The string of hearts plant (Ceropegia Woodi) is originally from South Africa and has heart-shaped green-white leaves. Interestingly, it produces small purple flowers, which appear during spring and summer. This plant is considered a hanging succulent and is best kept in hanging pots.
How to grow and care for a String of Hearts(Ceropegia Woodi):
- Sunlight and partial shade are ideal.
- Keep it away from excessive cold and frosty conditions.
- ‘Soak and dry’ when watering. When in doubt, don’t water it until all the soil is dry.
- Humidity is fine but ideally coupled with proper aeration.
- A stable temperature of 64º F to 75º F (18º C to 24º C) will do quite nicely.
Read on for more tips on the basic and advanced care guidelines for the string of hearts plant (Ceropegia Woodi)
String of Hearts (Ceropegia Woodi) Basic Care Guidelines
Placement
Correct placement of the string of hearts plant (Ceropegia Woodi) may be a challenge. Indeed, there will be differences between indoors and outdoors placement.
If the plant is indoors, it may be challenging to provide it with enough sunlight. Placing the plant next to a window is a good idea. The good thing about keeping this plant indoors is that it will be protected from harsh winters and a very cold climate outside. If it’s outdoors, make sure it doesn’t endure such cold weather. Bring it inside if necessary.
Light
The string of hearts plant (Ceropegia Woodi), requires light, like most other succulents and cacti. This plant, however, mostly thrive with access to partial shade. Place it in a location where it will get light and some direct sun but also some shade throughout the day.
The leaves’ color is a good indication that more light is necessary; lighter colors or less marbling mean that it’s not getting enough sunlight. The gaps between the leaves are also a great indication that the plant is not getting enough light; the wider apart they are from each other means that light is missing.
Temperature
The string of hearts plant (Ceropegia Woodi) enjoys a temperature of 64º F to 75º F (18º C to 24º C). In this sense, this plant is quite suitable for a lot of environments. In fact, this plant will be able to tolerate warmer temperatures, think 80º F to 85º F (26º C to 29º C).
This plant doesn’t tolerate the winter and should be housed indoors during such cold, extreme weather. Any temperature of less than 60º F (15º C) will not be helpful. Lower temperatures and frost will be very damaging.
Water
When it comes to watering the string of hearts plant (Ceropegia Woodi), there are some things to remember. As usual, the ‘soak and dry’ method is the best.
We want to let the soil dry off completely and only then we want to water. Once the watering is done, we want to wait for the soil to dry off totally, and so on and so forth. We’ll notice that the soil dries off more slowly during fall and winter. This is fine, as the string of hearts plant (Ceropegia Woodi) seldom needs too much water during this period.
As always, when we water we want to drench the pot thoroughly and then let our plant rest. It’s important to mention that the string of hearts plants (Ceropegia Woodi), like many succulents and cacti, can withstand underwatering but will seldom recover from overwatering. This is why it’s so crucial to stick to the ‘soak and dry’ method.
Soil
A significant consideration when deciding on the soil mix for the string of hearts plant (Ceropegia Woodi) is good drainage. As with most succulents and cacti, this plant benefits from a ‘soak and dry’ approach to watering. This is feasible only if the soil mix provides adequate, normal drainage. It’s also true that this plant benefits from the right soil mix, which gives it good nutrients.
Humidity
This plant actually tolerates and enjoys about 40-50% humidity. This means that it’s suitable for quite a good amount of environments. It also means, naturally, that we need to be careful that we’re not overwatering it, particularly if it’s located in a humid area. As mentioned earlier, a strict ‘soak and dry’ approach will work wonders.
Air
The string of hearts plant (Ceropegia Woodi) can indeed thrive with humidity. Having said that, the problem with humidity is that it can bring pests that can hurt the stems. To deal with this, the best thing is to have good ventilation and air provision, particularly if the plant will be placed in a humid environment.
