Peperomia Hope Growing and Care Guide

Indoor gardens are all the rage at the moment. Whether it’s a formidable amount of hanging plants, or the current craze around plant walls, we're pretty sure you have heard of Peperomia Hope

People are acknowledging the power of having plants in your home, and that they do more than just adding to décor. So, if you’re looking for the perfect indoor plant, with maximum appeal and very little fuss, look no further than the Peperomia Hope. 

The Peperomia Hope, known to some as the Radiator plant, is a descendant of the piperacae family and boasts a beautiful, ornamental foliage.

It’s not hard to grow, easy to care for and is quite neglect tolerant -making it the perfect pick for the home gardener. Ready to start planting?

Here’s how to propagate and plant your own Peperomia Hope plant, as well as all the things you should look out for in your growing journey. 

What is Peperomia Hope?

Easily distinguished by its trailing stem and small succulent leaves, the peperomia hope is an evergreen, perennial epiphyte that originates from the Amazon region.

As it is native to central South America, the Peperomia genus is considered a tropical or sub-tropical species, boasting over 1,000 varieties of the plant. 

The ‘Hope’ variety is, in fact, a hybrid species formed from the peperomia quadrifolia and the peperomia deppeana species.

The peperomia name is of Greek derivation - which loosely translates to ‘resembling pepper’, referring to the piper negrum or black pepper plant, a flowering plant in the piperacae family. 

Although often mistaken, the peperomia hope is by no means a succulent. It produces small, ‘succulent-looking’ leaves, which are covered in faint, light-green stripes. The peperomia also doesn’t produce any flowers, a feature shared with some of its succulent counterparts. 

The main reason people look to the peperomia plant for indoors is that it requires little to no direct sunlight. Thus, it’s equipped to survive indoors and in lower light situations.

Not only that, but the peperomia actually has tremendous air purifying capabilities. 

How to Grow Peperomia Hope

The peperomia is not only easily cared for – but it is also really easily propagated from a leaf cutting. Yet another feature which makes it easily confused with a succulent. 

You can take a cutting that is approximately 2-3 inches in length, however, make sure you leave on some (about 1 or 2) leaves. Use a sharp pair of pruning scissors to prevent original plant damage. 

If you are on the market for one, check out our review of the best secateurs for your pruning tasks in the garden. 

While it is as easy as just popping your cutting into some new soil, you will want to make sure you solidify all the right conditions first. 

Peperomia Hope Propagation

1. The Pot Size

• When choosing a pot, you will want to look for a smaller container with a drainage hole (good drainage is very important for the peperomia). 
• If you are planning on putting your plant somewhere where it is not particularly humid, consider placing your pot on a tray of pebbles.
  
  By keeping the pebbles moist you can build humidity around your plant. 
• If re-potting, keep in mind that smaller is always better. If your peperomia has too much space, you risk inadequate draining which can cause rot and other problems for your plant. 

2. The Right Soil Ph

• The most important consideration when looking at soil is to ensure you have a well-draining potting mix. 
• A Soil Ph Balance of about 6 to 6.6 is best suitable for the peperomia. 

To get the right amount of pH, learn how to adjust pH in soil with the help of our guide here. 

3. Best Growing Location

• Peperomia are slightly temperature sensitive. 
• As they enjoy more humid climates, try keeping their environment between 65° and 75° F. 
• Excessive loss of leaves can be a signifier of significant temperature drops.
• Peperomias like light, but do not do well in direct sunlight. Semi-shaded spots are ideal. 
• Should your leaves begin to dull, your peperomia may be getting too much sunlight. 
• It is important not to move your plant around too much during the beginning stages of growing. 
• If you have particularly low light conditions, consider the use of a LED light to assist your young plant. (Refer to our guide on the best LED grow lights here).

Then, you can simply pop your cutting into your prepared potting mix, making sure the leaves remain above the soil. 

Peperomia Hope Care Guide

Taking care of your peperomia is pretty straightforward and can easily fall into the care cycles of your other indoor plants. While the plant is not-so-phased by a little neglect, there are certain aspects to take into consideration when it comes to your plant care. 

Avoid Over-Watering

Over-watering is the biggest factor in peperomia plant decay. As much as it enjoys moist soil, you will need to make sure your soil is never left soggy. 

A solid watering every 1 to 1 ½ weeks should suffice. Ensure you allow adequate time for the top soil to dry fully before watering. 

