![]() Note: If you forget about your chain of heart cuttings and leave them for a couple of days before they even touch the water, don’t worry. Rooting usually takes about two weeks, and will be easier to manage if you remove any leaves that will be underwater, simply to stop them from rotting. Cuttings can be anything from 5 cm to 20 cm long, and will root from each leaf node that is in contact with the water. All you need is water, and a healthy plant to start with. Propagating chain of heart cuttings is relatively simple. Rooting Chain of Hearts Cuttings in Water or Soil Nature will do most of the work for you, but try to protect the soil from very heavy rainfall, and water when the leaves begin to turn pink. If you live in warmer parts of the country, where frosts aren’t a risk, then consider growing chain of hearts in a well drained hanging basket, draped through pergolas or over seating areas. While they can be grown outdoors in summer and brought indoors over winter, it’s worth considering the logistics of bringing an established, 4 m long set of vines back indoors without breaking them, or damaging them in some way. Some species do cope quite well with full sun, but most chain of hearts plants need some dappled shade. Growing a chain of hearts outdoors can be a little bit trickier, as you’ll need to make sure it’s protected from wind, as well as very bright direct light. Obviously, it’s entirely up to you where you plant your chain of hearts, but it always looks wonderful draped through the bannister, trailing down into the hall. Stairs in most homes offer dappled light from nearby bright windows, as well as ventilation and air flow as the air we breathe out and the heat of our homes naturally causes upward movement of air past the staircase. It’s also important to plant them somewhere visible, rather than hidden away, so you can clearly observe leaf colour changes and know when to water.įor me, that means one place, and one place only… the stairs. Ventilation is key, allowing natural air flow, and a mix of carbon dioxide and oxygen to pass it by. When it comes to finding the right spot for your chain of hearts, it’s all about light. Indoors, frosted glass helps to filter light, while outdoors, covered verandas, or overhanging trees offer ideal conditions for chain of hearts. Think of the canopy of trees, or overhanging vegetation in nature that would shade it, and try to recreate that. Light RequirementsĬhain of hearts like bright but indirect light. When you water your chain of hearts plant, water deeply, not by regularly sprinkling, and never if the soil is still moist. The leaves change to pink from their usual grey-green as they deplete their water reserves, signalling that it’s time to water the plant. That means waiting for the leaves to just start turning pink. ![]() Watering NeedsĬhain of hearts should be allowed to dry out between every water. It is an epiphytic or lithophytic plant, meaning it naturally grows in crevices in rocks or trees, finding water where it can, and storing it in its small, succulent leaves, so potting compost should be well drained, and nutrient retentive. Ideal Conditions for Planting Chain of Hearts Soil & Potting Mix stapeliiformis.Įach has distinct traits, and some have been the subject of intensive breeding, creating unusual and distinct cultivars. There are thousands of species known around the world, but just a handful are sold regularly in cultivation. In most parts of Australia, it can be grown both indoors and out, but is rarely grown as an ornamental because most imported species offer more delicate charm, and more versatile use both indoors and out. It is strictly an epiphytic plant, growing on trees in humid, dappled light conditions. Each individual leaf is about the size of an adult’s palm, sometimes with speckled variegations. Native Ceropegia Species (Ceropegia cumingiana)Ĭeropegia cumingiana is the only native Australian species of chain of hearts. ![]() And a handful in good garden centres too. There aren’t many commonly available cultivars of chain of hearts, but of the several-hundred species known, you should be able to find at least a dozen of them for sale from collectors and breeders online. 9 Best Varieties of Chain of Hearts to Grow at Home
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