Classic Favorite Terrarium House Plants

Although much less popular than they once were, Peperomia are a pretty much fool proof houseplant, and used lots in terrariums and in combination with ferns and other high humidity loving plants.

peperomia

Their succulent foliage is a bit misleading, as these are more of a jungle or rain forest type plant, requiring a constantly damp soil, but not wet.

There are many different kinds, from the crinkly pleated leaves of the Watermelon Peperomia, Peperomia caperata or P. argyreia to the thick, variegated leaves of Peperomia obtusifolia, also known as the baby rubber plant.

Other species that are commonly found in greenhouses and florists displays are P. metallica with erect dark red stems cloaked with narrow waxy copper coloured leaves with a metallic luster, and a silver green band down the center of the leaf.

Pepperomia-caperata

Peperomia rotundifolia (also called P. nummulariifolia or P. prostrata) which has tiny dark green round leaves, often reddish underneath on slender trailing stems.

These are low maintenance house plants, requiring little more than fairly bright light, and regular watering.

They prefer a light textured porous soil, comprised of perlite and leaf mold, which mimics their native habitat under forest trees.

Some Peperomia can be propagated by a single leaf, similar to African violets. These are primarily Peperomia caperat and P. argyreia species and varieties, known by the crinkly waffle textured leaves. Other types of Peperomia such as P. obtusifolia are propagated from stem tip cuttings in spring.

These plants dislike excessive fertilizing, and older leaf losses can be due to salt damage.

In summer, leach accumulated salts by flushing with clean water – preferable rain water collected off a roof to avoid any minerals from tap water or well water.

Always dilute fertilizers to half strength, or use worm castings sprinkled on the surface of the soil for an organic alternative.

The flowers of this genus are generally tiny and clustered on a spike or spire. They resemble a rats tail more than anything, and are usually pale green or yellow.

See even more about Peperomia below…

Other visitors have submitted these stories – click on the links to go to the page…

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All I have are succulents but ?

I have only succulents but someone has left this for me and I am at a loss as to what to do with it. Where can I find out the name?

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Succulent plant whose leaves look like fat pea pods

It’s a plant for sale in a supermarket but they just call it a succulent plant. The leaves just look like fat pea pods.

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Flat round leaves

Can anyone help identify this? Has developed long green spikes recently..

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Conical green plant with mult. small chubby leaves?

Hi there! GREAT site!! I’m having a hard time identifying this plant – spent all afternoon browsing sites and i’m still empty-handed. I picked it …

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Thick Fleshy Yellow-Green Leaves with Hanging Branches

I brought this plant home during an office move (they were getting rid of all the old plants). I haven’t had any luck identifying it, other than knowing …

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Succulent that kind of looks like a giant jade plant

Got this plant from a friend who got it from a local plant shop in NYC. The leaves are large, green, tear-drop shaped, waxy and somewhat fleshy (photo …

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unidentified leafy green succulent

I have had this succulent for close to a year and have been unable to figure out what it is. The leaves are firm and waxy and form branches from a thicker …

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I think it’s a Peperomia clusifolia jelly?

It’s wide leaves are variegated. They range from whites, to greens, to a soft pink. The stem of the leaves are more pink than the stem of the plant …

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Mottled Yellow and Green Leaves

This was in the succulent section of a farmers market. The pictures show it’s size, color, ect… I can’t find anything online that looks like it! Thanks

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A small variegated succulent

Recently I got a cutting of a fleshy succulent from my aunt. At the moment it’s only an inch-and-a-half tall, with light green variegated heart shaped …

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Tiny little succulent – looks like miniature green beans

Can anyone help me identify this plant? I bought it at Safeway and the sign just said “Succulents”. It didn’t have a tag in it and I have no idea how …

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Green leaves, reddish stem, roots grow close to surface

I bought my plant from my University Plant stall, they didn’t know what it was called but said that it would take at least a year before flowers started …

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it looks like a string bean

This plant looks like string beans and almost like a pencil cactus – what is it?