Ceropegia woodii

Ceropegia woodii is an easy-to-maintain houseplant

If you are looking for an indoor plant that is easy to maintain, a very good option is to opt for the Ceropegia woodii. It is a hanging plant that it is capable of reaching lengths of between two and four meters. Its peculiar little flowers that look like wax will not go unnoticed. Therefore, it is an ideal plant to beautify our environment.

In this article we will explain what is Ceropegia woodii, what care it needs and how it spreads. So if you are interested in this curious vegetable, I recommend that you keep reading.

What is this plant?

The flowers of Ceropegia Woodii look like wax

La Ceropegia woodii, native to South Africa, it is a succulent plant whose bearing is messy and hanging. It is especially characterized by creating long, thin stems. Fleshy, rounded and green leaves with silver tones emerge from them. When they come in direct contact with sunlight, their hues change to pinkish. Besides, the Ceropegia woodii creates some very peculiar flowers in summer. They are small in size and pink, but what is really surprising is that appear to be made of wax, hence the name of this vegetable.

However, this peculiar flowering plant also has other common names, and very beautiful also:

  • Chain of hearts
  • Ceropegia
  • Heart necklace
  • Rosary creeper
  • Wax fountain
  • String of hearts
  • Rosary of hearts

How to care for Ceropegia woodii?

Usually, the Ceropegia woodii it is a fairly simple plant to maintain. It can grow in semi-shady or very sunny places and it is quite tolerant of dry environments, as it does not require much humidity. For this reason it can be kept inside the home, even with central heating and without the need to spray it.

Although it is a very resistant vegetable, it is best to fertilize it once a month, at least during its growth period. Once the Ceropegia woodii is fully developed, It will not be necessary to pay it, just provide nutrients from time to time. As for the temperature, the ideal for this plant with peculiar flowers ranges between 18 and 25 degrees, but it can withstand even more heat in summer. If possible, we should avoid being in an environment below 15 degrees, especially in winter.

When to water Ceropegia woodii?

As the roots of the Ceropegia woodii they are tuberous, it is capable of creating its own water reserves. For this reason, it must be watered sparingly and rarely. In fact, it is best to water only when the substrate or soil has completely dried. Also, it is of the utmost importance that the land has good drainage. One of the most common deaths of this plant is due to an excess of water. The roots rot because of it and the plant cannot survive.

So we must water it little, and even less in autumn and winter. In the event that we see that its leaves turn yellow, it is most likely that the poor plant is drowning with so much water. On the contrary, if its leaves begin to wither and fall, especially in summer, it is possible that it lacks more water.

Precisely because it is a plant that needs very specific waterings, it is ideal to place it in a high place, since it will not be an extra effort for us. In addition, its long and thin stems give it a curtain aspect that invites us to find a high place to decorate our home.

How is Ceropegia woodii spread?

There are three methods of propagation of Ceropegia woodii

There are a total of three different methods for propagating the Ceropegia woodii: By land, by water and by tubers. We will comment on them below and you can choose which one you prefer, if your idea is to reproduce this plant, of course.

Propagation by land

Let's start with the spread of the Ceropegia woodii by land. It is as simple as cut some cuttings from the tip of the stem of an adult specimen and insert them into a pot filled with moist soil. In the event that we have a Ceropegia woodii very long, a good option is to use this method to give it more density. For this we only have to prune it and place the cuttings in the earth around the original plant.

Although this method is quite effective, we can increase the chances of success by using a root stimulating gel. All we have to do is immerse the cutting in this gel before burying it in the substrate. It is important that the root stimulating gel adheres to the cut.

Water propagation

Like the spread of the Ceropegia woodii By land, cuttings are also used when done in water. We simply have to cut a few to a length of a few centimeters and put them in water. In order for them to develop well, it is best to place them in a place where they are indirectly sunlight. It is also important that the part of the cutting that is submerged in the water does not have any leaves. Otherwise, those leaves will end up rotting and it will be more difficult to keep the water clean. We must not forget to change the water of the cuttings at least once a week, or when it becomes cloudy earlier.

So roots can grow, there must be at least one knot under the water, better two, since they sprout from them. The more cuttings we place, the denser the adult plant will be and the more beautiful it will be in our home. Once enough roots have emerged from the cuttings, we can plant them in the ground.

Propagation by tubers

Finally we have the option of propagating the Ceropegia woodii by means of tubers. As the plant ages, tubers of different sizes appear on its stems. To produce new vines, all you have to do is bury the tuber in another substrate, and if it is still attached to the vegetable it will be much better. In order to encourage rooting, we must keep the soil moist and not overdo it with water. After a few weeks or months, the tuber will have grown enough to separate it from the original plant.

I wish all plants were so easy for you to maintain and reproduce, right?


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