Peperomia caperata 'Caracas'

The species behind 'Caracas'

'Caracas' is a cultivated form of Peperomia caperata. The species comes from south-eastern Brazil, where it grows in wet tropical conditions.

Caring for 'Caracas' indoors

• Light: Give the plant bright indirect light for compact growth while shielding it from strong midday or afternoon sun through glass.
• Watering: Let the upper part of the mix dry and wait until the pot is lighter before watering again. Water thoroughly and let it drain fully.
• Substrate: Use an airy peat- or coir-based houseplant mix with perlite or pumice and a little fine bark.
• Humidity: Normal indoor humidity is usually enough. If the air is exceptionally dry, raise the room humidity and keep the centre of the plant dry.
• Temperature: Keep it around 18–30 °C and above roughly 10 °C. Protect damp roots from sudden chilling and cold draughts.
• Feeding: Feed lightly while new leaves are appearing. Reduce or pause feeding when growth slows.
• Repotting: Repot one size up once the roots are crowded, drainage has slowed or the old mix is breaking down.

Troubleshooting 'Caracas'

• Leaves wrinkle and the whole clump droops: Check the substrate before watering. A dry, light pot needs a thorough soak; if the mix is still damp, let it dry further and inspect the roots if the plant stays limp.
• Dry tan patches appear on window-facing leaves: This pattern usually points to direct sun or heat from hot glass. Move the plant farther from the glass while keeping it in bright indirect light.
• Fine pale speckles or webbing develop: Isolate the plant and inspect the leaf undersides for spider mites. Wash or wipe away visible mites, then use a labelled indoor-ornamental treatment only if needed and repeat it only according to the label.
• Lower leaves yellow and become soft: Check the roots if the substrate remains damp for a long time. Remove confirmed rotten roots with clean, disinfected tools, discard decayed material and contaminated old mix, then repot in fresh airy mix that drains well. See the root rot guide for recovery steps.

Peperomia caperata ‘Caracas’ 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.

How did Peperomia caperata get its name?

Peperomia combines Greek peperi, “pepper”, with homoios, “resembling”, and means “pepper-like”. Caperata comes from the Latin caperatus, meaning wrinkled or corrugated, and refers to the deeply folded leaf surface.

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

Truman George Yuncker first described Peperomia caperata in 1958 in Kew Bulletin, volume 12, page 421.