Ceropegia woodii
If you are looking for a plant that lives up to its common name the Chain of hearts plant or Ceropegia woodii is certainly it.
Mainly grown as an indoor plant, and mostly in a hanging basket. 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
- String of Hearts
- Rosary Plant
This is a trailing 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.
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.
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.
- 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.
- Soil: 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
- 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: It is a plant that likes good filtered light and has a fairly low water requirement.
Water when the soil begins to dry, indoors given that temperature remains stable, cut back on watering just a little in winter.
If your Ceropegia woodii will have cooler winters, then hold back on water even more.
Propagation
The easiest method is from from cuttings. They are best taken in spring.
Cuttings are a better way to propagate the plant than by trying to divide the tubers, division of the tubers often causes fungal problems and the plant can die.
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’.