String of affection plants are gentle to care for and fun to get . In this Wiley Post , I ’m going to teach you all you need to do it about them , and give you tons of tips for watering , light , soil , fertilizer , pruning , and more !
The low - maintenance and optic - catching string of heart works is a swell choice for any rest home nurseryman looking for a beautiful indoor or outdoor vine .
I love putting them in hanging basket or tall planters , and they ’re also great for set on a bookshelf or cascading over a pedestal .
Flowers on my rosary vine
If you want to add this cool plant life to your appeal , then this scout is for you . And I ’m go to say you everything you necessitate to make love in rules of order to be successful !
In this elaborated guide , you ’ll take just all about string of Black Maria care , and see just how easy it is to grow . From the best soil , light , and water , to how to make them fuller , further blooming , and much more !
Table of Contents
String Of Hearts Quick Care Overview
What Is String Of Hearts?
String of inwardness ( Ceropegia woodii ) , is an evergreen vine native to South Africa . Though it ’s often called a succulent , it technically is not one .
The common name comes from the heart - shaped leaves that form in pair down the long hang vines . Each leaf is deep green with silvery or pale marble on top , and purple underneath .
Another common name is ‘ Rosary Vine ’ . That ’s because the minor aeriform genus Tuber that form between the leave make the vine resemble a prayer beads .
That trenchant shape of the leave give them many other nicknames too , such as ‘ Hearts mire ’ , ‘ Chain of Hearts ’ , and ‘ Sweetheart Vine ’ .
Their vines can get extremely long , up to 12 ’ , in the right-hand circumstance . They sprout from bulbous tubers that form under the soil .
Different Types Of Ceropegia woodii
Aside from the most plebeian light-green / marbled variety , there are a few other democratic types of Ceropegia woodii .
The variegated bowed stringed instrument of hearts has dapplings of pinkish and white alongside the super acid . There is also ‘ Silver Glory ’ , which has pale , silvery leave with a cryptic green molding .
More uncommon , but beautiful if you find them , are the ‘ Orange River ’ and ‘ Durban ’ varieties .
Both are deep green , with less marked centre shapes . The latter is often call ‘ String of Spades ’ or ‘ Heartless ’ because of how different the farewell are .
Flowers & Bloom Time
If given the proper care , chain of substance vine will produce humble , vase - like bloom in the late summer to other fall .
The prime are rounded at the bottom and narrower toward the top . They rate in color from wan cream to pink , or inscrutable magenta .
How To Grow String Of Hearts
Before learning about how to wish for string of hearts , first you ’ll need to know where they ’ll grow best . choose the right spot can help them flourish for many , many years .
Ceropegia woodii Hardiness
Rosary vine are most commonly celebrate as indoor plants , since they ’re only hardy outdoors in zones 11 or higher . They can not stand temperatures that fell below 40 ° F , and freeze will quick kill them .
Though they can survive brief catamenia of cool weather alfresco , they will come out to suffer if it stays below 60 ° F for long periods of prison term .
Where To Grow Rosary Vine
If you ’re lucky enough to be able-bodied to rise a rosary vine outdoors year round , keep it in a lightly shaded area that get sunlight only in the sunup or evening hours . Too much verbatim sun can burn down the leaves .
For the residual of us , take a spot indoors that receive plenty of smart , indirect luminosity . Because of the draping , cascade vines , they ’re very democratic in hang baskets , or set on high shelves .
In cooler climate , you’re able to move them alfresco for the summertime to relish in the heating system and humidness . Just be sure to fetch it back at bottom before it catch too cold for them .
String Of Hearts Plant Care & Growing Instructions
Now that you ’ve prefer the double-dyed place to grow your Ceropegia woodii , it ’s time to divulge just how easy they are to take care of . With love , and honestly a fiddling disuse , they can live for decades .
Light
bowed stringed instrument of hearts will grow rapidly in bright , indirect Christ Within . They can permit a little bit of verbatim sun , but too much can cause them to scorch .
out of doors , keep yours in a partial or dappled shade location where it ’s protected from the intense afternoon rays .
While they may survive in miserable light options indoors , too little can slacken them down , or cause them to become thin or pale . So put them near a bright window , or use agrow light .
Water
The tubers and leaves of a rosary vine are good at retain moisture , pull in them a drought - resistant plant that prefers infrequent lachrymation .
During the spring and summertime , water when the soil feels dry at least an inch down . In the fall and winter , have it dry out more . Ceropegia woodii goes semi - dormant in those calendar month , and wo n’t need as much moisture .
Overwatering can run to theme hogwash and yellowing or browning of the vines and leaves . If you be given to contend with this , an inexpensivesoil moisture gaugecan be a helpful tool .
Humidity
The native environment for Ceropegia woodii is teetotal , so they do n’t necessitate very moist zephyr . Typical household humidity levels , anywhere from low to spiritualist , will be fine .
In high humidity environments , you may actually demand to irrigate less than common .
Temperature
regrettably drawing string of hearts does n’t tolerate a very panoptic range of temperature swings . The ideal image for them is between 65 - 80 ° F .
If it ’s too hot , the vines will set off to dry out or burn down in the sun . On the flip side , colder weather will apace kill it .
If yours is outside during a heat moving ridge , move it to a shaded sphere to protect it , and body of water more often . And verify to move it back indoors before it make below 60 ° F in the fall .
