Peperomia hope [pep-er-ROH-mee-uh, HOPE] is a hybrid between peperomia quadrifolia and peperomia deppeana.
This perennial epiphyte has beautiful foliage and makes ideal houseplants.
Originally from Central and South America tropical regions, peperomia plants have eye-catching leaves and a tolerance for a wide range of conditions.
Belonging to the Piperaceae family, peperomia is derived from the Greek words peperi (pepper) and homios (resembling), referring to its resemblance to a pepper.
Unlike most succulents, peperomia prefers more water and higher humidity.
Its trailing soft stems, delicate leaves, and small fleshy leaves make it ideal for hanging baskets, dish gardens, or potted indoor house plants.
Since pepperomia hope plants have a compact form, they easily occupy small spaces.
While there are more than 1,000 types of peperomia plants in the world, not all of them are cultivated for the public.
Some of the most common types of peperomia plants are:
Peperomia rosso is an attractive sport of Peperomia Caperata with rippled leaves and burgundy color.
The watermelon Peperomia (Peperomia argyreia) has eye-catching silver stripes across its elliptical-shaped leaves.
It rises up to 8″ only if planted in a container.
The baby rubber plant (peperomia obtusifolia) has solid green and shiny leaves.
Some types are variegated with gold and white coloration.
A dwarf specimen, Peperomia obtusifolia ‘Minima,’ is a little plant and reaches half the size of the standard Peperomia hope plant.
Most gardeners recognize peperomia hope by its common name of the radiator plant.
In this article, we’ll delve into tips on proper peperomia hope plant care.
Peperomia Hope Care
Size and Growth
Peperomia Hope plant has small, round leaves that resemble those of a jade plant, and it has a trailing and cascading growth habit, earning it the nickname “Trailing Jade.”
For beginners, peperomia hope is an ideal houseplant to grow. It requires little care and can tolerate some neglect.
It’s a small plant and grows up to 8″ inches across and 12″ inches high. Its compact size is what makes it perfect for dish gardens or desktops.
Peperomia hope doesn’t spread vigorously or overtake neighboring plants.
Flowering and Fragrance
Does peperomia hope flower?
Peperomia Hope has ornamental foliage and produces small, greenish-white peperomia hope flower. However, they are insignificant.
It has a year-round bloom time and happily grows in different types of conditions.
Their eye-catching appearance also makes them perfect for a window container or terrarium.
Peperomia Hope Light Requirements and Temperature
Although Peperomia Hope plants dislike dry air, they grow pretty well in a cool environment.
The ideal temperature for its robust growth is between 65° – 75° degrees Fahrenheit (18° – 24° C).
They thrive in medium to low-light situations.
For better results, keep the peperomia tet hope away from the direct sunlight. Bright light tends to wash out the attractive leaf color.
You may grow them under fluorescent lighting or other forms of bright indirect light as well.
These plants are hardy to USDA hardiness zones 10 to 12.
Peperomia Hope Watering and Feeding
During the growing season, make sure to keep the soil moist. However, you don’t want the soil to be soggy.
In the fall and winter, don’t water the plant until the soil is dry. You can use a moisture meter to assess the moisture level at the bottom of the pot.
How often to water Peperomia Hope?
Peperomia hope or peperomia prostrata doesn’t respond well to overwatering and may lead to root rot.
This is why it is important to wait until the soil is dry. Watering every 7 to 10 days will be enough.
Before watering, check the soil’s moisture level by inserting your finger into the soil. If it feels dry, it’s time to water the plant.
Maintain a balance to prevent the soil from becoming overly dry or excessively wet.
You can also boost the humidity levels using a room humidifier or pebble tray for vigorous growth.
Use a balanced liquid plant food to deal with the new plant’s feeding needs during the growing season and fertilize bi-weekly.
You may use controlled-release fertilizer pellets as well.
Do not fertilize the plant during winter.
peperomia hope Soil and Transplanting
The plant grows well in a look, well-draining soil or very rich potting soil mix with good drainage and a pH of 6 to 6.6 (50% peat moss/ 50% perlite).
NOTE: Always use a pot with drainage holes.
While they don’t generally require repotting, repotting is better when they become too large for the container in which they were initially planted.
For best results, grow the plant in a light porous soil mixture with part perlite to make sure the roots receive ample air circulation.
Grooming and Maintenance
One of the highly sought-after indoor plants, peperomia hope, requires some pruning.
When the light green leaves on the trailing stems start outgrowing their container, it is time for some leaf-cutting.
In spring, repot the house plant to refresh the soil.
Keep these low maintenance plants in a small pot, as they generally like small spaces.
If you want to change the container after repotting, don’t go more than one pot size up.
Related: Explore the unique Peperomia Prostrata plant and its care requirements.
How to Propagate Hope Peperomia
The easiest propagation method for Peperomia hope is through leaf cuttings.
So, how to propagate peperomia hope? Here’s how:
Remove the large succulent leaves with their petioles or little stem that attaches the leaf to the main stem and plant them in fresh soil.
Place the container in a warm place with indirect light, and don’t change the location until new growth emerges.
However, you can also propagate your Peperomia Hope using stem cuttings.
Peperomia Hope Plant Pest or Diseases
Hope Peperomia plants are vulnerable to a few pests and diseases. Common sap-sucking pests like aphids, mealybugs, and scales love these plants.
You can prevent potential infestations by checking the leaves and soil of the plant.
The plant will have fading dull leaves when the light is too strong.
The remedy to this problem is simple as you’ll have to move the plant to more shade.
If the Hope peperomia faces excessive watering, it will start showing discolored leaves and flowers. For this, water the plant when the soil is dry.
Overwatering also causes scab-like protrusions on the plant’s leaves.
Another common problem is the yellowing of leaves, which is often a sign of your Peperomia hope not getting enough nutrients.
You can remedy this by giving it a light, balanced fertilizer to improve the NPK or regularly misting the plant with rainwater.
More on: Radiator plant pests and diseases here
Peperomia Hope Use
Use the compact-sized Peperomia Hope plant for decorative purposes inside and outside.
It looks great kept on a desktop, windowsill, or hanging basket.
Since it’s pet safe, it makes a great houseplant. However, keep it away and far from kids’ reach.
