Chain of hearts plant

Ceropegia woodii

Commonly called the Chain of Hearts, Ceropegia woodii is easy to grow indoors, or outdoors in warmer climates.

It is also commonly known as the String of Hearts and Rosary Vine, they are all the same plant, a trailing Vine with heart shaped leaves.

Mainly grown as an indoor plant, and mostly in a hanging baskets. The foliage is a spotted mid green and grey it hangs down in strings of heart shaped leaves in a cascading manner.

Other common names include:

• Sweetheart Vine
• Hearts Entangled

The Chain Of Hearts plant has the added attraction that it will also flower, small pink or magenta to mauve waxy flowers from spring through to autumn are an added interest to the foliage.

The long chains can reach 3 – 4 meters in length, a fully grown specimen is an impressive site in a hanging basket.

How to Grow the Chain of hearts plant

One of the great things about the Chain of hearts plant is its easy care nature. It is a succulent and will grow indoors or outdoors.

The plant forms tubers, and does so in large numbers, these store water and nutrients which allow the plant to survive for long periods without much care.

Best Place to Grow Chain of hearts

This is a plant that requires a warm protected position, so grow the Chain of Hearts Plant indoors , or outdoors in a protected position. In cooler climates grow in indoors.

Because the plant has long trailing stems we find that it is best grown in a hanging basket or on a tall table or shelf where the stems can trail down.

• Indoors – The best position to grow Chain of Hearts plant indoors in bright light however not direct sun.
  
• Outdoors – Again the best position is in filtered shade, not direct light, outdoors you will need a warm sheltered position. Protect from cold winds and hot drying winds. Frost and freezes are not suitable.

Growing Conditions and Care

• Humidity:
  Indoors this is an easy plant, it does not require high humidity, so no mist spraying is needed.
  
• Light:
  Bright filtered light is best or some morning sun and then filtered indirect light. A lack of light will lead to poor leaf colour. The reverse of the leaves will also change colour.
  
• Pot Size
  A 10 – 15cm wide pot is a good size for most plants.
  
• Soil/Potting Mix
  A free draining potting mix with some added fertiliser.
  A 50/50 potting mix – perlite combination works well, you can add a little coarse river sand, or substitute the perlite and use pumice or other drainage material.
  A succulent and cactus mix is the easier solution. such as Gro Max Rock and Mineral fertiliser.
  
• Fertilizer:
  Fertilise during active growth from spring through summer. Any indoor plant fertiliser will do the job. Stop fertilising at the end of summer.
  
• Watering:
  Like so many plants a wet dry watering cycle is best. Water well and then let the soil almost dry before watering again.
  
  Water more often during summer and long hot periods, less in cooler conditions and winter.
  
  Overwatering will cause root rot and this is signaled by yellowing leaves. So use that wet/dry watering cycle.
  
  A lack of water will cause thin foliage, and good plump foliage looks better, so get that watering regime right and you will have a greta looking plant.

Repotting Chain Of Hearts Plant

Generally every 2 – 4 years you will need to repot as the potting mix becomes exhausted and breaks down.

1. The best time to repot in in early spring.
2. Water well before 2 – 3 days before repotting
3. Prepare your new pot by adding potting mix to about 1/3 of the pot.
4. Remove the plant from the old pot.
5. Remove little of the old soil without disturbing the roots too much.
6. Repot and backfill around the plant.
7. Firm the soil down.
8. Water in with a liquid seaweed fertiliser.
9. Avoid watering the foliage.
10. Do not water again until the soil is almost dry

Propagation

On healthy mature plants you may find small round, brown balls. These are tubers and if they are allowed to sit on top of soil they will send out roots, so this is the natural method of regeneration or if you like propagation.

Other methods of propagation include taking cuttings which will strike easily. They are best taken in spring.

Cuttings are a better way to propagate the plant than by trying to divide the mature tubersthat have already started growing, division of these tubers often causes fungal problems and the plant can die.

Common Problems include

• Curling leaves
  This can be caused by :
  Insects laying eggs usually on the underside.
  Lack of light
  Lack of water
  
• Dry leaves
  This means you are under watering, or the soil is exhausted and does not hold water any more. In this case you need tom repot in fresh potting mix.
  
• Small Leaves
  A lack of fertiliser lack of water or too much sun can all cause small leaves. The plant being pot bound can also cause poor growth.
  
• Thin weak leaves
  Usually caused by a lack of light.
  
• Soft mushy or rotting leaves.
  Over watering or poorly drained soil.
  
• Change of colour
  The leaves can change colour during the different seasons, generally when stressed through lack of water the leaf margins will turn pink
  
• Slow or very poor growth
  A lack of light especially when grown indoors will cause poor growth rate.
  Lack of water or the plant being potbound will also cause poor growth
  A lack of fertiliser will also cause this.

Our top tips for keeping your Chain of Hearts plant Healthy and growing well are.

1. Water regularly allowing the soil to dry between waterings.
2. Provide adequate light both indoors and outdoors
3. Fertilise with a liquid every 4 weeks from spring through to winter.

A few facts

The correct botanical name is Ceropegia linearis ssp. woodii. Its from South Africa, and is the most commonly grown plant in the genus.

Summary.

• Botanical Name – Ceropegia linearis ssp. woodii
• Common Name – Chain Of Hearts Plant
• Position – Light shade
• Soil – Humus rich moist but well drained.
• Flowers – Pink
• Foliage – Heart shaped, green and silver. The amount of exposure to light will determine foliage colour to some extent.
• Frost tolerant – No
• Drought tolerant – No, although this is a very hardy plant and will cope with short dry periods.
• Height – This is a trailing plant and can get to 3m in length
• Container growing – Yes, the Chain of hearts plant is well suited to hanging baskets and other containers.

Other Ceropegia

• Ceropegia ampliata – Also known as the ‘Bushmans Pipe’, interesting tubular white flowers.
• Ceropegia distincta ssp. haygarthii – The most fascinating flowers of all, worth looking at Google images.
• Ceropegia sandersonii – Strange green and white ‘Umbrella shaped Flowers’.
• Ceropegia stapeliiformis – Also known as the ’Snake Plant’.

You May Also Like other Trailing Plants

• Senecio Angels Tears
• String of Dolphins
• String of Pearls