Baby Rubber Plant Light Requirements: A Complete Guide

If you want an easy-care, attractive, and fast-growing houseplant, look closer here. With its thick, glossy green leaves, the Baby Rubber Plant is just what you’ve been looking for. This is all about how to grow and care for a Peperomia obtusifolia.

I’ve already done a post and video on general Peperomia care (all six I’m growing are easy). Still, due to its popularity, I wanted to do one dedicated solely to this succulent-like beauty. I live in the Sonoran Desert in Tucson, and my two Peperomia obtusifolia plants thrive. If they can handle the dry climate here (where the humidity averages 25-29%), they can handle the dry air in your home.

Quite a few of my houseplants, especially my Dracaenas, have brown tips due to the dry air. My Baby Rubber Plants have no brown tips at all. How great is that?!

This is used as a tabletop plant, in dish gardens, and terrariums. It’s also well suited to use in a houseplant living wall.

As a houseplant, the average size is 12″ x 12″. It’s commonly sold in 4″ or 6″ grow pots. In my experience, it gets much wider. The mother plant growing in the white pot (in the lead photo and below) has been pruned and propagated two times.

This plant meanders and trails as it grows. Right now, it’s 20″ wide and 17″ tall. My Variegated Baby Rubber Plant (which is younger) grows in a more upright form.

The Baby Rubber Plant grows moderately to fast in bright indirect light. The growth rate will be slower if the light conditions are lower than it prefers.

Even though this plant flowers (more on that towards the end), the deep green, glossy foliage and ease of care are its allure. There is also a Variegated Baby Rubber Plant if that’s more to your liking.

There are numerous variegated forms of the Peperomia obtusifolia. If you have one of them, know the care points in this post apply to all. One difference: they need a bit more light to bring out and keep the beautiful variegation.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Light Requirements

The Peperomia obtusifolia is no different than many other houseplants. It prefers and does best in bright natural light – moderate or medium exposure. One of mine grows in my kitchen, 4′ away from a large northwest-facing window, and the other in the bathroom across from a large east-facing window.

Keep yours out of hot, direct sunlight, as those thick, fleshy leaves will burn.

I’ve never grown it in lower light, but I imagine it would tolerate lower to moderate conditions. You may not see much growth, though, if the light levels are too low.

The variegated varieties of this plant need a bit more light.

Peperomia obtusifolias are succulent-like; they store water in their thick fleshy leaves, stems, and roots. You don’t want to overwater this epiphytic plant because it’ll succumb to root rot.

I let mine go dry before watering again. In the summer, it’s once every 7-10 days, and in winter, every 14-18 days. I always tell you how often I water my specific houseplants so you have a guideline and can adjust the frequency to your conditions.

Your Baby Rubber Plant might need watering less or more often. Many variables come into play, like the pot size, the type of soil it’s planted in, its growing location, and your home’s environment. The more light and warmth, the more often yours will need watering.

Here’s a Guide to Watering Indoor Plants. This will help you in determining factors as to how often you water yours. The foliage has a bit of variegation, but you have to get up close to notice.

The average indoor temperature is fine. If your home’s comfortable, it’ll also be so for your houseplants. Keep your peperomias away from cold drafts and air conditioning or heating vents.

In their native habitat, Peperomia obtusifolias grow in humid environments. One of the places it’s native to is southern Florida. It thrives in high humidity and loves it.

The good news is I live in a desert climate, and mine are doing fine after five-plus years. I mist the foliage now and then. I like this mister because it’s small, easy to hold, and puts out a nice amount of spray. I’ve had it for over four years, and it’s still going strong. I also put my plants out in the rain two or three times a year for extra moisture and to clean the foliage off.

Because they’re epiphytic in nature and their small root systems, they also collect water through their leaves. You could mist your Peperomia a couple of times a week if your home’s dry, and you think it needs it. Another option would be to fill a saucer with small rocks and water and then set the plant on top of that. The rock keeps the roots from submerging in the water.

I have this humidity meter in my dining room. It’s inexpensive but does the trick and still works fine after a few years. I run my humidifiers when the humidity reads low, often in the Arizona desert!

Do you have a lot of tropical plants? We have a whole guide on Plant Humidity that might interest you.

