Peperomia obtusifolia ‘Obtipan Bicolor’

Background and history of ‘Obtipan Bicolor’

‘Obtipan Bicolor’ appeared in Sappemeer, the Netherlands, in 2015 as a naturally occurring variegated branch on the green cultivar Peperomia ‘Obtipan’. The variegated growth was selected for its stable two-tone leaves and compact shape.

Peperomia obtusifolia itself is native from Florida through tropical America. It grows both on the ground and on trees in wet tropical areas. Its fleshy leaves and stems store water, while the roots can grow through loose organic matter.

Indoor care for ‘Obtipan Bicolor’

• Light: Give bright indirect light for dense growth and a clear green-and-cream pattern. Protect the broad cream areas from strong midday sun, which can scorch them.
• Temperature: Keep the plant around 18–30 °C with steady temperatures.
• Water: Wait until the top half of the mix has dried and the pot feels noticeably lighter, then water evenly. Let excess water drain completely after watering.
• Potting mix: Use a loose potting mix with bark, perlite or pumice so water drains freely.
• Humidity: Normal room humidity is usually enough for this cultivar. In humid rooms, keep some air moving around the foliage.
• Feeding: Use a balanced houseplant fertiliser sparingly while fresh leaves are developing, following the label.
• Pruning: Shorten uneven stems just above a node to keep the plant compact.
• Repotting: When roots are crowded or the mix has compacted, choose a pot only slightly larger.

Troubleshooting ‘Obtipan Bicolor’

• A shoot produces much greener leaves: A little variation between leaves can occur. Watch the next few leaves on that shoot. If they stay mostly green while the rest of the plant remains variegated, remove the shoot if the green growth continues. If several shoots become greener and the stems also lengthen, move the plant gradually to brighter filtered light.
• White areas turn brown: Pale leaf areas are especially sensitive to intense sun and uneven moisture. Protect the plant from hot direct rays. If the light is already gentle, check whether the mix has stayed very dry or whether fertiliser salts have built up. Run plain water through the pot if salt build-up is likely, then let it drain.
• Several leaves turn yellow: Check the potting mix. If it is still wet when yellowing appears, let the mix dry further before watering again. Check the drainage hole and roots if the leaves or lower stems feel soft or continue to soften.
• The plant wilts: If the mix is still wet, root damage is the likely cause. Remove the plant from the pot and check the roots. Trim rotten roots with a clean, disinfected tool, cut back to firm healthy tissue and discard the rotten material. If enough healthy roots remain, repot into fresh, airy potting mix.
• Brown shell-like bumps appear: Check nodes, stems and leaf bases for scale insects; sticky residue can accompany an infestation. Isolate the plant and use a houseplant treatment labelled for scale, repeating treatment at the interval stated on the label.

If you're not sure what is causing the problem, send us clear photos of the whole plant, affected leaves and potting mix. We can help you work out what is happening.

Peperomia obtusifolia ‘Obtipan Bicolor’ 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.

Who first published Peperomia obtusifolia, and what does the name mean?

Peperomia combines Greek peperi, “pepper”, with homoios, “resembling”, and means “pepper-like”. Obtusifolia joins the Latin obtusus, meaning blunt, with folium, meaning leaf.

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

Carl Linnaeus first described it as Piper obtusifolium in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 30. Albert Gottfried Dietrich later placed it in Peperomia as Peperomia obtusifolia in 1831 in Species Plantarum, sixth edition, volume 1, page 154.