Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia obtusifolia)

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Plant Details

Category: Houseplants
Light: Medium Light
Bloom Season:
Height: 10-12" / 
25-30cm
Space: 8-12" / 
20-30cm
Zones: 11, 12
Lowest Temp: 60° to 80°F / 
16° to 27°C
Colors: Grown for foliage

Basic Care

Water thoroughly but allow soil to dry slightly between waterings. Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly. Grows best in bright light, but needs protection from direct sun that can burn the foliage. Watering and fertilizing can be reduced during the winter months.

Water

Allow soil to dry between thorough waterings.

Soil

All-purpose mix.

Feed

Once every month during growing season.

Baby Rubber Plant detailed care guide →
cat friendly plant

Cat Friendly

dog friendly plant

Dog Friendly

Containers

Features

The baby rubber plant is no relation to the familiar Ficus species known as a rubber tree. This is a popular species because it’s so easy to grow and its glossy green leaves make this an especially attractive houseplant or plant to liven up an office space. Under optimal conditions the plant may flower, producing interesting spikes with no petals.

Uses

Very decorative on a small table or in a hanging basket. Perfect for all kinds of containers. Potted Peperomia plants can be grown outdoors in the summer and brought back inside when temperatures are expected to fall below 50° F (10° C).

Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia obtusifolia) Care Guide

Start with a good quality, commercial potting soil. These are usually lighter in weight than topsoil, sterile and pest-free. Many are available with a mild starter fertilizer in the mix.

Select a container with a drainage hole or be prepared to drill holes for drainage if there are none.

Prepare the container by filling with potting soil up to 2” (5cm) from the rim of the planter. Remove the plant from its pot.

Make a small hole in the soil slightly larger than the root ball either by hand or using a trowel. Insert the plant into the hole and press soil firmly around the roots and just covering the root ball. When all the plants are potted, water thoroughly to settle the soil and give plants a good start. Place plant in a reliably sunny location.

Repot every 2 years in the same container or in a container slightly larger than the diameter of the roots.

Prefers moist but well-drained soil. Check the soil moisture with your finger. If the top 2-4” (5-10cm) of soil is dry, or plants are wilted, it is time to water.

Apply water at the soil level if possible to avoid wetting the foliage. Water the entire soil area until water runs out the base of the pot. This indicates that the soil is thoroughly wet.

Most container plants can be pruned freely to maintain the desired size and shape. Keeping the foliage trimmed also keeps the plants looking neat and tidy, encourages the plant to develop more side-shoots and flowers, and reduces the demand for the plant to develop a larger root system. This is important since the roots are in a confined space.

Fertilizers are available in many forms: granulated, slow-release, liquid feeds, organic or synthetic. Determine which application method is best for the situation and select a product with a nutritional balance designed for foliage plants.

Too much fertilizer can damage plants so it’s important to follow the package directions to determine how much, and how often, to feed plants.

Slow-release fertilizers are an especially good, care-free choice for container plants. A single application can often provide plants with the proper level of nutrition all season long.

Baby Rubber Plant Companion/Combination Plants

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