Peperomia Graveolens Care: Growing Succulent Ruby Glow Peperomia

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Peperomia Graveolens (pep-er-ROH-mee-uh Grav-ee-OH-lens) is an ornamental, succulent, and perennial houseplant and one of the many peperomia plant species from the family Piperaceae.

Graveolens Ruby Glow PeperomiaPin
Peperomia graveolens ruby glow in a small pot size makes a nice desk plant
[CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

This plant is native to southern Ecuador and well-known in two subpopulations – first, in the Oña River and second, in the Loja province.

It was first collected in 1973 by German botanists at an altitude range of 2,000 to 2,500 meters.

Peperomia graveolens grows in Cordillera’s reasonably elevated dry regions on the cliffs, where it adapted to the climate.


Aside from habitat damage, there hasn’t been any known threat to this plant.

The Graveolens peperomia has several common names:

  • Ruby Glow Peperomia
  • Ruby Peperomia
  • Ruby Red Peperomia

Peperomia Graveolens Quick Care Tips

  • Botanical Name: Peperomia Graveolens Ruby Glow
  • Common Name(s): Ruby Glow Peperomia
  • Synonyms: N/A
  • Family & Origin: Piperaceae family, native to South Ecuador
  • Growability: Easy to grow
  • Grow Zone: USDA zones 10-12
  • Size: Grows up to 6′ inches tall and wide
  • Flowering: Produces small, insignificant flowers
  • Light: Prefers bright, indirect light
  • Humidity: Enjoys moderate to high humidity levels
  • Temperature: Thrives in temperatures between 65-75°F
  • Soil: Well-draining soil mix
  • Water: Water when the top inch of soil is dry, avoid overwatering
  • Fertilizer: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 months during growing season
  • Pests & Diseases: Susceptible to mealybugs and spider mites, watch for root rot if overwatered
  • Propagation: Propagate through stem cuttings or leaf cuttings
  • Plant Uses: Great for tabletops, shelves, and terrariums. Can also be used as a ground cover in larger planters.

Ruby Red Peperomia is another common name for Peperomia Graveolens, which is known for its attractive thick, fleshy leaves that are a rich, ruby-red color on the underside, giving the plant its distinctive appearance.

In this article, we’ll delve into growing and caring for your Peperomia Graveolens.

Peperomia Graveolens Care Tips

Size and Growth

Peperomia Graveolens is a rare and exotic indoor mini shrub growing about 10” inches in height. When grown indoors, Ruby Peperomia plants may grow taller as they stretch for light.

One of the standout features of the plant is the striking red coloration of the undersides of its leaves. 

Peperomia graveolens sprouts gleaming red stems in wine red color and has succulent leaves, which are also wine red shade except for the upper part of the plant, where it has a transparent v-shaped ‘window’ that allows the process of photosynthesis.

Ruby Glow peperomia, red stems, succulent leavesPin

The red pigmentation in the leaves helps protect the peperomia ruby red from intense sunlight and pests like mites and thrips. 

Peperomia Graveolens succulent with red under leaves is a great addition to any plant collection and requires minimal care.

Flowering and Fragrance

The flower racemes of the Peperomia graveolens are simple and resemble a rat’s tail.



It looks powdery lime green in color to the naked eye and usually grows up to 3″ inches in height.

The lovely peperomia graveolens flower grows on the plant’s long, tiny stems. They have no real scent and are in the shade of yellowish white.

However, “graveolens” means bad smelling. Get your nose close enough, and you may get a whiff of a faint, unpleasant odor.

Light and Temperature

Graveolens peperomia grows easily in full to partial sun or under bright light but does best in partial shade or when placed away from direct sunlight exposure.

The best location for Ruby Glow peperomia is indoors near a window facing east or north.

It also thrives when growing under fluorescent plant grow lights.

The ideal temperature for Peperomia graveolens is between 65° – 75° degrees Fahrenheit (18 °C and 24° C).

It does not like cold, and avoiding temperatures below 60° degrees Fahrenheit is best.

Regarding humidity levels, Peperomia Graveolens Ruby Glow succulent can thrive in high, medium, or low humidity conditions.  

Watering and Feeding

Water Peperomia graveolens moderately, but be consistent with watering when the plant is growing.

