Peperomia caperata is a small houseplant with very dark green leaves, lovely red to purple stems and interesting rat tail shaped flowers.
This is a species much appreciated by terrarium keepers but it can actually also easily be grown in most homes, which makes it a great choice for anyone looking for a compact houseplant that’s not too demanding.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about Peperomia caperata care and growing this plant in your own home!
| Name(s) (common, scientific) | Emerald ripple Peperomia, radiator plant, Peperomia caperata |
| Difficulty level | Easy |
| Recommended lighting | Bright but indirect |
| Water | When top is dry |
| Soil type | Light soil |
Peperomia caperata care
As with all houseplants, looking at the way Peperomia caperata naturally grows gives us some basic care indications. This plant is naturally found in tropical rainforests in Brazil. In the home, this means it doesn’t appreciate low temperatures and will do well with relatively high humidity.
Because the sun is mostly blocked out by taller trees in these regions, Peperomia caperata is also not used to receiving direct sunlight.
Peperomia caperata location and temperature
Light
Because Peperomia caperata can naturally be found in tropical rainforests, it’s a good idea to (at least partly) imitate these conditions in your home. Direct sunlight would naturally be blocked out by larger trees, full sun is not ideal for this plant. It does require plenty of indirect light.
Any window besides South facing ones (in the Northern Hemisphere) should work well. There is also another option: Peperomia caperata is known to grow very well under artificial lighting, which means it’s a great option for darker rooms.
Indoor grow lights are not expensive and can be of great help for those that weren’t blessed with endless light windowsills.
Location
An environment that mimics the humidity of the rainforest is much appreciated by Peperomia caperata. Kitchens, bathrooms and greenhouses can provide the moisture needed, but I’ve found that mine still does very well in a regular living room.
If you feel like your Peperomia is suffering as a result of your home being too dry (crispy leaf tips), try running a humidifier or placing houseplants in groups.
As discussed below, another great option for growing Peperomia caperata successfully would be a terrarium setup.
Temperature
Peperomia caperata cannot withstand low temperatures and will let you know rather dramatically if it’s feeling cold.
Be sure not to expose your plant to anything below 59 °F/15 °C: room temperature works best for this species.
Planting Peperomia caperata
Planting
As discussed above, Peperomia caperata is naturally found in rainforests and therefore appreciates a relatively moist environment. Its preference for higher humidity levels and tendency to stay relatively compact make this plant a great choice for planted terrariums.
This doesn’t mean you need to have a full sized terrarium just to grow your Peperomia. As mentioned in the Cryptanthus caresheet (another great terrarium plant), even something simple like a cookie jar could work well. Just don’t put the lid on: these plants do need fresh air to thrive.
Tip: If you’re looking for more species to populate your tropical plant terra, have a look at the list of 6 easy terrarium plants.
Soil
- Because Peperomia caperata needs plenty of air around the roots, a relatively loose soil is a good idea.
- Mixing your regular potting soil with a heavy dose of perlite should produce a light soil mixture that will work for this plant. All in all be sure to avoid anything too compact to keep your Peperomia happy.
- If the plant has been in the same soil for a while, carefully poking around the pot with a chopstick can help make sure no clumps form.
- Peperomia caperata doesn’t like permanently wet soil so a well-draining container is definitely a must.
- Most houseplant enthusiasts prefer using a plastic nursery pot (which have drainage holes in the bottom) paired with a decorative overpot that matches their interior.
- Repotting often is usually not necessary because most Peperomias are already mature and they don’t grow too big.
- If you do need to repot, do so in the Spring months. A big pot is not needed: the root systems are not that large.
Watering Peperomia caperata
Figuring out when to water Peperomia caperata can be a bit difficult and the ideal frequency depends largely on the circumstances you’ve got the plant growing in.
Be sure to keep in mind that the species has succulent-like leaves and is able to store some water. Succulents prefer to be left to dry for a bit before watering and the same can be done with Peperomia caperata, although you shouldn’t let the soil dry out completely.
Once the soil has had some time to dry out, thoroughly water the plant and let any excess water drain out of the pot before repeating the process. Keep in mind that during winter houseplants won’t be actively growing and therefore need less water. Always check the soil before watering again.
Peperomia caperata propagation
Propagating a houseplant doesn’t get much easier than with Peperomias like this one. It’s almost like you can take any part of the plant and it’ll just continue growing as if nothing happened!
Here are the different ways you can propagate Peperomia caperata:
- Leaf cuttings: Yep, you can propagate Peperomia caperata using a single leaf. Just use your clean scissors to cut a few leaves. Prepare a pot with soil and gently press the leaves down without burying them. This can also be done in water, but I find it easier in soil.
Keep the soil lightly moist, ideally placing the whole container in a clear plastic bag to keep moisture in. A brand new mini Peperomia (or multiple!) will grow from the petiole (the bit where the leaf meets the stem).
- Division: This is not as popular as taking leaf cuttings, but it does result in a larger end result, so you don’t have to wait as long for a properly sized plant.
This is easiest if you were already taking your Peperomia caperata out of its container anyway. If you take your plant out of the soil, you’ll see that it consists of clumps of stems. You can easily separate these using some clean scissors and pot them up individually. Keep lightly moist and voilà! Each new plant should have its own root system, so it’ll keep growing as usual.
Did you know? When taking Peperomia leaf cuttings, you can actually grow two new plants from a single leaf. This is done by cutting the leaf in half and propagating both halves. The bit that has the petiole will sprout faster, but the top half of the leaf should also eventually produce a brand new Peperomia.
Feeding Peperomia caperata
Peperomia caperata is not a heavy feeder by any means and you should be careful not to overfeed it. Try to feed only during the active growing months when the foliage is growing.
Be sure to use a diluted liquid fertilizer and leave the plant alone entirely during the Winter months. During this time it won’t be growing actively and doesn’t need the extra nutrients.
Buying Peperomia caperata
When buying this plant, be sure to keep in mind that not all varieties of this plant look the same. Leaves can be bright green to dark purple. Peperomia caperata “rosso” (pictured above) has thinner, pointed leaves instead of the regular rounder variety.
Is Peperomia toxic to cats and dogs?
The ASPCA and other sources list plants from the Peperomia genus (including Peperomia caperata) as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Yay!
If you have any more questions about Peperomia caperata or want to share your own experiences with this rat-tailed houseplant, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below! Oh, and if you love Peperomia, don’t forget to check out the baby rubber plant care guide as well.
Peperomia Varieties
Peperomia Orba
Peperomia Ruby Cascade
Peperomia Hope
Peperomia ferreyrae
Peperomia Ginny
Peperomia Clusiifolia
Peperomia Graveolens
Peperomia Rosso
Peperomia Watermelon
Peperomia Obtusifolia
