The Peperomia argyreia is a popular little houseplant. Its common name is watermelon peperomia. Because from a distance, the round streaked leaves look like small watermelons.
To keep your indoor watermelon peperomia thriving give it the right amount of light, water, and humidity.
The watermelon peperomia stays small and is easy to care for. This makes it a perfect plant for shelves and small spaces like offices, dorm rooms, and window sills.
Related reading: Peperomia obtusifolia – Peperomia caperata.
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Light Preferences
The watermelon peperomia is native to South America where they grow on the jungle floors in dappled or shaded light under the canopies of tall trees.
Indoors the best place for your peperomia is somewhere with bright, indirect light. The watermelon peperomia can grow in lower light, but the color may fade, growth will slow down, get leggy, and leaves will stay smaller.
Avoid too much direct sunlight. Dry, brown spots on the leaves can be a sign of sunburn. Move your plant away from the window, or filter the light with a sheer curtain.
How Often to Water a Watermelon Peperomia
Don’t water too often. Let the top of the soil dry out between waterings.
Stick your finger one to two inches below the surface of the soil. If it feels moist, don’t water but wait one or two days and check again. If the soil feels dry, go ahead and water thoroughly. If you are unsure when to water, you can use a moisture meter to help you out.
Leaves will wilt when the plant is thirsty. They will feel thin and start to droop. Your plant will quickly recover once you give it water.
If you overwater (meaning you water too often), the top of the soil does not dry out. The roots of your plant can start to rot. Give the top layer of soil enough time to dry out so it doesn’t stay wet for several days at a time.
If watermelon plant leaves start to droop and turn yellow, it’s often because of overwatering. So are soft and mushy stems and leaves. Remove affected parts, and adjust your watering routine.
Related reading: How to water indoor plants.
Humidity
Watermelon peperomias are not very needy when it comes to humidity, they can grow well in our homes. Nevertheless, they grow best in higher humidity.
If the air in your home is very dry, you can occasionally mist your peperomia. This will temporarily up the humidity. The best way to raise the humidity around your plant is to use a small humidifier or grow your peperomia plant in a closed terrarium.
Repotting a Peperomia
Check the roots to see if your peperomia needs repotting. Repot when roots have filled the pot so much that it has become root-bound. You will see roots growing from the drainage holes on the bottom.
Make sure the new pot has these drainage holes on the bottom. This is a must. Without it, excess water has no way to get out, which will drown the roots.
If your plant has outgrown its pot, repot it in a pot one size bigger than the original. Too large of a pot keeps the soil wet for too long for the roots to absorb.
Watermelon peperomias grow well in most well-draining potting soil mixes.
Related reading: Tips on how to repot your plants.
Flowers on a Watermelon Peperomia
If you are wondering what those long upward-growing spikes are on your peperomia. Those are the flowers.
Mature indoor peperomia plants can flower when their overall care and conditions are right. You can remove the flower spikes when they are done flowering. Or let them naturally fall off as they finish blooming.
Watermelon Peperomia Propagation
The easiest way to propagate your watermelon peperomia is to water propagate leaf stem cuttings. Large plants can also be propagated by division.
Single leaves can be propagated in soil instead of water. But it takes more time and the success rate is much lower.
Water Propagate Peperomia Stem Cuttings
Propagating watermelon peperomia cuttings in water is simple and takes only a few steps.
- Gently remove a leaf with (part of) the stem attached.
- Place the cutting in a glass or jar with just enough water to cover the bottom part.
- Keep it in bright, indirect light.
- Change the water regularly.
- Wait a few weeks for roots to appear. Pot them up when the roots are at least an inch long. Baby peperomias might already begin to grow at the base.
- Keep the soil slightly moist, not wet, until there is new growth. Resume regular care.
Plant Pests
The watermelon peperomia is pretty much pest-free but can be affected by any of the common household pests. Inspect your plant regularly. Watch out for the most regulars. Aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, thrips, scales, and fungus gnats.
Related reading: Common houseplant pests.
Is the Peperomia Argyreia Plant Toxic?
According to the ASPCA, the watermelon Peperomia is considered non-toxic. It is safe to grow this peperomia at home around your cats or dogs.
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