How to Grow and Care for Watermelon Peperomia

Watermelon peperomia (Peperomia argyreia) have exploded in popularity among houseplant lovers thanks to their stunning watermelon-patterned foliage. They have a compact growth habit, and their leaves are not only colorful but also have a shimmery appearance that is especially stunning when the sunlight catches them. Native to South America, watermelon peperomia are tropical plants that grow naturally in the rainforest understory, and adapt exceptionally well to indoor growing.

Watermelon Peperomia Care

Overall watermelon peperomia are easy to care for and grow as houseplants, especially if you are good at staying on top of watering your plants. If you have a habit of forgetting to water your plants for weeks at a time, this plant might not be for you as peperomia are moisture-loving plants. While they do produce flower spikes in the spring and summer, the blooms are insignificant. Some growers choose to cut the blooms off so that the plant can focus its energy on producing foliage, which produces much more visual interest.

Light

Watermelon peperomia loves bright to medium indirect light, so place it in an area near a window but not in direct sunlight. They should not be exposed to prolonged periods of direct sunlight as their leaves are prone to burning. While they can survive in lower light conditions, their leaves will be smaller and the growth will be more leggy.

Soil

Watermelon peperomia do well in most standard potting mixes as long as they are well-draining, but can also hold some moisture. Avoid soil that is formulated for plants that prefer a dryer soil like cacti and succulents as it won’t absorb enough water to sustain the plant. A one to one mixture of peat moss and perlite will also work for watermelon peperomia.

Water

Allow the top couple inches of soil to dry out between watering and then water thoroughly. Watermelon peperomia are sensitive to both overwatering and underwatering and should not be allowed to dry out or be left sitting in water for an extended period of time.

Temperature and Humidity

Watermelon peperomia do well in warm, slightly humid conditions. Typical household temperatures and humidity levels are adequate for these tropical plants. Just ensure that your peperomia is kept away from vents or drafty windows that could dry out the air around the plant.

Fertilizer

Watermelon peperomia can benefit from regular fertilization during the growing period. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every two to four weeks during spring and summer.

Propagating Watermelon Peperomia

Watermelon peperomia are very easy to propagate and are sometimes even affectionately referred to as “friendship plants” because of how easy it is to share your plant with a friend. Propagating should ideally be done during the growing season, either in spring or summer. Watermelon peperomia can be propagated two ways: by division and by leaf cuttings.

How to propagate watermelon peperomia by division:

1. First, remove the entire plant from the potting container so that you can examine the roots and carefully separate the offshoots.
2. Identify the offshoots that you want to separate from the plant (it is best to leave offshoots that are smaller than one inch in the original pot) and gently tease the roots from the main plant. 
3. Plant the newly separated offshoot in its own pot and water the soil thoroughly. 
4. Place the cutting in a location that receives medium to bright indirect light and keep the soil consistently moist for the first one to two weeks after separation.
5. After a couple of weeks you can resume a regular watering schedule.

Unlike leaf/stem propagating with other plants, watermelon peperomia do not branch at the location where the stem is cut, so once you cut a leaf off you are sacrificing that stem permanently. Keep this in mind before getting started.

How to propagate watermelon peperomia with leaf cuttings:

1. Identify the leaves that you want to use and cut the stem so that the separated leaf has two to three inches of stem remaining.
2. Take the separated leaf, and cut the leaf in half—separating the “top” and the “bottom” of the leaf. You will be left with two halves, one that has the stem still attached.
3. Prepare a container with regular potting soil and pre-moisten the soil before planting.
4. Take the top half of the leaf cutting and place it in the soil with the cut edge buried and the top half above the soil. 
5. Next take the bottom half of the cutting and plant the stem in the soil, with the remainder of the leaf above the soil. 
6. Then, place your freshly potted cuttings in a location that receives medium to bright indirect light and keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged.
7. After one to two months, you should notice new growth sprouting from the leaves or stems of the cuttings. Allow the new plants to establish for a couple of months before transplanting them to their own containers.

Potting and Repotting

Like other peperomia plants, watermelon peperomia prefers to be slightly potbound, so choose a plant pot that just fits its root ball and avoid repotting too early. You can repot watermelon peperomia in spring every two to three years, and they will benefit from repotting even if you just want to refresh the soil. You can either repot watermelon peperomia in their existing container if the roots still fit, or if the roots are beginning to look quite potbound, size up one pot size.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

These plants are susceptible to a number of common houseplant pests and diseases. Fungus gnats and sap-sucking pests such as mealybugs, scale, and aphids can all be problems for watermelon peperomia. These peperomia are also sensitive to overwatering and can develop root rot quickly if their watering is mismanaged.

Common Problems With Watermelon Peperomia

Problems with watermelon peperomia are usually a result of improper watering or pest damage. Otherwise, watermelon peperomia are relatively problem-free.

Curling Leaves

Curling leaves are usually an indication that your plant is drying out too much, or that the leaves are getting too much direct sunlight.

Drooping Leaves

Drooping leaves can indicate that your plant is thirsty and needs some water. Usually this is quickly fixed with a good watering.

Leaves Turning Brown

There are several reasons that your peperomia’s leaves may be turning brown, including new environmental stress or changes, pest damage, lack of humidity, and overwatering (if they are brown and mushy). Evaluate your plant’s environment and care to determine which might be the cause.

Leaves Turning Yellow

Overwatering is the most common cause of yellowing leaves on a watermelon peperomia. Ensure that you are allowing the soil to dry slightly between watering and that you have proper drainage to avoid overwatering. Pests can also result in yellowing leaves.