Watermelon Peperomia: How to Care For Peperomia Argyreia

Hello, plant people! We’re excited to be talking to you about one of our favourite houseplants – the Watermelon Peperomia. This beautiful plant is a fabulous variety of Peperomia -one of the world’s largest tropical plant families. Its stunning characteristic leaves make it a real showstopper. Who can resist a houseplant whose leaves look like mini watermelons? So cute!

To help you get started on your Watermelon Peperomia journey, we’ve got all the care tips you need– as well as some fun facts for you to sink your teeth into. Enjoy!

Fun Facts About the Watermelon Peperomia Plant

The Watermelon Peperomia is native to Brazil in South America. As you’ve probably already guessed, it’s called the “Watermelon Peperomia” because the leaves look like miniature watermelons. But that’s not all; there are a few more fun facts to discover about this beautiful botanical, such as:

• The plant is quite low growing and can reach 30-35cm tall.
• Long slim flowers can appear on the plant during summer.
• The Watermelon’s not the only Peperomia variety in this family – there are over 1,500 different species!
• This beautiful plant is part of the Peperomia genus, which is a relative of the pepper plant!
• It’s also known as the Watermelon Begonia because of the shape of its leaves.
• Like all Peperomias, the Watermelon’s also known as a “radiator plant” because of its fondness for heat and indirect sunlight.
• Peperomias are a symbol of luck in Brazil and are commonly given as gifts.

What Are the Main Benefits of a Watermelon Peperomia?

This isn’t just a fabulous plant to look at – the Watermelon Peperomia is just perfect for creating a gorgeous focal point on your desk, kitchen island or shelf. Whenever you need a little pick-me-up, spend five minutes pruning and misting your plant to bring some zen and calm to your day.

This beautiful houseplant also purifies the air around you. According to NASA research, Peperomias reduce the amount of formaldehyde in the air by 47%. Clean air can help improve concentration and boost productivity, so it’s a good plant to have in your home office.

Top Watermelon Peperomia Care Tips: A Complete Guide

The Watermelon Peperomia isn’t the most easy-going of houseplants around but it is worth it. It only really needs a little TLC to survive, making it a great way to introduce something unique to your plant jungle. . As long as you give it the care it needed, it’ll grow and flourish right before your very eyes. Get started on your plant journey and become a Watermelon Peperomia expert with our top care tips below.

Watering

This botanical beauty is pretty particular about how much water it needs. Too much water can rot the roots, while too little will cause the leaves to wilt. Aim to water him once every 10 days, pouring water directly into the soil. Be careful not to water the delicate leaves as they may start to rot.

To check whether your plant needs a drink, dip your finger into the top layer of soil. If it feels dry to the touch, it’s safe to water your plant. If it still feels damp, leave it for a couple more days before rechecking the soil’s dryness. Because it’s a tropical plant, it also loves a bit of a light misting during the summer months to keep it hydrated. Have a look at our Zab Plant Misters, which are great for keeping your plants hydrated.

Soil and Feeding

Well-draining soil is the best kind as it needs to drain well, helping it to not sit in water. You don’t need to re-pot your green beauty too often as the Watermelon Peperomia is one of the few houseplants that like to be pot bound. However, once the plant reaches three years old, you might want to think about switching to a bigger pot to encourage growth. If you decide to do this, it’s best to swap your plant to a bigger container in spring, which is the growing season. We have a wide range of pots to choose from when the time comes.

Another top tip is to fertilise your Watermelon Peperomia once a month in the spring and summer using a diluted liquid plant feed. This will help it grow even bigger and better.

Sunlight

Stripy and fun, this houseplant loves a well-lit room but isn’t a massive fan of direct light. He does cope well under indoor fluorescent lights too, making him the perfect desk or kitchen buddy.

Pop your plant in a bright room without direct sunlight. The Watermelon Peperomia lives under the cover of other plants in its natural habitat, so try replicating this in your indoor jungle.

Temperature

Keep your houseplant as happy as possible by keeping the room’s temperature between 18-26 degrees Celsius during the day. This green beauty likes warmth, so warm air will keep him nice and toasty. Similarly, don’t let the temperature drop below 15 degrees at night. This should be easy in the summer when the sunlight provides natural warmth, but keep the heating on during the winter to prevent your botanicals from getting too cold.

