The Ultimate Peporomia Frost Growing Guide (24 Tips)

Peperomia caperata ‘Frost’ – or Peperomia Frost – is a captivating cultivar with silvery-green hues that look almost like a light frost. Often called Peperomia Silver Frost, this compact beauty belongs to the ripple Peperomia family. It has an upright growth pattern and shimmering foliage.

This tropical charmer isn’t just about aesthetics, though. Its resilience and low-maintenance requirements make it an excellent choice for both seasoned and budding indoor gardeners – green thumbs aren’t required to grow it. As we explore further, we’ll review the essentials of caring for, propagating, and addressing common concerns related to Peperomia Frost. Buckle up, gardeners.

What Is Peperomia Frost?

Peperomia Frost (Peperomia Caperata Frost) is a perennial from the Piperaceae family. It is a Peperomia that will grow best outdoors in hardiness zones 10-12. When indoors, you’ll need to position your plant near an east or west-facing window for it to grow its heart-shaped leaves with frosty white dark green veins.

Peperomia Frost Origin And Family

From the Peperomia genus in the Piperaceae family, the Peperomia Silver Frost is native to the Brazilian rainforests.

Where To Buy

A Peperomia Frost can usually be purchased from a nursery that specializes in houseplants. With that said, it’s usually a better option to buy it on Etsy, where the prices are more reasonable for fascinating plants. I often find the best options there because enthusiasts usually sell the plants from their collections.

Peperomia Frost is affordable, priced between $10 for smaller plants and $20+ for larger, more mature plants.

Peperomia Frost Plant Size

The Peperomia Frost can grow between 6-12 inches tall when it reaches maturity. This plant is best suited for near an east or west-facing window. It has a slow growth rate.

Peperomia Frost Care Needs

Most plants, including Peperomia Frost, can quickly grow under the right conditions.

Known for unique foliage, it prefers a humid environment and relatively dry soil.

When the upper half of the soil is dry, water this stunning compact plant. Like most plants, you want suitable drainage holes in your plastic, terracotta, or clay pot.

Read on for more Peperomia Frost details.

Peperomia Frost Care Difficulty

In terms of care difficulty, the Peperomia Silver Frost is typically easy-to-care-for. The primary growing considerations are the well-draining soil and the amount of light this plant has.

Peperomia Frost Growth Rate

The Peperomia Silver Frost plant measures 6-12 inches in height when grown indoors. The growth surge of this plant is sped up by the warmth of spring and summer.

Peperomia species grow at a slow speed, including Frost.

Peperomia Frost Potting

In terms of potting material and size for this plant, it’s generally advisable to use a small-sized shallow pot made of plastic, terracotta, or clay. The important consideration is for your pot to have at least one drainage hole. Peperomia Silver Frost does not like sitting in excess water; its shallow root system may succumb to root rot.

Peperomia Frost Repotting

Expect to repot your Peperomia Silver Frost if you see its roots growing out of the bottom of the pot. From my experience, this plant grows relatively slowly, but I recommend repotting every two years to refresh the soil of this beautiful plant.

While repotting, give your Peperomia refreshed nutrients by adding standard commercial potting soil – instead of reusing the old medium.

Peperomia Frost Soil

Peperomia Silver Frost grows well in standard commercial potting soil. You can also make your potting mix by adding peat, perlite, coco chips, and orchid bark. This plant likes its soil to stay relatively dry.

Additionally, adequate drainage is critical to avoid fungal diseases, root rot, and other issues.

These are some soil options we recommend:

Peperomia Frost pH

pH for this plant should be around 6.0-6.5, meaning your Silver Peperomia likes mildly acidic soil. If you’re repotting on schedule or adding new soil from time to time, the pH level wouldn’t be as much of a concern as if you’re growing this plant outdoors.

Some flowering peperomia frost 🌱 pic.twitter.com/Dxklv2jRbM

— MamaGreen 🌱 (@mamagreeen) April 20, 2020

How Often Should I Water Peperomia Frost?

Proper watering is essential for Peperomia Silver Frost. Overwatering puts plants at risk for illnesses like root rot. The roots of your plant may dry up if you water it insufficiently, especially on warm days. Generally speaking, the growth medium for Peperomia Silver Frost should be relatively dry.

If your plant needs watering, it can be easily determined. Check to see whether muddy, damp dirt is still adhering to a wooden skewer or pencil inserted into the pot. Alternatively, you may check for dampness with your finger. Water your plant when the upper half of the soil feels dry.

