Peperomia hope is a unique plant in the Peperomia family. A hybrid of two plants (Peperomia quadrifolia and Peperomia deppeana) it has small, thick, rounded leaves and grows long, trailing stems.
Like other Peperomia types, Peperomia hope is a slow-growing semi-succulent that is easy to care for. Its compact size and few requirements make it a great trailing plant for beginners.
Light Requirements
Peperomia hope light requirements are easy to meet in most homes. Place the plant where it will receive a few hours of medium, indirect light from a south- or east-facing window.
Its bright green leaves may begin to fade if your Peperomia hope plant is kept in low light conditions for too long. But avoid placing it in direct sunlight, or its tender leaves can easily scorch and shrivel.
Water Requirements
Peperomia hope watering should happen every 7 to 10 days, or whenever the top two inches of soil feel dry to the touch. It likes slightly moist soil, but will rot if watered too heavily.
Peperomia hope likes the “drench and drain” method of watering. Drench the soil under running water for a minute or two then allow the excess to drain thoroughly through the drainage holes.
Water your Peperomia hope plant more often in the summer months when growth is at its peak. If you see scab-like blemishes on the leaves, it’s getting too much water.
Soil and Fertilizer Requirements
Peperomia hope likes fitting tightly into a container filled with well-draining soil. Look for a potting soil mix that includes sand, perlite, gravel, or coco chips.
Only feed Peperomia hope once a month during the spring and summer months. It likes a balanced liquid fertilizer like NPK 10-10-10. You must dilute it three or four times more than directed on the bottle. Fish emulsion and succulent fertilizers also work well.
Temperature and Humidity Levels
Native to South and Central American rainforests, Peperomia hope plants thrive when temperatures remain between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 24 degrees Celsius). Avoid exposing your hope Peperomia to extreme hot or cold weather.
Peperomia hope humidity levels should be between 40 and 50 percent. If you need more humidity during dry months, place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water and/or run a humidifier in the room.
Potting, Repotting, and Pruning
Unlike many plants, Peperomia hope grows best when it’s root bound. So choose a container that’s close to the root ball size and don’t rush to repot it. Peperomia hope is great in hanging baskets and because long trailing stems are part of its beauty, pruning isn’t necessary.
Peperomia hope care is a bit delicate when repotting. The stems tend to break easily, so use a gentle touch when repotting. Instead of pruning, you can divide the root ball in two and repot both into small containers.
Propagating Peperomia Hope
If you want to propagate Peperomia hope, you can do it with leaf cuttings or stem cuttings. June is the best month for propagating Peperomia hope because it marks the start of growing season in the tropics.
Cut a few healthy leaves with a bit of stem and allow the cut ends to callus over for 24 hours. Insert the stalks firmly into a mixture of half peat half perlite soil. Insert a hairpin into each leaf so that its veins are lying in contact with the soil’s surface.
Mist the soil regularly but don’t soak it. New plants will appear on from the leaf base within four to eight weeks.
If you prefer to propagate Peperomia hope via stem cuttings, cut 3 inch long stems off a mature plant that has flowered regularly. Allow them to dry for 24 hours, to develop a callus over the cut.
Propagating Peperomia hope in water or soil will work equally well. Either place your stems in water or the 50/50 soil mixture mentioned above. Put the container in a warm area with partial shade and watch for roots to appear in four to eight weeks.
Common Problems with Peperomia Hope
Peperomia hope is prone to certain pests, including mealybugs and aphids. Both are easily controlled by catching infestations early and treating the Peperomia hope plant with neem oil.
If you see Peperomia hope dropping leaves, this may mean that it’s being overwatered or exposed to low temperatures. Dark leaf spots that spread come from fungus growing on wet leaves.
Peperomia Varieties
Peperomia Orba
Peperomia Ruby Cascade
Peperomia ferreyrae
Peperomia Ginny
Peperomia Clusiifolia
Peperomia Graveolens
Peperomia Rosso
Peperomia Watermelon
Peperomia Caperata
Peperomia Obtusifolia
Peperomia Hope FAQs
Because it’s a unique hybrid, Peperomia hope is considered rare. You’re not likely to find it at your local garden center. You can buy Peperomia hope in online plant swap groups and on Etsy.com.
Hope Peperomia is not a true succulent even though it has thick, succulent-like leaves. Even so, semi-succulents like Peperomia hope have care requirements similar to actual succulents.
A leggy Peperomia hope is one that’s not receiving enough light. If the spot they’re in is too dark, they’ll grow toward the light and elongate their stems. This results in a leggy, sparse appearance.
