Houseplant
Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia)
Peperomia obtusifolia · Piperaceae
Also called: American Rubber Plant, Pepper Face, Blunt-leaved Peperomia
Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia) (Peperomia obtusifolia) is a low-water houseplant well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It's a slow-growing houseplant.
Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia) at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Bright indirect light indoors; tolerates medium light. Keep out of direct Tucson window sun, which scorches the thick leaves. An east window or a few feet back from a south/west window is ideal.
- Mature size
- 8-12 in tall and wide; mounding, slow-spreading habit
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Bloom
- Greenish-white, narrow rat-tail-like flower spikes (not ornamental), Spring to summer indoors (insignificant)
- Cold hardiness
- Frost-tender; keep indoor temperatures above 50-55°F (ideal 65-75°F). Not frost hardy and not suited to outdoor planting in Tucson.
- Soil
- Light, fast-draining peat- or coir-based potting mix; add perlite or orchid bark for aeration. Must drain freely to avoid root and stem rot.
- Native range
- Tropical Americas (Florida, Mexico, Caribbean, northern South America)
- Best used as
- Indoor tabletop or shelf houseplant, Low-light office plant, Terrariums and dish gardens
- Wildlife
- None indoors; not a pollinator or wildlife plant.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic / pet-safe. Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to dogs and cats, making it a good choice for households with pets and children.
How to grow Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia) in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Grown strictly as an indoor houseplant in Tucson. Water when the top 1-2 inches of mix dry out, roughly every 1-2 weeks; the succulent-like leaves store water, so err on the dry side. In Tucson's dry indoor air, water slightly more in summer and far less in winter; never leave it sitting in a saucer of water.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Light feeder. Apply a balanced houseplant fertilizer (e.g., 20-20-20) diluted to half strength monthly during spring and summer growth; do not fertilize in winter. Over-feeding causes salt burn on leaf margins.
Pruning & care
Pinch growing tips to keep the plant compact and bushy; remove any yellowed or damaged leaves. Pinched tips root easily in water or moist mix for propagation.
Notes
Grown exclusively as an indoor plant in Tucson because it is tropical and cannot tolerate frost, intense desert sun, or low humidity outdoors. Its thick, semi-succulent leaves make it forgiving of the dry indoor air common in the low desert. Most problems trace to overwatering—keep it on the dry side.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder