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4.4 out of 5 (55 experiences)


About Watermelon Peperomia
The Watermelon Peperomia is aptly named, as its glossy leaves closely resemble tiny watermelons! 🍉 The fruits of Peperomia plants are very sticky, so they can be easily picked up by animals passing by. Their fruits and seeds have traveled one of the longest distances ever recorded for a plant, over 3000 miles to an island in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, all while stuck to a bird's feet 🦅. They're very closely related to the same plants that produce black pepper, and their fruits have a similar peppery taste!
Taxonomy
Peperomia argyreia
Peperomia
Piperaceae
Piperales
Also known as
Peperomia sandersii and Watermelon Plant

How to care for Watermelon Peperomia

How often to water your Watermelon Peperomia

every 9
Watermelon Peperomia 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

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 Watermelon Peperomia in your home

a window
Watermelon Peperomia 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 Watermelon Peperomia in your home 🏡.

How to fertilize Watermelon Peperomia

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 Watermelon Peperomia after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Watermelon Peperomia 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
Watermelon Peperomia 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
Watermelon Peperomia 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
Watermelon Peperomia 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
Watermelon Peperomia 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
Watermelon Peperomia 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
Watermelon Peperomia 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 Watermelon Peperomia 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
Watermelon Peperomia is native to Worldwide.
Flowers
Yes, you may see your Watermelon Peperomia bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.
Growth Pattern
Watermelon Peperomia grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.
Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
Watermelon Peperomia can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.
Propagation
Watermelon Peperomia 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 Watermelon Peperomia, 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 Watermelon Peperomia
Watermelon Peperomia
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 9 days

< 3ft from a window

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












Wally is my “full-sized” watermelon peperomia and I love this plant. The leaves are gorgeous! We got him at a big box store and he was the best of the worst. But a little TLC, pest treatment, fertilizer and sunshine and he’s showing out! Easy to care for, just water and forget. Check for pests weekly and spray with neem solution every 10days. And watch it thrive!









This plant is quite tricky to navigate at times but as long as you know it’s needs and the warning signs, you can take care of it pretty easy. Be sure to look for signs of leaf curl as this means it is trying to retain moisture. This plant lovessss water and sucks it up right away. If it doesn’t have enough it drops and can break stems. Also very fragile leaves, be gentle! New leaves pop up all the time, sometimes several at the same time. Very pretty to look at and shimmers in the sunlight!