Water so the soil gets moist but is not soggy. When watering, ensure that the first inch of the soil of Peperomia Ruby Glow dries out before watering more.

Moreover, it’s best to decrease the watering in the winter months.

The major issue with growing most peperomia plants is water-related.

As mentioned above, Peperomia Ruby Glow plant prefers the soil to be steadily moist.

When overwatered or given too much water, the red and green succulent plant tends to wilt or get scab-like raised protrusions throughout its leaves. So, it’s best to ensure there are drainage holes when grown in pots. 

In addition, you can stand the plant in saucers so the excess water drains freely.

It is typically not alarming if your red taco plant starts losing its bottom leaves.

However, if there is a major leaf drop, you should adjust the temperature or check the fertilizer.

Soil and Transplanting

Graveolens succulent prefers moist, humus-rich, peat-based, or well-draining soil.

The ideal succulent plant mix is one part perlite or sand and two parts peat.

Other mixes also work well for this plant, but the major thing is that the potting soil is well-aerated and drains well, too.

You may also add organic compost as the soil’s top dressing for your plant to be nutrient-rich.

It is ideal to use half-strength balanced fertilizer twice in the growing season.

Ruby peperomia succulent likes to be a little pot-bound. Use a pot with drainage holes.

Moreover, your Peperomia Graveolens only needs repotting once it grows bigger than its current pot. Also, ensure the water flows continuously out of the container to avoid root rot and overwatering. 

Grooming and Maintenance

Another important aspect of ruby glow peperomia care is pruning. Graveolens plants might need pruning a few times a year if they get out of hand or scraggly.

The foliage, growth, and leaves come in various forms, which are:

  • Erect
  • Trailing
  • Corrugated
  • Round
  • Oblong
  • Reddish stems and foliage
  • Crinkled
  • Smooth
  • Variegated
  • Fleshy
  • Shiny
  • And/or single-color

When cutting tips, keep the following in mind:

  • Start with the leaves that are the lowest pairs
  • Cut the tip with some leaves

How about peperomia graveolens leggy?

Peperomia Graveolens may become leggy if it does not receive sufficient light or if it is overwatered. 

If your Peperomia has become leggy, pinch back the tips of the stems to encourage bushier growth.

To prevent leggy growth, make sure your Peperomia Graveolens are placed in a spot with bright, indirect light and are watered only when the top inch of soil feels dry. 

This plant doesn’t require extra maintenance besides the usual house plant care.

Tips On Propagating Peperomia Graveolens

Related: Check out our article on How To Propagate Peperomia

The easiest way peperomia graveolens propagation is by rooting the stem tip cuttings when grooming the plant.

Here’s what you need to do to propagate peperomias:

Ensure you cut 3″ – 4″ tip cutting, leaving two to three leaves.

Dip the bottom in a rooting hormone powder and place the cutting in a small pot with 50% peat moss and 50% perlite as a starting soil.

Ensure the soil is moist, and place the potted cuttings in an area with indirect partial light.

These little plants can also be propagated by leaf cuttings.

It is best to experiment a little and try out a few stem cuttings and leaves to determine which propagation method works for you.

Give the stem or leaves cutting a day or two to dry properly before planting.

Avoid overwatering the Red taco plant, and once it starts growing, move it to a bigger pot so they have more room to grow.

Ruby Glow Graveolens Pest or Diseases

The pepperomia graveolens plant doesn’t suffer from many diseases or pest issues other than overwatering.

However, it is best to look for whiteflies, spider mites, and mealybugs. Also, look for white cottony masses on the leaves or stems.

You can get rid of them by rubbing the affected area with a cotton dipped in alcohol daily for two weeks. Doing so will help heal the leaves.

You might see a few leaf spots. Moreover, the Ruby Glow plant rotates if the soil is too moist. Therefore, cold temperatures and wetness should be avoided.

Suggested Uses For Graveolens Peperomias

Graveolens peperomias make a nice indoor plant. It can be used in terrariums and dish gardens.

When grown indoors, mature plants don’t grow higher than 12″ to 18″ inches, making them ideal to be placed on tables.

These look excellent when used as hanging plants.

You can also use Peperomia ruby glow as a potted plant in work areas and rooms to beautify your surroundings.