Rhoicissus

Family. Vitaceae.

Origin. Africa.

Description. The genus Rhoicissus consists of 12 evergreen trees and vines with woody vertical or creeping stems. The leaves are green, glossy, heart-shaped, rounded or palmately dissected with a serrated edge, up to 20 cm long, arranged alternately. The underside of the leaf blade and young shoots and leaves sometimes have fine pubescence. Rhoicissus clings to a vertical support with its antennae and easily climbs it. Flowering is not of particular interest.

Height. It grows quite quickly and reaches a height of 2 m when grown indoors.

Care at home

Propagation

Propagated in the spring by apical cuttings about 8 - 10 cm long. The lower leaves are removed from the cuttings and covered with glass or transparent plastic to maintain humidity. Rooting is carried out in moist soil at a temperature of 15 - 20 ° C for 1.5 - 2 months. 

How to care

Quite an unpretentious genus. In summer, it is recommended to take the bush outside. Long stems of the liana require support for growth. Too long branches are cut at the end of winter (optional), this helps to control the size of the plant and maintain the desired shape. The flower should be accustomed to changing conditions gradually. Pinch the tips of young stems to form lateral shoots. Periodically wipe the leaves from dust with a damp sponge.

Temperature conditions

In spring and summer – normal room temperature. During the dormant period, you can take the plant to a cooler room with a temperature of 10 - 13 ° C. Rhoicissus does not like heat.

How to transplant

Repotting is carried out as it grows - usually annually, in spring. For large specimens, the top layer of soil is replaced annually with fresh substrate. The size of the pot helps control the growth of the vine.

Diseases and pests 

Leaves dry out during prolonged drought. If exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, the leaves may become burned. When moisture stagnates, plants rot.

Pests that can attack shoots and leaves include aphids, mealybugs, red spider mites and whiteflies.

Soil

Grows in well-drained soil and adapts well to most soils, including sandy or rocky ones. 

Lighting

A bright or slightly shaded place without direct sunlight. It grows best in good light, but can also be grown in partial shade. 

Fertilizer

Feed twice a month during the period of active growth; in winter, feeding can be done monthly; it loves organic matter.

Flowering time 

It’s the beginning of summer, but in indoor culture flowering rarely occurs.

Purpose

An excellent plant for vertical gardening in dimly lit rooms.

Air humidity

Rhoicissus tolerates dry air well. Spray the leaves if the air in the room becomes dry. The flower prefers ventilated rooms with good air circulation.

Soil moisture

Watering: in summer - plentiful. Allow the top layer of soil to dry out between waterings. Plants that overwinter in a very cool place are watered very rarely. 

Note

In indoor conditions, life expectancy is more than 10 years. 

Hydroponics

Grows well in hydroponics.

Varieties:

Rhoicissus rhomboidea

An evergreen decorative deciduous vine with flexible and thin shoots up to 150 - 200 cm long. The shoots have alternately arranged complex, large dark green, glossy leaves. Leaf segments are diamond-shaped with large teeth along the edge. The underside of the leaf plates is painted in a lighter shade. The plant clings to the support with long and flexible tendrils. During the flowering period, small inflorescences with inconspicuous greenish flowers are formed, which over time turn into round berries. 

Rhoicissus capensis

A fast-growing evergreen vine whose leaves resemble those of real grapes. The tendrils, which help plants climb the support, are located in each leaf node, opposite the leaves. Young leaves are colored reddish, become bronze with age, and then acquire a green tint. The flowers are small, greenish, collected in small branched inflorescences - racemes. The edible fruits are shiny dark berries produced in late autumn.

Rhoicissus digitata

A perennial vine with woody shoots up to 10-15 m long or an evergreen shrub about 1.5 m high. Young stems are pubescent - covered with reddish hairs. Young leaves are glossy, reddish or bronze in color, adult leaves are deeply dissected into 3 to 5 fingers and have a green tint. The antennae are located in leaf nodes. Small greenish-yellow, inconspicuous flowers appear at the end of summer, collected in axillary inflorescences - racemes. After flowering, the plant forms round, fleshy berries up to 15 mm in diameter, with a tart taste.