Peperomia Napoli Nights - The Complete Care Guide

Last Updated on March 19, 2022 by Admin

The Peperomia Napoli Nights is a hybrid that came about from crossing the Peperomia marmorata with the Peperomia peruviana.

And, I’m sure you’ll agree that the result is nothing less than spectacular.

This small plant features beautiful dark green variegations that look like stripes coming from the petiole running to the tip. Its leaves are light green that make for a great contrasting background.

Its size and stunning looks make it perfect for living room décor as you can place it almost anywhere including tabletops, shelves or counters.

And if that’s not enough, the plant is also low maintenance making it perfect if you want something lovely to decorate your home but not fussy or bothersome enough to take up a lot of your time.

Table of Contents

Peperomia Napoli Nights Plant Care

Light Requirements

Keep your Peperomia Napoli Nights under bright, indirect sunlight. They do best in medium to bright conditions due to their variegated foliage.

Avoid direct sunlight for more than 2 or 3 hours a day as this will burn its leaves and cause them to lose their beautiful colors. If you notice its leaves start turning yellow or it begin to lose some of its silver patterns, it is usually a sign that the plant is getting too much direct sunlight or overly intense exposure.

An easy remedy would be to move it to another spot with less light.

Similarly, they will not do well in overly dim or very dark locations.

That, it does not have a problem with low light which makes it well-suited for homes and offices.

If you find that you don’t have a well-lit enough location to keep the plant, you can use artificial lighting (grow lights) to supplement it.

While grow lights require longer exposure because they don’t cover the full spectrum of colors of the sun, they will keep the plant happy.

Thus, the best locations in your home for your Peperomia Napoli Nights is in an east facing window. A northern exposure likewise does well.

In south and east facing positions, you want to filter some of the afternoon light or keep the plant at least 3 to 6 feet from the window opening depending on how much light comes in from there and at what angle.

Temperature

Another important aspect for caring for your Peperomia Napoli Nights is climate condition.

Since most owners will keep the plant indoors, it is a good idea to be aware that its ideal temperature is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

It also can tolerate hotter conditions all the way up to 85 to 90 degrees with less of a problem because it hails from the tropical regions of Central and South America.

This makes it accustomed to warm conditions.

But, it also makes it vulnerable to the cold where it is not able to withstand very cold conditions.

As such, keep it away from areas where the temperature drops under 50 degrees.

This including indoor spaces where cold drafts can suddenly cause the temperature to drop like air conditioning or open windows. Cold spots in your home can also put it at risk.

Just as importantly, it cannot survive cold winters. The plant can only grow outdoors all year long in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and above.

Below that, it is important to bring the plant indoors (if you take it outside for the summer) once things drop or come close to 50 degrees around fall.

Humidity

Because your Peperomia Napoli Nights is native to the tropical forest habitat, it enjoys humid conditions. The higher the humidity, the happier it is.

In fact, if does quite well when humidity is above 90%. However, anything in above 60% and higher is its ideal range.

Unfortunately, you’ll be hard pressed to find homes with humidity that high.

In most cases homes have relative humidity between the 30% to 50%.

The good news is, the plant can adapt to the higher end of that range (40% to 50%) where it will grow well without any harm or damage). But, the lower you get, the drier its leaves will become.

This usually happens if your home’s humidity consistently stays in the low 30s or less.

If that’s the case, it is a good idea to get a humidifier or set the plant on a pebble tray where its pots sits above the water.

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How Often to Water Peperomia Napoli Nights

On average, your Peperomia Napoli Nights will need once a week watering during the warmer months. And, much less during the colder months as it take longer for the soil to dry with less sunlight and cooler air.

The most important thing to note about watering this plant is that it is prone to too much watering or overwatering. As such, don’t allow soil to get soggy or waterlogged.

Doing so will put it at right of root rot which is very difficult to recover from. And, if not treated early enough can be fatal for your plant.

The best way to water it is to allow the top soil to dry out before the next watering session. You can use a moisture meter or check the soil by sticking your finger in it.

You want at least the top 2 inches of soil to feel dry before you water. This will prevent watering too frequently.

Since the plant is semi-succulent in nature, it thick leaves store moisture which allows it to tolerate a bit of dryness longer than other houseplants.

However, this also makes it more susceptible to too much or too frequent watering.

Thus, you want to make sure the soil is dry each time before you water.

