Baby Rubber Plant
4.7 out of 5 (404 experiences)
Survivor
Fast grower
About Baby Rubber Plant
The species name, Obtusifolia, means 'blunt leaves' and refers to this plant's rounded, glossy green foliage. Peperomia fruits and seeds have traveled one of the longest distances ever recorded, over 3000 miles to an island in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, while stuck to a bird's feet! 🦅
Taxonomy
Peperomia obtusifolia
Peperomia
Piperaceae
Piperales
Also known as
Pepper Face and Variegated Peperomia
How to care for Baby Rubber Plant
Water
How often to water your Baby Rubber Plant
every 9
Baby Rubber Plant needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
9
Light
Check the growing potential in your area
A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.
Select a city to check sunlight intensity
Finding light for Baby Rubber Plant in your home
a window
Baby Rubber Plant may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.
Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Baby Rubber Plant in your home 🏡.
Nutrients
How to fertilize Baby Rubber Plant
Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Baby Rubber Plant after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
FAQs
Baby Rubber Plant is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!
Water Needs
Baby Rubber Plant prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Sunlight Needs
Baby Rubber Plant may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.
Toxicity
Baby Rubber Plant is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.
Humidity
Baby Rubber Plant doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.
Soil
Baby Rubber Plant does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!
Fertilizer
Baby Rubber Plant should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!
Dormancy
It’s common for Baby Rubber Plant to go dormant in the summertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.
Native Region
Baby Rubber Plant is native to Worldwide.
Flowers
Yes, you may see your Baby Rubber Plant bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.
Growth Pattern
Baby Rubber Plant grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.
Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
Baby Rubber Plant can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12a. Find your local hardiness zone here.
Propagation
Baby Rubber Plant can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:
- Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
- To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.
Yellow Leaves
Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.
Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Baby Rubber Plant, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.
Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!
Care Summary for Baby Rubber Plant
Baby Rubber Plant
Greg recommends:
Water
0.5 cups every 9 days
Placement
< 3ft from a window
Nutrients
Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
What other plant parents say
Survivor 244
Fast grower 190
Large, lush leaves 132
Easy to propagate 79
Blooms easily 18
Browns easily 17
Pest magnet 3
05/21/2022
i love this plant its a great starter plant and a fun one to grow :)
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
Browns easily
04/08/2022
This is a variegated baby rubber plant—“golden gate”! It’s so cute and seems to thrive no matter where I put it.
03/30/2022
Looks pretty and tropical!
03/15/2022
Hardy slow growing plant that has lush green leaves. ❤️☀️🌱
Survivor
03/13/2022
I love pot
Survivor
Browns easily
03/12/2022
Easy plant for a beginner.
Easy to propagate
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
03/11/2022
Easy to take care of but doesn’t like direct light
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
Browns easily
03/07/2022
Super easy to take care of
Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate
Survivor
02/23/2022
So beautiful and easy to care for!
Survivor
02/04/2022
- great first plant
- really doesn’t need a lot of water
- loves spring + summer time; can get sad in the winter
- no growth during the fall-winter season
- loves a deep 24 hr soak (watering from the bottom and letting the plant take what it needs) however be sure the soil too can properly evaporate afterwards and do the soak during the spring months
- susceptible to sunburn (like most plants) but be very careful during summer months midday - I almost lost her to extreme sunburn but some of the little leaves hiding underneath survived and were able to thrive
Survivor
01/25/2022
Very slow growing. Easy to take care of. Love the variegated leaves.
Survivor
01/21/2022
Super easy plant and so cute!
Easy to propagate
Survivor
01/20/2022
Easy to take care of it. Makes sure it has plenty of sun!!!
01/20/2022
Easy to take care of it. Makes sure it has plenty of sun!!!
01/17/2022
Sensitive to too much light, leaves will burn if they receive too much direct light
01/10/2022
She a lil dramatic but low maintenance
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
01/07/2022
Loves indirect sunlight. I’ve had mine for a few months and he loves his little spot on my dresser.
Survivor
Large, lush leaves
01/05/2022
once it hits its stride, these things just do Not stop growing, and the variegated leaves are gorgeous
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
01/01/2022
So cute and tolerates whatever, even when I get lackadaisical about watering.
Survivor
12/28/2021
Medium to slow growth but absolutely gorgeous leaves! I have mine in ~65% humidity with grow lights and an inch of spagnum moss covering the soil and she seems to be happy
Large, lush leaves
