Peperomia
Peperomia obtusifolia · also called Baby rubber plant
Foliage and indoor
- Light
- Part sun
- Pot size
- Small pot (up to about 5 litres)
- Care level
- Easy
- Year round or seasonal
- Kept year to year; in a pot, keep it above about 12.8 °C (55 °F)
- Pets
- ASPCA: non-toxic to cats and dogs
Light and position
Bright, indirect light. NC State says strong direct sun burns the leaves.
Size and pot
NC State lists 6 inches to 2 feet. Our pot band: small pot (up to about 5 litres).
Watering
Prefers to stay on the dry side. NC State calls overwatering “a big problem”: it yellows the leaves and rots the roots.
Potting mix and feeding
A well-drained mix; avoid very draughty places.
Growing through the year
Leaf or stem cuttings root to make new plants.
Winter outdoors
Cold limit in a pot: about 12.8 °C (55 °F). NC State gives no temperature for this plant and lists it only for USDA zones 10a to 12b, the tropical end of the scale. For tropical plants like this we follow NC State’s container chapter: bring tender plants inside once nights drop to 55 °F.
| Your coldest winter nights | What to do |
|---|---|
| Coldest nights 15 °C or warmer | Can stay out through this winter |
| Coldest nights 10 to 15 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 12.8 °C |
| Coldest nights 5 to 10 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 12.8 °C |
| Coldest nights 0 to 5 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 12.8 °C |
| Light frost: nights down to about −5 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 12.8 °C |
| Hard frost: nights below −5 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 12.8 °C |
A plant can stay out only when its limit is below the coldest night in your band; a limit equal to that night counts as needing shelter. A rare cold snap, wind or a wet pot can still damage plants. We convert °F to °C with NIST’s formula.
Watch for
Mealybugs, spider mites and whiteflies.
Pets and people
ASPCA lists Peperomia obtusifolia (American rubber plant, baby rubber plant) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
General gardening information, not professional advice. Plant toxicity details are a starting point, not veterinary or medical advice: if a pet or child may have eaten a plant, contact a veterinarian or doctor promptly.
Care level: NC State’s maintenance rating (Low). Pot band and summary wording are ours, based on the sources below.