Care of Peperomia Acuminata

Select a shallow container for P. acuminata. Use a container that is just deep enough to contain the roots with 1 inch of potting mix below them. Clay or terra cotta, ceramic and plastic containers may be used, but clay or terra cotta will allow more oxygen to get to the roots. When peperomia roots do not get sufficient oxygen, the plant can drown. Make sure the container has several drain holes in the bottom.

Plant P. acuminata in a potting mix that contains high levels of organic matter and drains quickly. Use a peat-based commercial potting mix, or make a potting mix that is half commercial potting soil and half horticultural peat. Add perlite, sand or vermiculite for improved drainage if it is not already included in the commercial potting mix. Re-pot the plant each spring into a container that is only slightly larger.

Set the plant near a window that faces east or north. Do not set the plant where it will be exposed to direct sunlight. Use a fluorescent grow light to provide more light in situations where adequate light cannot be provided naturally.

Water the plant from below when the top inch of potting mix is dry during the spring, summer and fall. Fill the sink with room-temperature water to a depth that is ½ to 1 inch below the top edge of the container. Set the container in the water. Allow it to sit in the water until the soil is damp up to the top of the container. Do not water it in the winter until the top half of the potting mix is dry.

Give the peperomia a balanced houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength once per month in the spring, summer and fall. Apply the fertilizer after watering. Mix only enough fertilizer for one application, and carefully pour it onto the soil. Avoid getting fertilizer on the plant.

Maintain indoor temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the air around the peperomia slightly humid, but do not mist the plant. It is highly susceptible to rot when the stems, leaves or crown of the plant get wet. Place a humidity tray beneath the plant if the air is dry.