We have a long growing season here in the Sonoran Desert from mid-February through October. I fertilize with Maxsea or Sea Grow, Grow Big, and Liquid Kelp seven times during the growing season. It’s how I feed all my tropical plants. I alternate using these granular and liquid fertilizers and don’t mix them.

Whatever houseplant food you choose, don’t over-fertilize your peperomias because salts build up and can burn the plant’s roots. This will show up as brown spots on the leaves.

You want to avoid fertilizing any stressed houseplant, i.e., bone dry or soaking wet. I don’t fertilize houseplants in late fall or winter because it’s not their active growing season.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Soil / Repotting

Check the post and video highlighted below that focuses on the best time to repot, the steps to take, and the soil mix. In a nutshell, Baby Rubber Plants like a soil mix rich in organic matter, chunky, and well-draining.

Their root systems are small, so they don’t need repotting often. I repot mine every four to six years to freshen the soil mix or if the roots are coming out the bottom. For example, I only increase one pot size from 4″ to 6″ or 6″ to 8″.

You’ll want to check out this Peperomia Repotting Guide for all the details.

Not much is needed regularly. I have to trim an occasional spent leaf off.

The Baby Rubber Plant grows fast. You may have to prune yours to control the size and form. These plants are easy to propagate from stem cuttings, so that’s another reason for pruning.

Check out how I Pruned & Propagated My Baby Rubber Plant.

It’s easy to get a new plant or two. Peperomia obtusifolias propagate by stem cuttings (it is very easy to do in water), by taking leaf cuttings, and/or by dividing the plant.

Propagating, like repotting, is best done in spring, summer, and early fall.

You can see how I Planted My Baby Rubber Plant Cuttings here. The good news, the Baby Rubber Plant is non-toxic to cats & dogs. That’s my Tazzy posing for the photo. I adopted him from

My Peperomias have never gotten any. Maybe that’s because I regularly spray the foliage and stems with water in my kitchen sink. They can be susceptible to mealybugs, spider mites, and scale.

As with any pests, keep your eye out for them and take control immediately. They spread from houseplant to houseplant very quickly.

Hip hip hurrays, the Peperomia obtusifolia is a plant that the ASPCA lists as non-toxic for cats and dogs.

My two kitties don’t pay much, if any, attention to my many houseplants. If your furry friends like to munch on plants know that chewing on them could make them sick. But it’s not toxic. This is a Ripple Peperomia, but the Baby Rubber Plant flower looks like this, only bigger.

They aren’t like other flowers, and you could mistake them for a new leaf emerging. All the flowers on mine have been greenish.

Peperomia Obtusifolia Care | NEED-TO-KNOW Tips ⭐️

FAQ

Where is the best place to put a baby rubber plant?

The baby rubber plant needs indirect light. It can survive in low light, though medium bright light is recommended. Place it in a spot with partial shade or on a window sill facing the west or east where it’ll receive soft morning or late afternoon sunlight.

Can a rubber plant survive in low light?

• Ideal Light:

  Rubber plants prefer bright, indirect light, like that from an east-facing window. 

• Low Light Tolerance:

  They are adaptable to lower light conditions, making them suitable for office environments or darker rooms. 

• Signs of Insufficient Light:

  If a rubber plant isn’t getting enough light, you might notice:

  • Slower growth 

  • Pale or yellowing leaves 

  • Leggy growth (stems stretching towards the light) 

  • Smaller leaves 

• What to do:

  If you notice these signs, try moving your rubber plant to a brighter location, or supplement with grow lights. 

• Other Care Tips:

  • Watering: Water when the top inch or two of soil is dry. 

  • Temperature: Rubber plants prefer warm temperatures (60-65°F at night, 75-80°F during the day). 

  • Humidity: They can tolerate normal room humidity. 

  • Fertilizing: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength every two weeks during the growing season, or once a month for plants in low light. 

Do baby rubber plants need a lot of water?

As much as these are succulent, they require regular watering. Always allow the potting medium to reach dryness, but try to avoid prolonged periods of dry soil that can cause root desiccation. If you find your plant wrinkles and wilts often, check your watering regime and adjust.

What kind of window is best for baby rubber plant?

Place your baby rubber plant near east or west-facing windows to ensure it receives adequate light. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can lead to leaf scorch. Instead, aim for bright, indirect light to keep those leaves lush and healthy.