Peperomia Puteolata – Parallel Peperomia Ultimate Growing Guide

What is Peperomia Puteolata?

We’ve featured a range of peperomia plants. They’re a great choice for indoor spaces and beginner gardeners, offering a wealth of evergreen foliage and a fairly fuss-free growth habit.

Peperomia tetragona, Peperomia puteolata, or Parallel peperomia, is an upright, growing variety interestingly patterned with green and white stripes.

Formerly known as the peperomia puteolata, this perennial is part of the Piperaceae, or pepper family. It belongs to a family of tropical and subtropical plants originating from South America, which offer a soft, tropical aesthetic for growers.

Peperomias are perfect for indoor terrariums, hanging baskets and window-sill planters.

Similar to the watermelon peperomia, the parallel peperomia has small, ovate leaves, with white and green venation and slim, reddish stems. 

It has an upright and trailing growth habit, and in the right conditions, it can produce small flower spikes with white blooms. 

How to Grow Peperomia Puteolata

Peperomias generally have very simple needs. They need a decent level of light, average humidity and a good mixture of moist yet well-draining soil. 

When picking a spot for your peperomia, it’s best to choose somewhere that is sheltered from winds and receives a dappled amount of bright, indirect light.

If your peperomia is exposed to too much direct sunlight, it can cause the leaves to become scorched and dry out. Alternatively, too little light can cause sparse and leggy growth. 

When picking a pot, it’s important to note that peperomias have gentle roots that prefer being compacted. As such, it’s a good idea to choose a smaller pot to start.

Pick a peat-based potting mix that allows the soil to retain nutrients and still drain sufficiently. A mixture with 2 parts peat and 1 part perlite is ideal. 

Are you sometimes confused whether to use perlite or vermiculite? Find out the difference between perlite vs vermiculite here. 

How to Propagate Puteolata

Propagating peperomias is fairly easy and can easily be done when pinching back leggy growth. The easiest way to propagate is by means of stem cutting. 

Here is what you’ll need to do: 

• Using a clean, sterilised blade or garden shears, remove a stem cutting that is a few centimetres in length and still has one or two leaves and at least one node. 
  
  (If you don't have one yet, refer to our review for the best garden shears for 2023.) 
• Leave the cutting out in a warm spot, allowing it to dry out and heal before planting. 
• Plant the cutting into a moist potting mixture and keep it in a warm, sunny spot. 
• For ideal results, you can cover your cutting with a plastic bag or plant cover to help retain a good amount of humidity.

Planting and Repotting Peperomia Tetragona

Once your cutting begins to produce new growth, you’re ready to plant your cutting. Established plants won’t require regular repotting. However, once plants become overgrown, they should be repotted to a slightly bigger pot. 

Shallow pots are better, as peperomia prefer tightly bound roots. Be sure to use a rich, peat moss potting mixture when repotting and watering well in the first few days. 

Peperomia Puteolata Care

The most important of peperomia care is to regulate watering. Overwatering can cause a wealth of issues, so it’s best to wait until the soil is dry to the touch before watering again. During the winter months, watering can be avoided almost altogether. 

A diluted fertilizer can be added throughout the spring and summer while it is in its growing phase. Fertilizing should be done every other week and stopped at the beginning of Autumn. 

Pruning your peperomia can help to promote dense growth and avoid any leggy, sparse looking branches. Pinching back any leggy growth every week is recommended. 

In overly hot and dry seasons, it is recommended to mist your peperomia to give it a little additional humidity.

Potential Peperomia Tetragona Problems & Pests

In the right conditions,  the parallel peperomia shouldn’t pose too much of a problem. However, stressed plants can develop disease or suffer from infestations. 

Root rot or fungal infection can develop when the roots are overly waterlogged. As such, it’s essential to allow the soil to dry out between watering. 

Mealybugs can also become a problem. These can be treated with a homemade soap solution or neem oil. Simply spray your solution onto the leaves or use a Q-tip to remove the pests.

Learn more about mealybugs, methods on treating infestations, and how to prevent them in this guide. 

Peperomia FAQ’s 

Is Peperomia Toxic? 

All cultivars of the peperomia species are considered to be non-toxic, which makes them perfect for indoors. You can keep them on countertops, window-sill or in your bedroom without having to worry if they’ll affect your kids or pets. 

Does Peperomia Release Oxygen at Night? 

Peperomias are known to emit a very high oxygen content at night. This is another added benefit of keeping peperomias as an indoor plant, especially for kitchens and bedrooms. 

Is Peperomia an Outdoor Plant? 

Peperomias can be grown outdoors, provided they are kept in a sheltered spot, which doesn’t receive too much sunlight throughout the day.

More so, they will need to be protected during the winter as they don’t deal well with sudden temperature drops and frost. 

Does Peperomia Grow Fast? 

Although adding fertilizer to your peperomia can encourage faster growth, they are considered as slower growing plants. 

How Big Will a Peperomia Grow? 

The majority of the peperomia species often only grow to about 12 inches in size. Thus, making them ideal for more compact spaces.

Are you looking for other peperomia species to add to your home? Take a look at our guides here: