Chinese Money Plant

It’s a hot day in July and someone places a huge tray of cold, sweet watermelon slices in front of you and, unable to wait, you hurriedly grab a piece and take a juicy, sugary bite. That’s a sweet memory, one you just may remember every time you see Watermelon Peperomia resting on your kitchen table or desk at work. Watermelon Peperomia, otherwise known as Peperomia argyreia, syn. Peperomia sandersii, and Watermelon Begonia, has oval-shaped, emerald-green foliage marked with silver striations, and it resembles little watermelons hanging from a “vine”.  This humidity-tolerant evergreen perennial thrives in warm temperatures and average humidity. Low maintenance and pet safe, this “fruit-of-the-vine” is the perfect choice for any newbie gardener with little free time to spare.

Best Locations For Growing Watermelon Peperomia

Nontoxic to people and pets, you can place Watermelon Peperomia in any room without fearing harm to little hands or paws. Appreciating bright indirect light; moderate humidity of 40% to 50%; and temperatures ranging between 60°F to 90°F, this dainty house plant will likely thrive in a brightly lit bathroom or kitchen.

Watermelon Peperomia Sunlight Requirements

Watermelon Peperomia does best in bright indirect light and can be placed near south-facing, west-facing, and east-facing windows. Move this tropical companion a few feet away from a direct light source to prevent sunburn.

Watermelon Peperomia Care

Watermelon Peperomia prefers loamy, acidic to neutral, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.1 – 7.3. Choose a good houseplant potting soil amended with peat moss and perlite/coco coir to pot up your Peperomia. If you notice there is little room left for this plant’s roots to grow, repot it in a container that is one to two sizes larger. If you want to propagate Watermelon Peperomia, stem, leaf, and tip cuttings root easily.

Watering Watermelon Peperomia

Depending on the humidity of Watermelon Peperomia’s location, this plant may only need water about once a week. Allowing the soil to dry in between waterings will help prevent overwatering. To encourage growth and avert fungal disease, conduct a moisture check and water when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry.

Feeding Watermelon Peperomia

Watermelon Peperomia should ideally be fertilized biweekly with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer administered at half the recommended strength during the growing season. The growing season for this houseplant consists of the spring and summer months.