Soil for Peperomia Napoli Nights

The best soil for your Peperomia Napoli Nights is well-draining, loose and airy. This allows moisture and air to pass easily so they can reach the roots.

It also allows excess liquid to drain quickly so the plant does not end up sitting in water.

Because the plant is prone to overwatering this is very importantly. Similarly, well-draining soil avoids waterlogging.

To create this potting mix, combine:

2 parts of peat
1 part of perlite or sand.

Alternatively, if you already have regular potting mix at home, you can use that and add perlite or sand to improve its ability to drain moisture.

Besides the soil, it Is very important to use a container that has drainage holes at the bottom. This will allow the drained moisture to get out of the container.

A terra cotta pot likewise helps remove some liquid because it is porous. Although, a cheaper DIY option would be to use a plastic container and drill small holes on the sides to allow more air to circulate which letting excess moisture to drain.

You can use this for any plant that prefers airy, well-draining soil.

Fertilizer

Like many other peperomia varieties, your Napoli Nights will do well without fertilizer. As such, if you’re on a budget or looking to save a little money from you’re your gardening costs, you can opt for that.

Another alternative is to apply a fresh later of compost every spring. This will help the plant along and improve its growth.

However, most growers will still opt to go with fertilizer.

And, if you do, it is important to remember the plant only needs light feeding. As such, too much fertilizer is a bigger problem that too little or none.

I like to apply liquid fertilizer once a month during the spring and summer, which is the plant’s growing season. And, don’t forget to dilute the dosage to half strength.

The plant does not need fertilizer during the fall and winter as it takes a rest during the colder months.

Pruning

Peperomia Napoli Nights have short statures, slow growth rates and are low maintenance. This makes them ideal houseplants as they don’t take up a lot of space or your time.

They rarely grow taller than 12 inches tall and. And, because its stems don’t grove overly long nor does its leaves get messy, it does not need a lot of pruning.

Its foliage does grove form the center and on top of each layer. As such, it gets ticker and taller as its gets bushier.

Depending on the look you’re going for, you can trim it a bit if it looks a little to high or dense for you.

Otherwise, not much pruning is needed besides the regular removing of discolored leaves as well as those that are damaged or diseased.

Peperomia Napoli Nights Propagation

If you want to grow more of this beautiful plant, you’’ll be glad to know that your Peperomia Napoli Nights is easily propagated.

The best way to do so is via stem cuttings which is easy and does not require taking the plant out of its container, which saves you the hassle and cleaning up the mess afterward.

The best time to propagate is in spring.

Here’s how to do it.

Take a healthy stem cutting. You want to choose a stem or stems with at least 2 or 3 leaves on it.
Remove the lower leaves then allow the cutting to dry. This will take between a few hours to a day.
While you’re waiting, prepare a small container and fill it with fresh potting mix.
Once the cutting dries, dip the cut end into rooting hormone.
Then plant the cutting with the cut end into the soil.
Water the soil until moist.

Starting in soil will take around 3 or so weeks for the cutting to root.

You can likewise opt to grow the cutting in water which is faster. And, you get to see the roots grow day to day through the glass jar.

The method does require moving the cutting to soil similar to above, once the roots get to about an inch long.

How to Repot Peperomia Napoli Nights

Again, because of its size and slow growth, your Peperomia Napoli Nights only needs occasional repotting every few years.

The plant also has a small root system which lengthens the intervals between repotting.

That said, if you’re growing the plant from a seedling or juvenile, it will need to be repot more often as it goes through its fast growth stage. But, once it matures, the need reduces significantly.

Since you won’t be moving the plant often, it is a good idea to refresh the top soil every year.

Toxicity

Peperomia Napoli Nights is safe for humans, dogs and cats. It does not contain any toxic chemicals that can harm people or animals if ingested.

This makes it safe to keep around the house even in reach of young kids and pets.

However, they are not edible nor are they meant to be eaten. So, they can still bother your digestive tract or make you feel stuck if consumed.

Pests and Diseases

Your Peperomia Napoli Nights is not known to have problems with pests and diseases. As such, it should be worry-free with this regard provided that the plant stays healthy and gets the requirements its needs.

Keep in mind that a stressed plant is more prone to pests and diseases. So, avoid this condition.

The one pest that might attach your plant are mealybugs which look like mini cotton-like creatures. If you see them you want to deal with them quickly. Neem oil or insecticidal soap work very well.

I like to just wash them off with a hose when I see them.

Peperomia Napoli Nights – The Complete Care Guide