Peperomia argyreia has rounded, slightly pointed leaves banded in silver and dark green, held on deep red stalks. The pattern is a close match for watermelon skin, which is where the name comes from.
It is a small plant, non-toxic to pets, and one of the easiest things on this site to keep alive.
Light
Peperomia argyreia grows best in medium to bright indirect light. It handles lower light better than most patterned plants, though growth slows.
Too much light
Direct sun bleaches the silver striping and can scorch the leaves.
Too little light
The stalks stretch, the plant flops open in the middle, and the striping goes dull.
Watering
This is the one thing that matters. Peperomia argyreia has thick, semi-succulent leaves that store water, and it rots quickly if kept damp.
Let the top half of the soil dry out before watering again.
On average:
- Spring & summer: every 1-2 weeks
- Autumn & winter: every 3 weeks
Signs of overwatering
- Leaves yellow and drop suddenly
- Stalks go soft and translucent at the base
- Soil stays wet for over a week
Signs of underwatering
- Leaves go slightly soft and lose their firmness
- Leaf edges curl downward
Humidity and temperature
Ordinary household humidity is fine. The thick leaves cope with dry air far better than thin-leaved tropical plants.
Keep it between 18°C and 26°C (65-79°F).
Soil and repotting
Soil
A free-draining mix with plenty of perlite. Standard compost on its own stays too wet.
Repotting
Rarely. The root system is small and shallow, and Peperomia argyreia prefers a snug pot. An oversized pot holds wet soil the roots cannot reach, which is the usual way these are lost.
Use a shallow pot rather than a deep one.
Feeding
Half-strength balanced fertiliser every 6 to 8 weeks in spring and summer. Nothing in winter. It grows slowly and needs very little.
Pruning and grooming
Remove yellowed or damaged leaves at the base of the stalk.
If the plant flops open in the middle, that is a light problem rather than a pruning one. Move it brighter.
Whole leaves root readily. Cut a leaf with about 2cm (1 inch) of stalk, put it in water or damp mix, and a new plant forms at the base.
Common problems
Sudden leaf drop
Overwatering, nearly always. Check the base of the stalks for softness.
Faded, dull striping
Too much direct sun, or too little light overall. Check which by looking at where the plant sits.
Leggy, open growth
Not enough light.
Leaves going soft but soil is dry
Simple thirst. Water it.