Watermelon Peperomia (Peperomia argyreia) is a popular houseplant. It is called Watermelon Peperomia because its leaves have patterns similar to watermelon rinds. It’s a small houseplant with beautiful cream-colored and green foliage. It is also an easy-to-grow houseplant that does well in artificial light. Your Watermelon Peperomia will be happy on office desks and on bookshelves. Here are tips on how to care for your Watermelon Peperomia indoors.
You may be interested in other Peperomia houseplants: 8 Tips on How to Care for Your Emerald Ripple Peperomia (Infographic) and 8 Tips to Care for Your Pepper Face (Peperomia obtusifolia Infographic)
Watermelon Peperomia Infographic
8 Tips on How to Take Care of Your Watermelon Peperomia
1. Your Watermelon Peperomia is Happiest in Bright Filtered Light
Watermelon Peperomia will be happy in bright, filtered light. It does well in an East facing window or even a north window with low light. Your Watermelon Peperomia does well under artificial light.
2. Abundant Water is Best for Your Watermelon Peperomia
Your Watermelon Peperomia has abundant water requirements. Water your Watermelon Peperomia when the soil feels dry. The best way to tell when it is time to water your Watermelon Peperomia is to feel the soil. Stick your finger in the soil 0.5 inches deep. If it feels dry, it’s time to water your Watermelon Peperomia.
3. Get the Soil Right for Your Watermelon Peperomia
Your Watermelon Peperomia needs a well-draining, organic all-purpose potting mix.
4. Fertilize Your Watermelon Peperomia
Your Watermelon Peperomia should be fertilized once every 2 weeks at half strength during the growing season. Once a month in the winter.
5. Don’t forget to Repot Your Watermelon Peperomia
Repot your Watermelon Peperomia when it outgrows its current pot. Repot your Watermelon Peperomia in a container with a diameter 2 inches larger than the current pot. Keep your Watermelon Peperomia in small containers since these are small plants.
6. Drainage is Essential for Your Watermelon Peperomia
Good drainage is important, you don’t want your Watermelon Peperomia to sit in soggy soil. Make sure there are drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. After watering your Watermelon Peperomia and you see water draining out of the pot’s drainage holes, make sure you empty out the accumulated water in the saucer. Don’t let your Watermelon Peperomia’s pot sit in this puddle of water. It will cause root rot!
7. Get the Temperature Right for Your Watermelon Peperomia
Your Watermelon Peperomia needs to have a daytime temperature of 70F to 80 Fahrenheit (21-26C). The nighttime temperature should be at 60-70 Fahrenheit (15-21 C).
8. Humidity is Vital for Your Watermelon Peperomia
Your Watermelon Peperomia is a tropical houseplant that likes humid conditions. You should increase indoor humidity. Turn on the humidifier. Mist your Watermelon Peperomia a few times a week.
Another way to increase humidity is to keep your Watermelon Peperomia in a saucer filled with water. But make sure the pot is elevated with pot feet or pebbles so your Watermelon Peperomia is not sitting directly on the water.
3 Common Watermelon Peperomia Problems
The common problems for Watermelon Peperomia are root rot, edema, and mealy bugs.
Fluffy White Growth In Between the Leaves and Stems
Problem: There are fluffy white growths in between the leaves and stems of your Watermelon Peperomia.
Cause: Mealybugs are causing the fluffy white growth on your Watermelon Peperomia. It is a common houseplant disease.
Solution: To get rid of mealybugs on your Watermelon Peperomia, wash your plant with water. You can also use soapy water. Spraying rubbing alcohol on affected areas can also get rid of mealybugs. Horticultural oil and insecticidal soap are also effective in getting rid of mealybugs.
Check out our article on how to make your own homemade pesticides using baby shampoo: How to Make Horticultural Oil and How to Make Insecticidal Soap
Watermelon Peperomia: Looks Wilted (Soil is Wet)
Problem: Your Watermelon Peperomia looks wilted even if the soil is wet. Check for root rot by pulling the plant out and examining the roots. If the roots of your Watermelon Peperomia plant look mushy (healthy roots are firm) and the roots are gray to black in color, these are telltale signs of root rot.
Cause: Root rot is caused by fungus and is a serious problem for your Watermelon Peperomia. Root rot is a result of wet soil due to overwatering or poor drainage.