String of Hearts (Ceropegia Woodi) Advanced Care Guidelines
Propagation
Propagating the string of hearts plant (Ceropegia Woodi) is quite simple. There are several methods to do so:
Water propagation
First of all, cut the vines. Place these cuttings in a vase with water. Now, we must just wait for the roots to start growing. The plant must be left in a warm and well-lit location. The appearance of roots should only take a couple of days, more or less.
Soil propagation
Cut off the vines and then remove the leaves on its side. We want to plant the vine right into the soil. The nodes, in particular, must be inside the soil. Roots will grow this way.
Tuber propagation
We can either leave the tuber on the vine and then put this inside the soil and have some root growth. Once there is root growth, it’s possible to cut the vine off the mother plant. Alternatively, it’s possible to remove the vine with such a tuber off the mother plant and then place it in soil.
Potting and repotting
Repotting the string of hearts plant (Ceropegia Woodi) is best done during the summer. This is because this is the growing period and the stress of repotting is lessened. Hanging pots are ideal.
It’s important to note that repotting will seldom be necessary with this particular plant. Watch out for the typical signs that a succulent needs repotting (weak growth, wilted leaves, etc.) and only then inspect the plant’s root system.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing the string of hearts plant (Ceropegia Woodi) is useful. It’s worth noting that it usually needs only infrequent fertilizing. Half-diluted fertilizer will be good enough. Fertilizing about once a month, during the growth period of spring and summer, is good. As with most succulents and cacti, fertilizing is not necessary during fall or winter, because the plant goes dormant.
Pest prevention
As mentioned, a key element in the prevention of pests is good air and ventilation. This is particularly important in humid environments. Another critical factor is strict watering; overwatering and rot may create pest problems.
If the plant is being attacked by pests already, cleaning the affected areas with a cotton swab and alcohol may eliminate fungus gnats and mealybugs.
Pruning
Pruning the string of hearts plant (Ceropegia Woodi) may sometimes be necessary. As always, it’s best to prune during the growing season. The idea is quite simply to prune dead and yellowed leaves, to promote healthy growth.
Related Questions
How fast does a string of hearts grow?
It grows fast, in a matter of weeks, provided we give the basic care it needs. Propagating it is also fast and straightforward. This makes it such a great plant for beginners.
Why is my string of hearts dying?
There can be several reasons. It’s essential that we follow the proper care guidelines for our string of hearts plant (Ceropegia Woodi). This will go a long way in keeping our plant safe and thriving.
Now then, having said that, a typical case of string of hearts plant (Ceropegia Woodi) death is overwatering. Remember to apply a strict ‘soak and dry’ methodology.
Check that there is a proper drainage hole in the pot too. When in doubt, don’t water. Plants such as this one will be able to withstand drought conditions but will seldom recover from overwatering and rot.
Why is my string of hearts turning yellow?
There are several things which could be happening. Overwatering is the first thing we must be sure to keep under control.
There are other things which may be happening. This type of plant can usually only support a certain number of leaves on each vine. The vines will keep on growing, but leaves will yellow.
Therefore, it’s best to do some maintenance on the plant. Pruning will help a plant that shows yellowing. Focus on the stems which are showing yellowing and simply prune carefully.
Can a string of hearts grow outside?
It certainly can. The string of hearts plant (Ceropegia Woodi) can live either outside or inside. When living outside, however, it’s important to take care of certain things. Perhaps the most important consideration is not to let it endure cold weather.
Indeed, any temperature below 60º F (15º C) is to be avoided. Frosty conditions are particularly destructive. The best thing we can do in these cases is to simply take the pot inside to shield it from extreme weather.
How big is the string of hearts plant (Ceropegia Woodi)?
Typically, this plant can reach about 12 inches (30cm). Some of them, however, can grow to about 35 inches (90cm).
This growth is featured in its trailing stems. Given this size and shape, this plant is best kept in hanging pots.
