Looking for a little plant that fits on a desk, a shelf or a crowded windowsill? Peperomia Pixie, often sold as teardrop peperomia, is a compact, bushy plant with small, teardrop-shaped leaves.
Pixie is usually sold as Peperomia orba ‘Pixie’. Peperomias belong to the black pepper family, Piperaceae, and the genus is native to the forest understory of Central and South America, though the native range is sometimes given more widely, taking in Africa, Southeast Asia and parts of Australia. Peperomia orba itself has a murkier past. The species was named by G.S. Bunting in 1966 and described from cultivated material, so its wild home is not on record.
Teardrop Peperomia Quick Care Tips
- Botanical name: Peperomia orba ‘Pixie’ (trade name; also sold as teardrop peperomia)
- Common names: Peperomia Pixie, teardrop peperomia, Pixie teardrop peperomia
- Family and origin: Piperaceae; the genus is native to Central and South America, with some ranges adding Africa, Southeast Asia and parts of Australia; P. orba was described from cultivated plants
- Growability: Easy, low maintenance
- Hardiness zones: Not published for Pixie; USDA 10a to 12b for the genus
- Size: A compact, small plant; estimates for the genus range from 6 to 12 inches to 8 to 15 inches
- Flowering: Thin flower spikes in spring and summer; not showy
- Light: Bright, indirect light; no direct sun
- Temperature: Warm rooms, away from cold drafts; for the genus, 65 to 86°F and always above 50°F
- Humidity: Average home humidity; a humidifier helps in winter
- Soil: Well-drained houseplant or cactus potting mix
- Water: Let the soil dry out between waterings; water less in fall and winter
- Fertilizer: Low-strength liquid fertilizer now and then in spring and summer, or slow-release granules once a year
- Pests and problems: Mealybugs, spider mites, fungus gnats, scale and whiteflies; root rot from overwatering
- Propagation: Stem or leaf cuttings
- Pets: Most peperomias are considered safe for pets; Pixie is not listed by name, though several other peperomias are listed as non-toxic to dogs and cats
What’s in a Name?
The genus name comes from Greek. NC State Extension says Peperomia combines peperi, the Greek word for pepper, and homoios, meaning resembling, a nod to the plant’s close relative, black pepper (Piper nigrum).
The species name orba is Latin, not Greek. In the classic Lewis and Short Latin Dictionary, orbus means bereft, especially of parents or children, and as a noun, orba means an orphan. It is a fitting name for a plant whose wild origin, according to the International Plant Names Index, is not on record.
Peperomia Pixie Care
Size and Growth
Pixie stays small and bushy, with grayish-green, teardrop-shaped leaves, each with a lighter stripe down the center. It is grown for its foliage.
Peperomias are typically slow-growing, though most species are also described as growing at a moderate rate. Size estimates vary too: 6 to 12 inches high and wide, or 8 to 15 inches tall and wide. Many have thick, fleshy leaves similar to succulents, and many species store water in them.
Flowering
Don’t expect much of a show. Peperomia flower spikes appear when the plant is actively growing in spring and summer, but they are considered unattractive and said to resemble a rat’s tail, and removing them lets the plant focus its energy on leaves. Peperomias typically do not flower as houseplants.
Teardrop Plant Light and Temperature Requirements
Bright, indirect light is the goal. Place peperomia where it gets indirect light from an east- or south-facing window; it can even tolerate somewhat low light near a large north-facing window. If it gets direct sun, the leaves may scorch. In a room with a bright south or west window, set the plant back from the glass, out of the sun’s path.
Peperomias prefer bright indirect light yet tolerate low light, which makes them perfect plants for a desk or tabletop in the home or office.
Keep it warm. The common name radiator plant refers to the genus’s preference for warm conditions, so protect peperomias from cold drafts. For the genus as a whole, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) gives 18 to 30°C (65 to 86°F) and says to keep peperomias out of cold draughts and always above 10°C (50°F). If you summer your plant outdoors, wait until nights are consistently 60°F or higher, start it in deep shade to acclimate, then keep it in a bright, shady spot out of direct sun. For another species, emerald ripple peperomia, 60°F is the minimum recommended winter temperature.
Outdoors, Pixie is a plant for frost-free gardens only. The genus is rated for USDA zones 10a to 12b, and the baby rubber plant, Peperomia obtusifolia, for zones 10 through 11; there is no published range for Pixie itself.
Pixie Peperomia Watering
Peperomias are easy to drown. Peperomia prefers to dry out between waterings, and an overwatered plant will drop its leaves. Let the soil dry out, then water until it drains. Let the pot drain before setting it back in its saucer.
Water less in the cool months. For the baby rubber plant, the Missouri Botanical Garden says to allow the soil to almost dry on top before rewatering and to reduce watering from fall to late winter. The simplest advice: it is best to err on the dry side when growing peperomia.
Humidity
Average home humidity is usually fine. Peperomias are adaptable and can thrive in the humidity levels of most homes, but if the home is very dry, consider a humidifier. Peperomia will benefit from a humidifier in winter. For the baby rubber plant, a humidified room or a tray of wet pebbles helps in summer.
Feeding Peperomia Pixie
Go easy on fertilizer. Fertilize peperomia only when it is actively growing in spring and summer. A low-strength liquid fertilizer can be used occasionally during the growing season, or a slow-release granular fertilizer once a year. Skip feeding in fall and winter.
