Ceropegia

Family. Asclepiadaceae.

Origin. South Africa.

Description. Ceropegia is a very large and diverse genus of plants, among which there are perennial evergreen and semi-deciduous vines. It has thin, branching shoots. The leaves are thin, heart-shaped, located on short petioles. The color of the leaves varies from solid green to burgundy and green with various spots. Often the underside of the leaf blade has a contrasting shade. Flowering is extremely unusual - the buds resemble lanterns. Ceropegia is a succulent plant, as it often has a tuberous root, which serves the bush to store moisture and nutrients.

Height. The stems reach a length of 2 - 4 m and grow relatively quickly.

Care at home

Reproduction 

Ceropegia shoots often produce axillary tubers that can be separated and planted in the ground. Can be propagated by stem cuttings about 15 cm long, in spring and summer. Pre-dry the cut of the cutting for 1 - 2 days. Sometimes you can find seeds for sale, but their germination capacity is lost within a few months and it is not advisable to use them for propagation.

Soil

For cultivation, loose soil is used, for example, ready-made mixtures for cacti and succulents with the addition of coarse river sand, perlite or pumice to improve drainage. 

Flowering time

Summer, flowering lasts up to 1.5 months.

How to care 

Ceropegia is easy to grow and can be recommended to beginning gardeners. Stems that are too long can be trimmed.

Watering 

Water moderately but deeply during the growing season, allowing the soil to dry out before the next watering. Reduce watering in winter so that the earthen ball does not dry out. 

Temperature

Ceropegia do not like cold, so year-round maintenance at room temperature is suitable. Winter maintenance in a room with a temperature of at least 15 ° C. Vines can tolerate short, light frosts if they are in dry soil.

Lighting

The bushes prefer to grow in light shade from direct sunlight in summer. Only in the morning and evening can the plants be in direct sunlight for 2-3 hours a day. In autumn and winter, provide a well-lit windowsill. If there is not enough light, the color of the leaves fades, the vines stretch out, and flowering does not occur.

Fertilizing

Feed with fertilizers for cacti and succulents with a high potassium content, poor in nitrogen, 2 times a month at half the concentration, monthly.

Spraying

There is no need to spray. During the winter period, the air should remain dry. It is advisable to ensure good air movement around the plant, while avoiding cold drafts. 

Transplantation

Adult specimens are replanted every 2-3 years, in spring. It is advisable to use clay pots, the walls of which allow air and water to pass through and allow the soil to dry out faster. Try using the transshipment method - ceropegia does not like damage to the root system.

Pests and diseases

Plants are very sensitive to stem and root rot, which occurs as a result of overwatering, especially in the autumn-winter period. Leaves may turn yellow if the room temperature is too low. Ceropegia abundantly grow green mass to the detriment of flowering if the soil contains an excess of nutrients.

Harmful insects - mealybugs, spider mites, aphids.

Purpose

A very unusual, spectacular, decorative foliage plant that is often grown in hanging baskets.

Hydroponics

Many species grow well hydroponically.

Varieties:

Ceropegia woodii

An evergreen plant - a liana up to 4 m long with thin, flexible, abundantly branching stems. The leaves are heart-shaped, on short petioles, green with silvery or pinkish spots. The underside of the leaf blade is often painted in a contrasting burgundy color. On the stems, as well as in the root system, thickened tubers are sometimes formed, which can be transplanted. The flowers are pink, lilac or burgundy, with 5 petals, an extremely unusual shape, up to 3 cm long. This subspecies is the most common in home conditions. 

Ceropegia sandersonii

This subspecies has a unique appearance - the plants have long, green, chaotically curved shoots up to 4 m long. The leaves are green, heart-shaped, often one, even a large adult plant has only 2 - 5 leaves. The flowers are solitary, large - up to 7 cm long, yellowish-green, spotted. 

Ceropegia linearis

The appearance resembles Wood's ceropegia. It has long and thin shoots that perfectly weave around the provided support and heart-shaped, glossy leaves. In some varieties of this plant, the leaf blades are colored in the center in a standard green color, but along the edges there is a wide pink edging; in other plants, the leaves resemble cyclamen leaves.