What Fertilizer to Use

Fertilizing monthly during the spring and summer months is recommended, and best avoided during winter. Consider using a 10-10-10 fertilizer for your soil or a balanced liquid plant food. 

Curling of the leaf could be a potential signifier of over-fertilization. 

Pruning Peperomia Hope

Regular pruning in early spring recommended. This can be done to:

• Correct sparse stem growth. 
• Control size.
• Curb pests and diseases. 

To prune lightly remove stem end at the desired length. 

Re-Potting

Your peperomia is quite comfortable being re-potted and this can be done as a means to re-enrich the soil or if your peperomia is starting to outgrow its container.

Again, be sure not to jump sizes too quickly, you want to maintain an optimal root to soil ratio. 

Possible Peperomia Hope Pests and Diseases 

As your peperomia is indoors, you won’t necessarily get stuck with many pests. However, you may encounter some Mealybugs, as with most other indoor plants. 

These pesky, soft-bodied insects form as white cottony spots on your plant and can become a real problem. 

Luckily, there are many ways you can treat mealybugs including: 

• A strong gust of water to dislodge bugs. 
• Rubbing alcohol on a Q-Tip applied to formidable spots on your plant.
• An insecticidal soap

Though your peperomia is not particularly prone to disease, you may come across some fungal, bacterial and viral threats to your plant. Overwatering and rot are the most common problems. 

Watch your watering and just be sure to keep a lookout for any signs of disease, including: 

Ring Spot

You will notice ring spots through distinct brown rings on the leaf, that will begin to disfigure leaf shape.

Treatments for ring spots are few and far between and it is best to destroy infected plants so as not to risk infection of other plants. 

Edema

You may notice some small, pimple-like clusters that form underneath the leaves. Edema generally attacks plants with lower calcium and potassium levels. Be sure to regulate your soil levels through regular testing. 

Phytophthora Rot

One of the biggest contributors to root rot is poorly draining soil. Rot will result in an infection and browning of the leaf blades. Through careful watering and regular repotting, phytophthora rot can be avoided. 

Best Ways to Display your Peperomia Hope

How you want to display your peperomia is entirely up to you. Keep in mind that the peperomia has some fantastic trailing stems, which is why it works well as a hanging plant. 

However, because you can control the stems through pruning and it’s not overly invasive in its growth, the peperomia also works well as part of the very trendy dish gardens. 

Whichever you choose, your peperomia will be happy and really pretty, leaving you pretty happy too. 

Peperomia Hope Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my peperomia hope so leggy?

The main reason for this is most likely that your plant is not receiving sufficient light. These plants need bright light but not direct light.

If your plant is positioned in a spot that gets too much shade, it will grow towards light sources, elongating its stems and ultimately becoming leggy.

Simply move your plant to a spot with more direct light and it should recover and become less leggy in no time. 

Can peperomia hope grow in water?

This easy-going houseplant can grow in almost any medium. Whether you choose soil, water or moss, it should be able to grow and thrive.

Water is also an excellent way to propagate peperomia hope. If you choose to grow your plant exclusively in water, it may grow smaller than if it were planted in soil. 

Can peperomia hope live outside?

Unfortunately, this plant can only be grown exclusively outside in areas close to the equator. Ideal temperatures range between 65° and 75°F, allowing the plant to thrive in a moderately warm environment with no frost. 

Should you mist peperomia hope?

This plant needs medium to high humidity to thrive and grow best. Ideal room humidity should be above 50 percent for the best results.

By misting the leaves every day, you can help ensure your plant gets the humidity it needs. Be sure to use distilled or filtered water. 

Looking for more Peperomia varieties to grow in your garden? Check out our complete growing guides below: 

• Peperomia Rosso
• Peperomia Pixie
• Peperomia albovittata
• Peperomia angulata
• Peperomia argyreia
• Peperomia graveolens
• Peperomia puteolata

Wrapping Up Our Guide to Growing Peperomia Hope

When it comes to your Peperomia Hope growing journey, just make sure you’ve prepared your soil and picked the perfect, semi-shaded spot so your peperomia can live a long happy life.

Do what you want with how you display your plant, just make sure you don’t overwater and your soil supports optimal drainage. Keep an eye on your leaves to check for pests and diseases. 

Other than that, you’ll enjoy a particularly happy, problem-free, potted Peperomia Hope in you home!