Peperomia ‘Brasilia’

Where Peperomia ‘Brasilia’ comes from

‘Brasilia’ came from a 2015 cross in Odense, Denmark, between the caperata cultivar ‘Teresa’ and ‘Eden Rosso’. From the resulting seedlings, ‘Brasilia’ was selected in 2016 for its distinctive colour, many leaves and compact habit.

One of its parents, ‘Teresa’, is a cultivar of Peperomia caperata, a species native to wet tropical southeastern Brazil.

How to care for Peperomia ‘Brasilia’

• Light: Place ‘Brasilia’ in bright filtered light; an east- or west-facing position works well. Protect it from strong midday or afternoon sun, which can scorch the foliage.
• Watering: Before watering, check that the upper mix is dry and the pot feels noticeably lighter. Then water thoroughly and let it drain; do not leave the mix around the roots continuously wet.
• Potting mix: Combine a fine houseplant mix with bark and perlite or pumice. It should hold some moisture while still draining freely and leaving plenty of air around the roots.
• Humidity: Ordinary household humidity is usually adequate. A moderate level can support healthy leaf development. Keep the compact centre dry and maintain good airflow around the plant.
• Temperature: Keep the plant warm, around 18–30 °C, and shield it from abrupt temperature drops or cold draughts.
• Feeding: While new leaves are being produced, use half-strength balanced liquid feed roughly every two weeks. Feed less often once growth clearly slows.
• Repotting: Repot ‘Brasilia’ when the roots become densely packed or begin to emerge through the drainage holes. Move to a pot only slightly larger and use a free-draining mix.
• Grooming: Remove damaged leaves at the base and trim off spent flower spikes once they fade. The compact rosette needs little pruning.

Common problems with Peperomia ‘Brasilia’

• Yellowing, soft leaves or a collapsing centre: The mix around the roots is probably staying wet for too long. Stop watering, check the roots and stem bases, remove soft rotten tissue with clean, disinfected tools until only firm healthy tissue remains and repot into fresh, airy mix if rot is present. Discard removed rot and see our root rot guide for the recovery steps.
• Brown leaf tips while the rest of the leaf stays firm: Water quality, fertiliser salts or very dry air can contribute. If watering is otherwise correct, try rainwater or filtered water, avoid overfeeding and let excess water drain freely each time you water.
• Exposed grey-purple leaves develop pale tan or brown patches: A sudden move into stronger direct light is a common cause. Filter the brightest sun or increase the distance from the glass; the damaged tissue will not turn green again.
• The dense mound loosens and gaps widen between leaves: The position is probably too dim. Increase indirect light gradually and turn the pot occasionally so new growth develops more evenly.
• White cottony clusters in leaf joints or around the crown: Check closely for mealybugs. Isolate the plant, remove visible insects and use a suitable labelled treatment, repeating it at the interval stated on the product label until no new pests appear. Our mealybug guide covers inspection and treatment.

Peperomia ‘Brasilia’ is non-toxic to people and pets

• This plant is non-toxic to people, cats and dogs.
• Chewing a large amount can still cause an upset stomach.
• If a large amount is eaten and symptoms continue, contact a veterinarian or medical professional.

Peperomia: name and meaning

Peperomia combines Greek peperi, “pepper”, with homoios, “resembling”, and means “pepper-like”.

Hipólito Ruiz López and José Antonio Pavon established the genus Peperomia in 1794 in Flora Peruvianae et Chilensis Prodromus, page 8.