Culture
Winter hardy to USDA Zones 10-12. In St. Louis, this plant is easily grown as an indoor plant in a peatty potting mix in bright indirect light. Avoid direct sun. Water moderately but consistently, allowing the soils to almost dry on top before rewatering. Reduce watering from fall to late winter. Likes high humidity in summer, so consider setting plant in a humidified room. Propagate by tip, stem or leaf cuttings.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Peperomia argyreia, commonly called watermelon begonia is native to South America. It is a compact, nearly stemless, rosette-forming perennial. It typically grows to 6-8” tall as a houseplant. Each round, glossy, fleshy leaf (to 3.5” long) is attractively striped with green and silver in a manner reminiscent of watermelon rind. Leaf stems are an attractive red. Small greenish flowers on spikes (to 3” long) rise slightly above the foliage in summer on red stalks. Flowers are interesting but not particulary showy. Synonymous with P. sandersii.
Genus name comes from the Greek words peperi meaning pepper and homoios meaning resembling. The plants resemble, and are closely related to, true black pepper (Piper nigrum).
Specific epithet means silvery.
Problems
Mealybugs, spider mites and white fly can be problems. Susceptible to rot if soils are kept too moist.
Uses
Houseplant for bright indirect light locations.