bag and lightly drape it over the container.
• Place the container (pot or tray) in a location with strong, indirect sunlight and a constant temperature of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 21 degrees Celsius).
• If you're starting your cuttings in the fall and live in a very cool climate, you might need to provide bottom heat to keep the soil warm enough.
• In order to promote healthy air circulation and ward off fungus, check on your cuttings every day and lift the plastic bag away for about an hour.
• A week or so later, roots will start to form and stems will start to sprout new growth.
• After giving the baby plants a week or two to grow, transplant them into individual pots.
• Remember that Peperomia have roots that are relatively delicate and with very shallow root systems.
• For mature plants, you shouldn't use a heavy potting soil mixture.
• Choose a shallow pot and a well-draining potting mix for your new plants' permanent pots when you transplant them, as this will allow for good air circulation around the roots.

TIP: If you are only starting one or two Peperomia cuttings, you can simply root each one in its own 3 inch pot and keep it there until it starts to show signs that it needs to be replanted.

This size pot will be adequate for these plants for a considerable amount of time because their roots are not very deep.

What About Peperomia Propagation With Leaf Cuttings

Simply select a few healthy leaves and cleanly cut them off with a little bit of stem still attached to propagate peperomia exclusively from leaf cuttings.

Then, proceed as directed above after dipping this portion of the stem in the rooting powder.

What About Growing Peperomia from Seeds?

Although it is possible to grow baby rubber plant peperomia from seeds, this is undoubtedly not the best or most advisable method.

A variegated plant must be propagated from cuttings if you want offspring from it.

It is impossible to grow a variegated plant from saved seed.

Purchase seeds online if you don't have access to a parent plant for some reason or if you'd like a particular variety of peperomia that isn't offered locally.

Make sure to only buy from trusted merchants with a high rating.

Having seeds specifically for the variety of Peperomia you want to grow can be ensured thanks to this.

Pay close attention to the packaging instructions.

Growing Plants from Cuttings is a Valuable Skill

It's a good idea to be able to root your own Peperomia plant cuttings as you go because Peperomia plants have a tendency to get wilted and straggly over time. Who wouldn't enjoy another watermelon pepperomi?

If this occurs, simply throw away your old plants and replace them with your new ones. Alternatively, you can prune back straggly plants and propagate more new plants to give to your family and friends by taking cuttings from the pruned plants.

Potting and Repotting Peperomia Obtusifolia

Because this small plant doesn't have a deep root system, you won't need to repot your baby rubber plant very frequently. Usually enough is once every few years. The plant has outgrown its current container if the roots are beginning to extend through the drainage holes in the pot or the soil is starting to lift off the pot's sides. Repotting is best done in the early spring, before the main growing season. Avoid choosing a pot that is too large or deep as this can lead to excessive water absorption and waterlogging issues.

Common Problems With Peperomia Obtusifolia

Even the easiest-going plants can experience issues if you neglect them or don't provide them with the right environment. You can prevent the following issues from affecting your young rubber plant by keeping an eye out for them and taking the appropriate action.

Leaves Turning Yellow

Overwatering is one of the main issues with the young rubber plant. One of the first indications that you are going too far is when the leaves begin to turn yellow instead of their usual glossy green, which can cause fatal root rot.

Drooping Leaves

Too much light exposure, overfeeding, and plant dryness can all cause wilting leaves that eventually fall off entirely.

Plant Leaves Falling Off

Sudden leaf drop issues can be avoided by making sure your plant isn't exposed to abrupt, extreme temperature changes.

Browning Tips

The baby rubber plant shouldn't be kept in cold environments. If temperatures regularly drop to around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, it can kill your Peperomia obtusifolia. The browning of leaf tips is the first symptom of this issue. The inverse is also sometimes true, and too much direct sunlight can cause leaf scorch.
Read More: Are Baby Rubber Plants Poisonous to Cats?

FAQs

How Long Can Peperomia Obtusifolia Live?

With the proper care and a location in your home that is suitable, this low-maintenance plant can live for at least five years to more than ten.

How Do I Retain the Patternation on a Variegated Peperomia Obtusifolia?

Peperomia obtusifolia prefers a position with filtered, indirect light, but the variegated cultivars will typically need a brighter position than those with solid colored leaves. Don't be tempted to place them in a position with constant direct sunlight, even though too little light can cause the variegation to fade.

Can I Grow Peperomia Obtusifolia Outdoors

The baby rubber plant is typically grown as a houseplant. This is due to the USDA hardiness zones where it will only thrive being very small. It can, however, grow outdoors if you reside in a warm, humid climate like Florida.