Peperomia Rosso Care Made Simple: Your How To Grow Guide

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Peperomia Rosso is a sport of the popular Peperomia caperata. It is one of many peperomia types from the (pepper) Piperaceae family.

This article shares Peperomia Caperata Rosso care and its growing requirements.

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Rosso Peperomia

Peperomia Rosso Quick Care Tips

  • Botanical Name: Peperomia caperata ‘Rosso’
  • Common Name(s): Peperomia Rosso, Red Peperomia, Peperomia Eden Rosso, Radiator Plant, Emerald Ripple Peperomia
  • Synonyms: None
  • Pronunciation: [pep-er-ROH-mee-uh] [ros-so]
  • Family & Origin: Piperaceae family, native to Brazil, sport of Peperomia caperata
  • Growability: Easy to grow
  • Grow Zone: USDA hardiness zones 10-12
  • Size: Grows up to 8″ inches (20 cm) tall and wide
  • Flowering: Produces small, insignificant white or green flowers
  • Light: Prefers bright, indirect light. It can tolerate some shade.
  • Humidity: Thrives in high humidity but does well in average humidity.
  • Temperature: Prefers temperatures between 65-75°F (18-24°C). Protect from frost and extreme heat.
  • Water: Allow soil to dry between waterings. Water thoroughly; do not let the plant sit in standing water.
  • Fertilizer: Fertilize every other watering during the growing season. Feed with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at 1/2 strength.
  • Propagation: Propagate from stem cuttings or leaf cuttings.
  • Uses: Popular as a houseplant or in terrariums. Its vibrant foliage adds color and texture to any space.

Peperomia Rosso Care

Eden Rosso Peperomia is relatively easy to grow and care for. Let’s look at how to care for Pepperomia Rosso, from watering requirements, lighting, feeding, flowering and more.

Peperomia Red Size & Growth

Peperomia caperata Rosso is a compact plant growing about 8″ inches high and wide. The delicate foliage grows in a rosette pattern and has distinctive pointed leaves.

Close-up of a peperomia plant with dark green leaves and red undersides on a desk.Pin
Photo Credit: Instagram @littlejungle.pl

The Pep Rosso plant has dark green leaves and a wrinkled texture. The leaves are deeply veined, with a heart shape. The glossy green leaves themselves are 1″ – 1.5″ inches long with red undersides.

The leaves grow on the tips of long red stems. The leaves look so dark green they appear almost black on their rippled surface.

It produces small flowers that can be white or green. It makes a great plant for indoor settings and terrariums. It makes a great plant for indoor settings and terrariums.

This plant is winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 11 through 12.

Flowering & Fragrance

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Photo Credit: Instagram @poppetypot

The Rosso peperomia caperata flowers are greenish-white, very small, and grow at the end of 2″ – 3″ inches long reddish spikes.

The scentless Peperomia rosso flower appears in the springtime and summer. The blooms are unusual and unique but not especially pretty or showy.

Peperomia Red Care: Light Conditions & Temperature

Rosso peperomia does best with bright indirect light. Some problems come from inconsistent or incorrect lighting.

The plant can do well in partial sun or with either morning or evening sun. It does not tolerate full, direct sun. Rosso can also tolerate low light conditions but may end up with a leggy plant.

Peperomia Rosso plant sitting on a balcony with green leaves and red undersides.Pin

Red peps do not like to “live” in very dark settings or very harsh, direct sunlight. Fluorescent lighting is an excellent choice when growing these easy-care indoor plants. The consistent light of a grow light or fluorescent light bulb is perfect for them.

Too little light can cause your plant to grow very slowly, and too much sun produces scorched leaves.



Temperatures

The best temperature for your Rosso Peperomia ranges from 55° – 75° degrees Fahrenheit (13° C – 24° C).

Place Peperonia Rosso plants well away from heating vents and doors that open and close in the hot summer or cold winter. These plants cannot tolerate extremes of hot or cold.

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Photo Credit: Instagram @hijaukanteras

caperata rosso care: Water & Feeding

Most Peperomias cannot stand extremes. Do not allow the Rosso Peperomia soil to dry out or overwater it. When the soil feels almost dry, give the plant a thorough, deep watering.

  • The fragile roots of Peperomia caperata ‘rosso’ do not tolerate drought conditions. It is best to water from below and allow the plant to soak up all the water it needs.
  • Allow excess water to pour out the drainage holes before setting the plant in a saucer. Remember that too much water can cause root rot.
  • In general, water your Rosso every 7 – 10 days.

Never get the crown of the plant wet. This is especially important during cold weather. Dampness on the plant’s crown leads to rot.

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Photo Credit: Instagram @gourbanshoots

Once a year, late in the springtime, pour water through the plant (being careful not to get the foliage wet). Allow the water to run through the potting soil to help remove salts that build up from fertilizers.

Peperomia plants prefer standard household humidity.

Place your plant on a pebble tray if it’s very hot and dry during summer or your home becomes dry from heating. This will help the plant with more moisture and make the air less dry.

  • Misting is unnecessary unless you use it to clean the red peperomia plant leaves.
  • Indoors, in the wintertime, reduce watering your radiator plants.
  • Outdoors, rarely water your Peperomia during the autumn and colder months.

Feeding Red Rosso

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Photo Credit: Instagram @heryerbitki

A balanced, 20–20–20 fertilizer is the right choice for these houseplants. Read the instructions carefully.