Soil and Repotting Teardrop Peperomia
Use a well-drained houseplant or cactus potting mix, or a moist, well-drained mix of loam and sand. Whatever you choose, use a pot with drainage holes.
Pixie does not need frequent repotting. Peperomia does not need to be repotted every year and can stay in the same pot for several years, and it should go into a pot only slightly larger than the grower’s pot. Peperomias are typically slow-growing and will not need repotting often. A shallow terra-cotta pot is a good match for a small plant that likes to dry out between waterings.
Grooming and Pruning
Pixie is small and tends to hold its shape. Trim off old leaves when needed and, to make a plant look fuller, prune a stem just above a leaf node so it will branch. Save the healthy pieces for cuttings.
Propagation of Peperomia Pixie
Peperomias are easy to propagate. Propagate by leaf cuttings, stem cuttings or division, depending on the species.
For stem cuttings:
- Cut a 3- to 5-inch piece of stem from the parent plant.
- Remove the leaves on the lower third of the cutting.
- Dip the stem in rooting hormone, then insert it into potting soil or a rooting medium.
- Cover it with clear plastic and keep it out of direct sunlight.
For leaf cuttings, remove a leaf with at least an inch of its leaf stem (petiole) attached and insert it into a rooting medium. New plants form at the base of the leaf stem and can be potted once they develop.
For more details, see How To Propagate Peperomia.
Peperomia Orba Pixie Pests and Diseases
Most peperomia trouble starts with water. Clemson Extension says root rot, caused by overwatering, is the most common disease of peperomia, and it recommends draining the pot after watering and letting the plant dry out between waterings. It also says fungal leaf spots can be prevented by keeping the leaves dry when you water. Yellowing or curling leaves indicate overwatering, and good air circulation helps prevent leaf spots.
Insects show up now and then. Mealybugs, spider mites, fungus gnats, scale and whiteflies are the pests most often found on peperomias, along with aphids. Our guide to getting rid of mealybugs on succulents covers the cottony white pest most likely to hide on a fleshy-leaved plant like Pixie.
For mealybugs on houseplants, UC IPM says to dab them with a solution of 70% (or less) isopropyl alcohol and water, testing it on a small part of the plant first and watching for leaf burn. It also says insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils and neem oil applied directly to young mealybugs can reduce their numbers. UF/IFAS is more cautious: it lists alcohol as phytotoxic and says it should not be applied to plant tissues, and it recommends EPA-registered insecticidal soaps over homemade recipes. Whatever you use, follow its label.
More help: Tips on controlling peperomia pests and diseases.
Is the Teardrop Pixie Plant Toxic to Pets?
Most peperomia are considered safe for pets. The ASPCA lists several peperomias as non-toxic to dogs and cats, including the baby rubber plant (Peperomia obtusifolia), emerald ripple peperomia (P. caperata) and watermelon peperomia. Peperomia orba is not listed by name.
Non-toxic is not the same as edible. Eating any plant material may cause vomiting and stomach upset in dogs and cats, so keep Pixie where pets cannot chew on it. If you think a pet has eaten something harmful, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Is Peperomia Pixie Invasive?
Pixie is grown mostly as a houseplant. For a related species grown outdoors in Florida, the baby rubber plant is not known to be invasive and is ideal for tropical groundcover use. In frost-free areas, emerald ripple peperomia suits groundcover or borders.
Suggested Peperomia Pixie Uses
Pixie’s small size makes it a natural for desks, tabletops, shelves and mixed planters. Some peperomias suit terrariums, and the genus is perfect for a desk or tabletop in the home or office.
In cooler climates, it can spend summer outdoors in a pot in a bright, shady spot once nights stay at 60°F or higher, then come back inside before the weather turns cold.
Do you have a Pixie tucked onto a desk or windowsill? Tell us where yours grows!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Peperomia Pixie the same as Peperomia orba?
Pixie is sold as a form of Peperomia orba, often labeled Peperomia orba ‘Pixie’ or teardrop peperomia. Peperomia orba was named by G.S. Bunting in 1966 and described from cultivated material, so its wild origin is not on record. The species name orba is Latin, from orbus, meaning bereft or orphaned.
How often should I water Peperomia Pixie?
Water only after the soil has dried out. Peperomia prefers to dry out between waterings and drops its leaves when overwatered, and root rot from overwatering is its most common disease. Let the pot drain before returning it to the saucer. Reduce watering from fall to late winter, as with the related baby rubber plant.
How much light does a teardrop peperomia need?
Bright, indirect light suits it best. Indirect light from an east- or south-facing window works, and peperomia can tolerate somewhat low light near a large north-facing window. Direct sun may scorch the leaves. Peperomias prefer bright indirect light yet tolerate low light, which makes them perfect plants for a desk or tabletop.
Is Peperomia Pixie safe for cats and dogs?
Most peperomia are considered safe for pets, but Pixie is not listed by name. Several other peperomias, including the baby rubber plant and emerald ripple peperomia, are listed as non-toxic to dogs and cats. Any plant can cause vomiting or stomach upset if eaten. Keep it out of reach of pets that like to chew.
Why is my Peperomia Pixie dropping leaves?
Check your watering first. An overwatered peperomia will drop its leaves, and root rot from overwatering is the most common peperomia disease. Yellowing or curling leaves also indicate overwatering. Let the soil dry out between waterings, use a well-drained mix and a pot with drainage holes, and empty the saucer after watering.