Pepromia Obtusifolia | Baby Rubber Plant

Light

What’s great about Peperomia obtusifolia care is that these plants are not super demanding when it comes to lighting. They do best in bright to moderate, indirect sunlight. As long as they’re somewhere close to a window, they usually do fine! Some claim baby rubber plants can do well in low light as well. The problem is that etiolation can occur if you grow yours in a spot that’s too dark: new leaves will be spaced further and further apart, making for a sparse look and ruining the nice bushy appearance of your plant.

Temperature

The ideal temperature for Peperomia obtusifolia care is between 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (or 18 to 26 degrees Celsius). As such, the temperature in your home should be just fine for this one! If the temperature drops into the 50s (or low teens), or your house is drafty, your plants won’t do as well. Baby rubber plants like humidity, with around 40-50% recommended. If your house is on the dry side, you can try putting your plants in a bathroom with a window, where it tends to be more humid. You might even want to run a humidifier, especially if the humidity is on the low side for humans as well.

Planting

Since these plants have small root systems and don’t tend to grow all that fast, you don’t need to repot them very often. Once a year will usually be more than enough. If your baby rubber plant does start to become root bound, which you can tell by checking if the roots are coming out the bottom of the pot, then you can go up a pot size or two. Be sure to always choose a planter that has a drainage hole, as you should for all houseplants.

Watering Peperomia obtusifolia

When it comes to watering, these plants aren’t too demanding. You should wait for the top inch or two of soil to dry out before watering, although it’s important not to let it go bone dry either. One watering a week is a good place to start for baby rubber plants, although there are many factors that will affect the optimal watering frequency. For instance, if the air in your home is on the dry side, your houseplants will get thirstier more quickly. Just keep in mind that while baby rubber plants like lightly moist soil, it should never be soggy since this can quickly lead to root rot.

Soil

Baby rubber plants love nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. You can easily use general mixes and add a good fistful of bark or perlite to help with the drainage. After all, this plant has succulent-like properties so it won’t appreciate its roots being left in standing water.