Strings of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii) Care and Cultivation

Commonly known as Strings of Hearts Rosary Vine or Sweetheart Vine (Ceropegia woodii) behaves like a succulent cascading plant. It is delicate sensitive plant where it can easily get damaged if handled roughly. It has delicate heart-shaped foliage and slender thin vines that cascade downwards.

Light:

This one requires bright indirect light area - a right balance of not too hot nor too shaded. 

Similar to dischidia and hoya care requirement.

Medium:

Do care to keep the plant in a small pot in a condense way as they love to grow in a tight closed condition. 

This require a fast draining medium - something like a good mixture of perlite, sand & cocopeat.

It should not be a strong drainage mix where it doesn't hold any moisture at all but it should not be holding water too where the roots and stem can rot too. The balance of both is ideal.

Watering:
I water daily and twice during the hot dry days. These can go without water for few days to a week and perhaps you have to take note on how the foliage appearance - if it appears withered or drying than watering is mandatory. The downside of watering will cost the leaves to turn yellow and start rotting - therefore - the right balance is necessary.

Propagation:

I found a nice technique of getting this one to sprout roots. 

Place the cuttings in a plastic bag and sprinkle some water in it and keep in a semi-shaded area for few days. Do check day by day in case if there is a rot or root growth. Once you find a good root growth formation - propagate the vine in a good rich potting mix. Water just to keep the plant moist.

Too much water can cause this plant to rot and die.

Few other pointers:

Do place it a position where it can cascade and trail downward. As there is a free space for it to tangle downward or else the whole vine may get messed with other plants and it can be messy.

These Ceropegia species therefore blooms flowers that have unique a shape of a wine glass, fountain or a parachute formation. Truly remarkable.

Mine haven't bloomed yet.

There are other Ceropegia species which are cultivated as ornamental plants which have totally a different features to display. This one in particular is very much focused on the foliages that has the heart shaped formation. Hence known as String of Hearts.

I also cultivated them in kokedama balls and it does well there too.

Some updates on my growth of this plant. Indeed it is a slow growing plant and does appear to be very sensitive as it has a thin tiny string like vine - living up to it's name.

However, it had stayed strong all these times - It does require more bright sun and more on the brighter side of the garden - too wet and non-airy place for this one can be detrimental for this one as they can easily rot away.

I had also found a variegated one sold in one of the nursery but I must say that they are quite expensive that I dare not even want to ask the price of this potted plant.