Solution: When your Watermelon Peperomia is afflicted with root rot the chance of survival is slim. Your best course of action is to throw your Watermelon Peperomia out and start over with a new plant. This time don’t overwater your Watermelon Peperomia and make sure there is good drainage in the pot.
There are Small Brown Bumps on the Leaves of Your Watermelon Peperomia
Problem: There are many small brown bumps on the leaves of your Watermelon Peperomia. These brown bumps can’t be picked off the leaves.
Cause: Your Watermelon Peperomia has developed Edema. These small brown bumps are growth on the leaves that is a result of overwatering.
Solution: Reduce watering frequency on your Watermelon Peperomia. Make sure there is sufficient drainage so your Watermelon Peperomia does not sit on soggy soil.
Watermelon Peperomia Houseplant Facts
| Name | Watermelon Peperomia |
| Scientific Name | Peperomia argyreia |
| Light | Bright Filtered Light |
| Daytime Temperature | 71 to 80 F (21-26C) |
| Night Time Temperature | 61 to 70 F (15-21C) |
| Water | Abundant Water |
| Humidity | High Humidity |
| Potting | Well-draining, organic, all-purpose potting mix |
| Fertilizer | Once every 2 weeks at half strength during the growing season. Once a months in the winter. |
| Toxic to Pets and Humans | Non-Toxic |
Watermelon Peperomia: Frequently Asked Questions
What are Other Names of Watermelon Peperomia?
Watermelon Peperomia (Peperomia argyreia) is also called Watermelon Plant, Watermelon Begonia and Peperomia sandersii.
Is Your Watermelon Peperomia Toxic to Pets?
Watermelon Peperomias are not toxic to pets. However, you may want to keep your Watermelon Peperomia out of reach if you find your pet snacking on it frequently!
How Can You Tell When It’s Time to Water Your Watermelon Peperomia?
Water your Watermelon Peperomia when the soil feels dry. The best way to tell when it’s time to water is by sticking your finger into the soil. Stick your finger in the soil 0.5 inches deep. If the soil feels dry, it’s time to water your Watermelon Peperomia.
Can You Use Cold Water When Watering Your Watermelon Peperomia?
Watermelon Peperomia can be watered with tap water but be mindful of the water temperature that you are using to water your Watermelon Peperomia. Don’t use straight cold water from the tap to water your Watermelon Peperomia.
Watermelon Peperomia prefers cool water that is not hot and not cold. When you turn on the cold water from the faucet add a little bit of warm water. You can also get to this ideal temperature by filling a watering can or pitcher with water and leaving it out overnight until the water is at room temperature.
What Fertilizer Should You Use for Your Watermelon Peperomia?
Use liquid or powder, organic fertilizer with a higher nitrogen ratio on your Watermelon Peperomia.
How Big Does Your Watermelon Peperomia Get?
Your Watermelon Peperomia is a small houseplant that can grow to 8 inches tall.
How Do You Propagate Your Watermelon Peperomia?
Watermelon Peperomia Plant is easy to propagate. You can propagate Watermelon Peperomia plant by leaf cutting.
Below are steps on how to propagate Watermelon Peperomia Plant by leaf cutting.
1. Take a Leaf Cutting of your Watermelon Peperomia Plant
Cut a mid-sized leaf from your Watermelon Peperomia and include 1-2 inches of the leaf stalk.
2. Plant the Your Watermelon Peperomia Leaf
Dip the leaf stalk into rooting hormone and then plant it into a pot. Make sure the soil mixture is damp by watering it thoroughly before planting the leaf stalk. You can plant more than one leaf in the pot.
3. Repot Your Watermelon Peperomia to its Permanent pot
The roots of your Watermelon Peperomia will grow in 2-4 weeks. You will see the baby leaves will be about 1 inch long. When that happens, you can repot your Watermelon Peperomia to its permanent container.
4. Place New Watermelon Peperomia Plant in a Spot with Bright Indirect Sun
Place your new Watermelon Peperomia plant in a spot with bright indirect sunlight. Don’t put it in direct sunlight.
You May Also Be Interested in These Small Houseplants:
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9 Tips on How to Care for Your African Violet (Infographic)
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