Excess moisture may be reduced with the aid of an aerated, chunky soil mixture and a permeable container with drainage holes.

Should You Mist Peperomia Frost?

There’s a lot of debate around whether you should mist your houseplants or not. For plants that thrive in high humidity – like Peperomia Frost – the answer is probably. Use warm water for misting and do it early in the day, allowing leaves time to dry before evening. Mist both the top and bottom of the leaves so they appear lightly dewed. The idea here is to mirror a native environment (Brazil) for the plant.

What Light Does Peperomia Frost Need?

This houseplant prefers bright indirect light. Too much light and its silvery leaves will get burned. Too little light and its stems will grow leggy.

If you’re worried that your Peperomia Frost isn’t getting adequate light, you may need to move it closer to a window or consider using artificial lights. Here are some basic options for you to consider:

Avoid putting your Peperomia Frost in direct sunlight, as this causes serious damage or kills the plant.

Peperomia Frost Fertilizer

For houseplants to thrive, they require soil, water, and sunlight. Plant food has to be added to the soil as it might lose nutrients over time.

During the spring and summer, fertilize your Silver Frost Peperomia once a month for a healthy plant. If a very concentrated water-soluble fertilizer is what you want, make sure to dilute it first.

Normally, winter is a time when fertilizing is not necessary.

Propagating Peperomia Frost

You can quickly reproduce your Peperomia Frost through various methods. Check the step-by-step instructions for each propagation method below.

Stem Cuttings In Soil

One of the most convenient ways to propagate a Peperomia Frost is by making cutting and planting it in soil. Early spring is the ideal time to propagate a Peperomia Silver Frost. Follow these steps to propagate this Peperomia successfully.

1. Collect a cutting. Look for a healthy part of the Peperomia Frost’s stem with newer growth and one or two nodes. Cut just below the Peperomia Silver Frost’s nodes with scissors or gardening shears.

2. Plant the cutting. Directly plant the cutting into standard commercial potting soil.

3. Maintain the cutting. Keep the soil around your baby Peperomia Frost moist and maintain a temperature of approximately 60-80°F.

4. Rotate the cutting. Rotate the pot now and then for even growth on all sides of your Frost.

Stem Cuttings In Water

Your Peperomia Silver Frost can also be rooted in water with these easy steps:

1. Cut. Take some cuttings with new leaves and about 2-3 nodes.

2. Submerge. Use a mason jar or transparent container to submerge your cutting in water. Remove any bottom leaves which are below the water level.

3. Maintain. Place your propagation jar in a well-lit area with an average room temperature of 68°F.

4. Refill. To avoid bacterial infection, replace the water every few days.

5. Transplant. Once the cutting has grown roots at least one inch long, move it into damp, sterile potting soil.

New plant babies ✨🍃 🧡
Peperomia Frost & Chlorophytum Amaniense. 😍 pic.twitter.com/GqSMo90zCh

— 𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒂 ♕ (@stylishmaya) September 17, 2020

Humidity And Aeration for Peperomia Frost

This Peperomia is a fascinating plant that prefers high humidity between 50% and up. It can also tolerate the average household humidity.

If your Peperomia Frost has curling or crispy leaves with brown edges, you may consider getting a humidifier. This device is designed to constantly release steam and significantly raise the humidity in a room. You can also create a pebble tray to help with humidity.

Peperomia Frost Temperature

Peperomia plants are famously known as Radiator plants for how they prefer to grow near warm locations, but they can thrive in the ideal temperature range of 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit.

They do, however, like constant temperatures, so keep them away from windows and openings that may allow chilly air during the colder months. Also, keep them away from vents and other heat sources, which can dry the air.

Non-Toxic

The Peperomia Silver Frost is not hazardous to children or pets. According to the ASPCA, it will not hurt dogs or cats if consumed, and there are no toxic elements in the plant.

Pests, Diseases, And Other Problems for Peperomia Frost

In most situations, Peperomia Frost is a disease-resistant and pest-resistant plant. There are, however, some common problems that can affect it. Below we’re discussing some common problems and solutions to protect your Peperomia Frost.

Spider Mites

Houseplants can sometimes bring unwelcome visitors to your home in the form of pests. One example of such is the spider mite. The larvae will not be visible, but adult mites can be seen quickly scampering around when disturbed.