Leaf Maintenance

Because the Watermelon Peperomia has large leaves, they can attract dust. The leaves can break off easily if you’re not careful, so use a Little Botanical Mister or our Plantsmith Beautifying Leaf Shine to keep the leaves green, glossy and dust-free.

It’s also a good idea to prune brown or dying leaves as you see them. When leaves die, they take nutrients from the healthy parts, meaning the plant has to work harder to survive. Removing any dead plants allows the plant to focus on providing nutrients to the healthy leaves and helps maintain your plant’s overall condition. It also helps prevents bugs as old dying leaves can attract pests.

Buy the Watermelon Peperomia at The Little Botanical

Our gorgeous Watermelon Peperomia comes in a choice of three pots – textured grey ceramic or almond and charcoal grey stoneware. The stunning watermelon leaves are oh-so-cute with their stripey look. This beauty will flourish right before your very eyes – as long as you provide your green beauty with everything it needs to be happy. Add it to your plant gang to create shape, texture and colour, providing the perfect amount of contrast to your indoor jungle.

Watermelon Peperomia FAQs

We’ve pulled together the most commonly asked questions about the Watermelon Peperomia to help you understand more about this fascinating plant. Take a look through to see if yours is on the list. If it’s not, get in touch with us and we’ll be more than happy to give you the information you’re looking for.

Why are My Watermelon Peperomia Leaves Curling?

Underwatering is the main culprit for a Watermelon Peperomia’s leaves curling. Underwatering causes the leaves to turn inwards and a good drink will result in them flattening out again within 1-2 days.

If your plant’s leaves start curling, check the soil first. If it is bone dry, mist the soil and ensure you water the soil thoroughly too to ensure the roots can soak up all they need. You can even leave it overnight in a sink to give it a good soak. Just ensure that you drain any excess water away by tipping it over the sink so it is not sitting in water over a long period of time as this can cause root rot.  Watering and plant care is always a bit of trial and error as a new plant parent but don’t be too disheartened, you are unlikely to have lost your plant to plant heaven already. Just keep an eye on what the plant looks like and react and make the necessary changes to improve your plant’s condition.

Is the Watermelon Peperomia Safe Around Pets?

Yes! This fab plant’s completely safe to be around your furry friends. It’s also non-toxic to humans, so it’s fine to be in homes with small children, too. If your pet likes to nibble on the leaves, put your beautiful botanical on a high shelf or on a tall sideboard to protect it.

Why Are My Watermelon Peperomia’s Leaves Splitting?

The leaves split because the plant’s dried out. Watermelon Peperomias need frequent misting during the spring and summer months. If the air’s too dry, the botanical becomes dehydrated, and the leaves split. Try spraying your plant with our Zab mister to add much-needed moisture and hydration to the plant. Leaves can also split if they have taken a knock, they should be trimmed off close to the base of the stem to keep the plant tidy and fresh looking.

Why Are My Watermelon Peperomia’s Leaves brown underneath?

The leaves can go brown on the underside of the leaf due to environmental stresses. Brown leaves are most likely a sign of overwatering or poor nutrition. Make sure you allow your plant to dry out between watering.

It is also worth giving your green stripey beauty some plant food once or twice a month in Spring and Summer. Check out our Plantsmith Houseplant Tonic that arrives in a beautiful brown glass bottle.

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for pests too, they could be causing the leaves to turn brown.

Is the Watermelon Peperomia a Succulent?

Even though this fabulous houseplant behaves like a succulent, it’s not part of the same family. Peperomias need more humidity and moisture than succulents. That being said, they are able to go longer between waterings than other plants, which is a trait they share with succulents.

The Watermelon Peperomia is one of our favourite houseplants – and we just know you’re going to love it as much as we do. We’re always on hand to answer any questions you may still have about this botanical beauty, so reach out to us at [email protected] if you’d like to know more. Also, pop your houseplant pics on Instagram and tag us so we can see them – you might even get to feature on our social media channels. Until next time!

Lots of love, Team TLB xx