Ceropegia is a genus containing 160 species native to Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. Some of these perennial plants have succulent stems, which may be dwarf or vine-like and possess fibrous roots, while others have tubers and relatively thin stems along which new tubers may form in some species. Species with fleshy, thickened roots are the most difficult to grow. The leaves are opposite but can be vestigial on species with succulent stems.
Flowers occur either solitary or in umbel-like clusters and have a tubular corolla twice or more as long as its diameter and longer than the five lobes. The tube's base is usually inflated, and the tube may have downwardly orientated hairs inside and hairs outside and at the edges of lobes. Colors include reds, purples, yellows, greens, and their mixtures. Flies entering the corolla may become trapped by the hairs until the flower wilts. The lobe tips are fused to form a cage-like flower structure in many species, but are open in others.
Growing Conditions
Light: Ceropegias thrive in bright sunlight but do not require full sun exposure. Insufficient light can cause the stems to stretch and the leaves to become widely spaced. To maintain a healthy appearance and vibrant purple coloring, it's important to provide adequate light.
Water: These plants appreciate regular watering. Healthy leaves should be thick and full; if they appear paper-thin, the plant likely needs more water.
Soil: Ceropegias can grow in any type of soil. It's beneficial to add more perlite to the mix to prevent the roots from becoming too wet. If they are grown in a wetter soil mix, ensure the soil dries out between waterings.
Fertilizer: A small amount of fertilizer can be beneficial, but be cautious not to use too much, as it may burn the roots.
Propagation
Ceropegias are usually propagated from cuttings. They can be placed against the soil in a pot. You can cut the stem and have a separate plant once it has rooted. You can also cut off a tuber and part of the stem and coil it around the small pot. Then, it will have the chance to root. Most succulents will root from small pieces. It is a natural way to maximize the chances of the plant's survival, if not the mother plant, then its parts.
Grower's Tips
A gritty compost is suitable, and clay pots help with drainage, especially for species with thick, white roots that are most susceptible to rotting and for species that form large tubers. Ceropegias appreciate water and a little fertilizer during warm weather, though some species require more care. The vine-like species can suffer from prolonged drought.
Typically, many of these species grow and climb naturally among bushes, which provide shade and moisture at the base, while their vegetative growth is in the light. Where tubers occur, they are best planted on the compost's surface, and the vegetative growth is allowed to twine around supports or trail down from a hanging pot. The latter growth mode has the advantage of not using valuable bench space. Small tubers formed at joints in the thin stems of some species can be used for propagation. If the tuber rots or dries out, do not panic. If some of the top growth is still in reasonable condition, it may be possible to save the plant by rerooting stems in damp gravel.
In the more succulent species, stems layered on the compost will produce roots from their lower surface and climb reproductive flowering shoots, allowing them to hang down or twine around supports. Vine-like species readily root from cuttings inserted vertically in the soil to the bottom of a pair of leaves. A minimum overwintering temperature of 50°F (10°C) is adequate, provided the plants are kept dry.
Source: succulent-plant.com
Links
- Back to genus Ceropegia
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus