Peperomia prostrata

Native range and background of Peperomia prostrata

Peperomia prostrata is native to Ecuador, where it grows on other plants in wet tropical habitats.

Its common name, String of Turtles, refers to the dark shell-like pattern repeated across the small round leaves.

Caring for Peperomia prostrata indoors

• Light: Keep the tiny patterned leaves in bright indirect light. Too little light softens the markings and lengthens the spaces between leaves, while strong direct sun can scorch the small leaves.
• Watering: Let the upper part of the mix dry and wait until the pot feels lighter, then water thoroughly.
• Potting mix: Use a fine, airy potting mix that retains a little moisture and drains quickly.
• Temperature: Protect the fine stems from cold windows and draughts. Keep conditions warm and stable, especially when the potting mix is moist.
• Humidity: Moderate humidity helps the miniature foliage, especially in warm rooms. Use gentle airflow so the leaves and the top of the potting mix dry promptly.
• Feeding: Use fertiliser lightly during active growth and follow the product label.
• Training: Let the stems cascade, or pin a few healthy nodes back onto the surface so they can root and fill bare areas.
• Repotting: Choose a new shallow container only when the roots have filled the current one or the mix has become compact. A pot close to the size of the root ball makes moisture easier to manage.
• Propagation: Cut several short stem sections with multiple nodes and place those nodes against lightly moist potting mix. Start several pieces together for a fuller new pot.

Problems that can affect Peperomia prostrata

• Stems turn black where they touch the potting mix: The surface is staying too wet or airless. Remove rotten strands with a clean, disinfected tool, discard the affected material and let the surface dry more between waterings. Improve airflow before pinning healthy stems back onto the potting mix.
• Leaves shrivel and whole strands become crisp: The potting mix has probably dried too far. Water the pot thoroughly, then water a little sooner next time once the top of the mix has dried.
• Markings fade and gaps between leaves increase: Move the plant gradually to brighter filtered light. New growth should become shorter and the turtle pattern more distinct.
• Healthy-looking leaves drop from several stems: Check whether the pot has repeatedly become very wet and then very dry, and look for root damage. Water more consistently and inspect the roots if the pot remains wet while leaves continue to fall.
• Fine webbing appears between the tiny leaves: Inspect the leaf undersides and crowded stem joints for spider mites. Isolate the plant and, if treatment is needed, use a product labelled for spider mites and indoor ornamental plants, repeating only at the label interval.

Peperomia prostrata 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 the name Peperomia prostrata came about

Peperomia combines Greek peperi, “pepper”, with homoios, “resembling”, and means “pepper-like”. The Latin name prostrata means “lying flat”, “laid low” or “creeping” and describes the plant’s trailing stems.

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

Maxwell Tylden Masters and Thomas Moore first described Peperomia prostrata in 1879 in Gardeners’ Chronicle, new series, volume 11, page 716; Benjamin Samuel Williams had proposed the name.