Spraying diluted neem oil on your plant’s leaves can help eradicate spider mites at their larval stage. There are also organic Pyrethrin sprays that are effective in killing adult mites. When spraying any pesticide indoors, make sure you choose products that are non-hazardous for humans when inhaled.

White Flies

Whiteflies are tiny airborne insects that fly around when a plant moves. They are particularly attracted to the Peperomia Silver Frost. They feed on succulent-like leaves but rarely cause the death of plants.

Keeping herbs close to your pest-infested plant offers an extra benefit if you enjoy the flavor and aroma. Mint, parsley, and cilantro are believed to deter whiteflies with their aromatic scents.

Using a pesticide is necessary for controlling a severe infestation. Here are a few well-liked Amazon goods that we advise against whiteflies:

Scale Insects

Scales are insects that feed on plant sap. What sets them apart from other bugs is that the adult scale will latch onto one part of the plant and stay put. They are called armored scales and may appear as brownish lumps on the stems or petioles of a plant.

As a preventive measure, you can dilute a teaspoon of neem oil in 500 mL of water and spray it on your plant’s leaves to discourage scales from latching onto your Peperomia Frost.

You can also release ladybugs or lacewings near your infected plant and let these beneficial bugs take care of the problem for you!

Mealybugs

Mealybug infestations are somewhat common on Peperomia Silver Frost. Act promptly if you detect these little parasites (frequently identified with white puffs on the leaves) of your houseplants.

Pour isopropyl alcohol into a cotton ball, then wipe it all over the leaves and stem of your plant. Additionally, an effective precautionary spray is neem oil.

Brown Leaf Tips

One recurrent cause of browning edges on your Peperomia Silver Frost’s leaves is a soil build-up of salts and minerals. This typically happens if you apply too much fertilizer or use chemically-treated tap water.

Another reason for browning leaf tips is the lack of moisture. Water your plant appropriately, and improve your indoor humidity.

Baby peperomia frost 🥺 pic.twitter.com/ucErFeZPk3

— MamaGreen 🌱 (@mamagreeen) October 23, 2020

Drooping Leaves

A wilting, droopy appearance on your Peperomia Frost indicates distress. Possible causes of drooping leaves are overwatering, underwatering, excessive light exposure, lack of light, and low humidity.

Yellow Leaves

If you find that the leaves of your Peperomia Silver Frost are turning yellow, you have to trace any recent adjustments in your usual care practices or the weather.

Overwatering, underwatering, overfertilizing, under-fertilizing, too much light, lack of light, root damage, temperature swings, and pests can cause yellowing leaves.

Root Rot

Root rot is a prevalent cause of death for Peperomia Silver Frost. Soil that is too compact will become water-logged and eventually rot the roots of your plant. Because this disease is difficult to stop, prevention is the best course of action.

The simplest way to prevent root rot is to reduce the amount and frequency that you water your Peperomia. Before giving your plant a drink, check to see if the first 3 inches of the soil are dry. If not, your plant can most probably wait a little longer!

In terms of potting material, porosity is a property that allows air to pass through and dry the soil while also allowing excess moisture to escape. Porous pots can be made of clay, baked terracotta, ceramic (unglazed), or concrete. Make sure you choose one that has drainage holes at the bottom!

Similar Plants to Peperomia Frost

Love Peperomia Silver Frost? Here are some other similar plant options you should try:

Ficus Lyrata Compacta – This little plant makes a stunning interior accent plant thanks to its tiny, lyre-shaped, dark green leaves. The stiff, irregularly shaped leaves have a leathery texture and stand out for their pale veins.

Hoya Carnosa Compacta Variegata – The tropical, low-maintenance Hoya Carnosa Compacta Variegata plant will breathe new life and color into your house. A must for indoor gardeners looking for plants with a distinct look and feel.

Hoya Carnosa Compacta – Despite not being variegated, this plant is as beautiful as its counterpart. This little shrub gracefully trails and has tiny baby-pink blooms. With this plant hanging inside your house or yard, you can never ask for a better-looking display plant.

Conclusion

Prized for unique foliage, Peperomia Frost is a beautiful decoration for your household. If you follow our growing tips, you’ll have no trouble growing this Peperomia.

Do you have a Peperomia Silver Frost in your collection? We’d love to see it! Please submit photos to [email protected], and we might post them on our blog!

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