I might know a thing or two about growing plants outdoors (or sprouting them indoors to plant outdoors), but when it comes to houseplants, my thumb is more brown than green. Let’s just say I’ve sent more than a few houseplants to the compost bin in my day.
Thankfully I can say that things are not as dire as they once were. I have several houseplants that I’ve managed to keep alive for a few years now. Most of them I either inherited or received as cuttings from people who weren’t aware of my deep, dark, brown-thumb secret. My favorite is a bi-colored pink and white Christmas cactus I received as a cutting from my mother-in-law. It blooms around Christmas and usually again around Easter, and it doesn’t seem to mind at all if I under-water or over-water it.
A few weeks ago I was on the lookout for a new plant (potential victim?) for my north-facing bay window. Unfortunately, most houseplants that thrive in such a small amount of light are fussy. They need constant moisture or special soil or fertilizer. Some of them even need to be misted regularly. As if.
After scouring the internet and several books, I discovered a succulent plant that fit the bill perfectly. Peperomia caperata, or Emerald Ripple, is a tough, compact plant that tolerates shade to filtered sun. It grows in regular potting soil and requires little fertilization.
The plant has wrinkly, heart-shaped leaves that can be dark green, pink, red, or white-margined, depending on the cultivar. My plant has red leaves.
I’m not going to get ahead of myself and declare Emerald Ripple a success until it has been under my care for a couple of months at least. But so far my plant is thriving nicely in its new home.