Fertilizer
String of hearts do not need ordered fertilizer to grow well . But , an occasional alimentation can liven them and boost more flowering .
I advocate avoiding chemical products because they can cause fertiliser burn . Instead , apply a lifelike liquid fertilizer likecompost tea , orone for houseplants .
fecundate them only during the saltation and summertime months , and stop feed wholly in the fall and winter .
Soil
The best eccentric of soil to use is one that is neutral to more or less acidulous , and debauched draining . Acactus and succulent mixis a great option .
Or , you may better ageneral potting soilby combining it with adequate partscoarse sandandperliteorpumice .
Repotting
There ’s footling indigence to repot chain of hearts very often , they thrive when pot - bind . If you notice roots come out of the drainage holes , it ’s metre to move it to a unexampled container .
The honorable time of year to repot them is in the leap or summer . Choose a container that is 1 - 2 ” bighearted than its current one , and make certain it has adequate drain holes in the bottom .
If you have n’t repot in a few year , it ’s a good musical theme to rejuvenate the soil by mildly act in aslow - freeing granular fertiliser .
Pruning
There ’s no literal want to prune twine of nitty-gritty as a part of your regular care routine . But it ’s a good way to influence the long vine , and encourage fuller growth . It ’s best to trim rosary vines back in the springtime , before their most active emergence period . They can handle a hard pruning , so you may cut them down to whatever length you like .
To do it , but clip the vine back to the desired length with sharp , uninventive pair ofmicro prunersorprecision snips .
String Of Hearts Pest Control Tips
A healthy Ceropegia woodii plant life rarely has pest trouble , but at times they can develop issues with aphid and mealy bug .
Both can be treated with an all - naturalinsecticidal spray , or with a homemade one . only mix 1 teaspoon ofmild liquid soapwith 1 l of water , and lave the leaves and vines with it .
Aneem oilspray is also very effective for getting rid of plant microbe . Especially for recollective term prevention , or recurring pestilence .
Bugs can also be removed with a cotton plant swob dip inrubbing alcohol , which can assist immediately improve an infestation .
String Of Hearts Propagation Tips
There are many slipway to broadcast bowed stringed instrument of marrow plants , and they ’re all pretty well-situated . you’re able to root cuttings and aerial tuber , fork the tubers in the soil , or divide the rootball .
For cuttings , use a infertile pair ofmicro snipsto trim the vines or dispatch the aerial tubers , and dust them withrooting hormone . Place them in moistened , fast - drain soil , and keep them in a lovesome piazza , or on aheating mat .
For any method acting you take , you ’ll be intimate you ’ve had success when new vines and folio begin to forge . Get my full didactics for how to circulate them here .
Troubleshooting String Of Hearts Care Problems
Although Ceropegia woodii is usually very well-to-do to care for , you may run into an emergence or two over the year . Here are my best tips for troubleshooting and resolving some of the most common ones .
String of hearts turning purple
The bottom of the leave are violet naturally , so there is no cause for alarm if you notice that . If you see important levels of purple on the top of the leaves , it ’s potential you have the variegate miscellanea .
loose picture bear on the color of the leafage . Lower light options make the green more prominent , while bright luminance can increase purple tones .
Not Flowering
Though they ’ll likely have no problems blooming outdoors , it ’s much less rough-cut for a string of heart plant to flower indoors . They need to be salubrious , and welcome plenty of bright , collateral light .
To encourage flowering , give them a monthly feeding of anatural liquid fertilizerin the leap and summertime .
Leaves Turning Brown
If the leave are turning brown on your Sir Ernst Boris Chain of hearts , there can be a few case . If it ’s just an occasional leafage here and there ( especially near the top , or oldest part of the vine ) , it ’s a rude part of their living cps .
But if there ’s a pregnant amount of leave of absence turn brown along the root , that is most likely due to under tearing . Never allow the soil to become completely bone ironic .
Another cause could be sunburn or scorch from too much direct sunlight . Whether indoors or out , always keep them out of the hot afternoon sun .
Leaves Turning Yellow
When the leafage on a Ceropegia woodii turn chicken , then it ’s almost always due to overwatering . They do n’t like wet feet , and too much urine can lead to yellow leaves , and finally root rot .
rent the grease dry out more between watering , and invest in asoil wet gaugeif this is difficult for you .
String Of Hearts Care FAQs
Is Ceropegia woodii toxic to cats and dogs?
No , Ceropegia woodii is not toxic to cats or dogs . However the long hanging vines can look like toys to guy ( and children ) so you may want keep them out of reach for the wellness of the industrial plant .
Do string of hearts plants grow fast?
train of heart and soul plant can produce very tight when devote the proper care , especially in a promising light setting .
Is Ceropegia woodii a succulent?
No , Ceropegia woodii is not a true succulent . But it ’s ability to store water in its Tuber and leaves give it similarities that make many gardeners to call it semi - succulent .
How do I make my string of hearts fuller?
The good slipway to make your string of inwardness entire is to keep them in a bright location with plenty of collateral lighter . It ’s also a good mind to prune the vines at times to encourage branching and bushy growth .
Are strings of hearts hard to care for?
No , cosmic string of affection plants are not hard to wish for . They ’re very low maintenance , demand infrequent waterings , and boom on temperate negligence .
Now that you make out all about string of hearts handle , you ’re ready to tally one of these beautiful plant to your collection . With my tips on growing rosary vines , you ’ll be capable to keep any multifariousness thrive for a long , long time .
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