  • During the growing season, feed using a mixture of half-strength liquid fertilizer. Add fertilizer to every other watering.
  • Indoors, during the fall and winter, fertilize only once a month or not at all.
  • You may also choose to use time-released granules or plant fertilizer spikes.
  • As with water, take care not to allow fertilizer to come in contact with the leaves.
  • If you recently bought a new plant or if you planted your own in new soil, don’t give it any fertilizer for the next six months.
  • Begin fertilizing in the spring after 6 months have passed.
Potted compact, Peperomia Rosso, dark green leaves with red undersides, slightly wavy edge, and glossy texture.Pin

Soil & Transplanting

Some people think of Peperomia Red as a succulent. Others think it’s an epiphyte. Some types of Peperomia can grow on trees, just like epiphytes. But they aren’t real epiphytes.

Their roots do more than just hold them in place. They feed off the structure of the tree in a parasitic manner.

  • These plants need a potting mix that drains well but still keeps some moisture.
  • With small roots, these plants are great for dish gardens.
  • The soil should hold moisture and provide food for the roots.
  • If you can’t find a cactus or succulent potting mix, make your own with half perlite and half peat moss. A little gravel also helps to provide good air circulation around the roots.
  • This tropical succulent does not need especially deep soil. It does need light, airy, well-draining soil.
  • Peperonia Rosso likes to be a little bit root-bound.
  • Move the plant to a bigger pot if its roots poke through the drain holes.
  • Be careful when repotting because the plant’s roots are delicate and can break easily.

Grooming & Maintenance Caring Requirements Of Red Peperomia

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Photo Credit: Instagram @rmflores_holambra
  • Trim your Rosso plant to help it keep its shape and size.
  • Spray water on the leaves once a month and gently clean them with a soft cloth to remove dust. A microfiber cloth is good.
  • Early spring is the best time to trim your peperomia plant.
  • Don’t worry about cutting too much. The plants grow quickly and fill empty spaces soon.
  • Regular trimming will keep the plant looking healthy and full.

Peperomia Rosso Flower Propagation

Starting new Peperomias from cuttings is as easy as it is for African Violets. Propagation of Peperomia is easy, like most other fleshy succulent plants.

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Photo Credit: Instagram @lavieenvert.41

Propagating from Stem Cuttings:

  • Cut off a relatively long, healthy, mature stem-cutting
  • Remove the leaves, leaving only a couple of leaves at the end.
  • Dip the end of the stem into a rooting powder (optional).
  • In a small pot, use a pencil to make a hole in some fresh, clean, well-draining soil
  • Put the end of the stem cutting into the hole.
  • Firm the soil around the stems.
  • Sprinkle water on the soil lightly
  • Create a moist environment by covering the pot with a plastic bag or a humidity dome.
  • Place the cutting in a still, warm place with bright, indirect light but not direct sun.

Propagating from Leaf Cuttings:

  • Cut off a leaf with the stem attached.
  • Cut the stem in a sloping manner (45-degree angle)
  • Dip the end of the leaf stem into a rooting hormone powder (optional).
  • Make a hole in a small pot or tray with some fresh, clean, well-draining soil.
  • Put the leaf stem end into the hole.
  • Firm the soil around the stem.
  • Sprinkle water on the soil lightly.
  • Raise the humidity level by covering the pot or tray with a plastic bag.
  • Place the cutting in a still, warm place with bright, indirect light but not direct sun.

After a few weeks, you should see new leaves starting at the base of the cutting. Once the new plant grows its roots and leaves, you can move it into a bigger pot.

NOTE: The soil should be damp but not wet while the new plant is growing.

Pep Rosso Plant Pests and Diseases

A healthy Rosso Peperomia usually doesn’t have big disease or bug problems. Overwatering, extremes in temperature, and extremes in lighting can cause peperomia rosso problems.

Weakened plants are susceptible to attacks from:

More about: “Radiator Plants” Pests and Diseases

Make sure not to overwater your peperomia caperata ‘rosso’ plant.

  • Overwatering or watering from above can make the roots and base of the plants rot.
  • Overwatering can lead to spider mites and fungus gnats problems.

Peperomias are subject to a disease called cucumber mosaic virus, causing ring spots.

Poor conditions also lead to leaf spots. If you see leaves on your peperomia cap rosso plant that look wilted or strange, cut them off, and the plant should get better by itself.

Plants needing a bigger pot or overwatered may wilt because the roots don’t get enough air.

Keep your plants in pots that are the right size and with the right kind of light soil. Water in the right way.

If you keep your Peperomia outdoors, watch out for slugs and snails.

Use bait for slugs and snails made from sodium ferric EDTA for control. Or, put dishes with beer outside. Slugs and snails will go into the beer and won’t be able to get out.

Is Peperomia Toxic or Poisonous or Invasive?

Peperomia rosso is safe around children and pets. Peperomias are non-toxic but could still make pets sick. The plants are not considered invasive.

Related: Is The Peperomia Toxic to Cats?

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Uses For Peperomia Caperata Rosso

Rosso Peperomia is easy to care for. Because it does well in a small pot, it’s a great plant for a desktop, office, or other public space.

The pep Rosso plant does well in places like offices that have steady temperatures and light. These plants also do well in a bathroom. They need enough natural light or a bright lamp.

In places with a tropical environment, the dark green Rosso is good for use as a ground covering. It likes bright, indirect light with soil that doesn’t hold water and is not too dense.

Red Rosso Plant Fun Facts

The parent plant Peperomia caperata originally hails from Brazil, South America & Central America.

Close-up of green and red striped leaves of a houseplant with prominent leaf veins and fuzzy stems.Pin
Photo Credit: Instagram @pretty_planty_things

The genus name “Peperomia” comes from two Greek words.

  • Peperi, which means pepper
  • homoios, which means resembling

These plants do, indeed, resemble pepper plants and are related to true black pepper.

The specific epithet, caperata, comes from the Latin meaning “wrinkled.” This is a reference to the texture of the dark green leaves, which resembles a baby rubber plant during early growth.

Other Popular Peperomia Varieties: