Peperomia Graveolens

Peperomia graveolens is a beautiful evergreen succulent with bright wine-red stems that are adorned with shiny red leaves which appear to have transparent V-shaped green windows.

The succulent has the appearance of having a reddish glow and has spawned a number of other names for Peperomia graveolens such as Ruby Glow and Ruby Peperomia.

Peperomia graveolens has thick leaves and its burgundy-colored undersides are used to collect sunlight for photosynthesis. Its flowers can grow up to 10-inches or 25cm long and have a whitish-yellowish color.

The word “graveolens” means foul-smelling. To find out, come closer to the flowers and take a quick whiff. Its scent has been compared to that of mouse urine.

Ruby Glow can grow to a height of 10-inches or 25cm with a width of 24-inches or 61cm wide. It originates from the Piperaceae family and is native to Southern Ecuador.

General Information:

Also known as: Ruby Glow and Ruby Peperomia
Plant Family: Piperaceae
Origin: Ecuador
Height: 10-inches or 25cm
Exposure: Full to partial sunlight
Water Needs: Frequent watering schedule during the summer months; very little to no watering in the winter or cold season.
Soil Type: Humus-rich, peat-based soil and a mix of 1 part perlite and 2 parts peat.
Soil pH: Strongly Acidic (5.1 to 5.5 pH)
Tolerance: Drought; cannot tolerate frost

How to Grow and Care for Peperomia Graveolens

Peperomia graveolens is a perfect plant for beginners to work with because it is very easy to grow. Ruby Glow will be a perfect addition to your outdoor patio or as a decoration on your indoor shelf.

Ruby Glow is not cold-hardy. If your temperatures drop below 20° F or -6.7° C, it would be advisable to plant Peperomia graveolens in a container that can be brought indoors.

1.   Sunlight

Peperomia graveolens’ greenish leaves make it a wonderful ground cover for your garden. If you want to keep the succulent outdoors, plant it an area on your garden that gets direct sunlight up to 6 hours.

If you decide to grow Ruby Glow indoors, it will thrive near a window that gets indirect or filtered sunlight.

2.   Watering

Like most succulents, Peperomia graveolens has strict watering requirements. You must follow a strict watering schedule or the plant’s roots will rot. Overwatering can lead to root rot which can spread all over Ruby Glow.

In the summertime, do not give Peperomia graveolens water until the soil is dry to the touch. Ruby Glow will require even less water in the winter season because the soil will remain moist for a much longer period of time.

3.   Pot and Soil

To ensure that Peperomia graveolens does not suffer from root rot, plant the succulent in a pot that has good drainage.

The type of soil you use must be porous and also have good draining properties. As a forest-dweller, Ruby Glow will thrive when soil has great airflow. Among your best choices would be humus-rich, peat-based soil and a mix of 1 part perlite and 2 parts peat.

Use a balanced fertilizer and add it to the soil during the growing season. 

How to Propagate Peperomia Graveolens

Propagating Peperomia graveolens is a great idea especially if you want to have an eye-catching ground cover outdoors or if you plan to adorn the shelves at the office or home with this beautiful succulent.

You can propagate Ruby Glow by using its cuttings.

Step 1: Remove a stem that has leaves from the main plant. Make sure the knife or garden shears is sharp and has been sterilized to avoid contaminating the succulent.

Step 2: Place the cutting in a shaded area so it can dry up and develop calluses. The process of developing calluses can take several days.

Step 3: Dip the bottom of the cut leaf in rooting powder.

Step 4: Place the cutting in well-draining soil such as 50% peat moss and 50% perlite.

Step 5: When the soil has completely dried out, give the plant some water.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last Updated on June 10, 2022 by Sofia Lara