The falling hearts plant (Ceropegia woodii), also known as String of Hearts, is a popular houseplant. It features delicate, heart-shaped leaves on long, trailing stems, creating a graceful cascading effect. This makes it a favorite for hanging baskets and elevated displays.
Understanding the Falling Hearts Plant
The Falling Hearts Plant has small, succulent, heart-shaped leaves, which often display a beautiful silvery variegation on their upper surface and can have a purplish hue on the underside. These leaves are spaced along slender, wiry stems that can extend several feet in length, resembling a string of beads, hence its other common names like Rosary Vine or Chain of Hearts. Native to Southern Africa, Ceropegia woodii is a semi-succulent, storing water in its leaves and in small, potato-like tubers that form along its stems and roots. This explains its preference for well-draining conditions and tolerance to drought.
Caring for Your Falling Hearts Plant
Light
The Falling Hearts Plant thrives in bright, indirect light. Placing it near a window that receives filtered sunlight, such as a few feet from a south or west-facing window, or directly in an east or north-facing window, is often ideal. While it can tolerate some direct morning or late afternoon sun, prolonged exposure to intense, midday sunlight can scorch its delicate leaves. Insufficient light, on the other hand, can lead to leggy growth with widely spaced, pale leaves, and may diminish the vibrant coloration and variegation. Rotating the plant periodically helps ensure all sides receive adequate light, promoting even growth.
Watering
As a succulent, the Falling Hearts Plant thrives with periods of drought between waterings. Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering thoroughly until water drains from the pot’s bottom. Overwatering causes soft, yellowing, or mushy leaves and root rot. Shriveled or wilted leaves indicate underwatering. During fall and winter dormancy, reduce watering significantly.
Soil Requirements
The Falling Hearts Plant requires a well-draining potting mix to prevent waterlogging and root rot. A specialized succulent or cactus potting mix is highly suitable, as these are formulated to provide the necessary drainage. Alternatively, you can create an appropriate mix by amending regular potting soil with materials like perlite, pumice, coarse sand, or horticultural grit to improve aeration and drainage. Using a pot with ample drainage holes is also important to ensure excess water can escape freely.
Temperature and Humidity
The Falling Hearts Plant thrives in average room temperatures, generally preferring a range between 65°F to 80°F (18°C to 27°C). It can tolerate slightly cooler temperatures but will struggle if temperatures consistently drop below 50-60°F (10-15°C). Keep the plant away from cold drafts and avoid sudden temperature fluctuations. This plant is adaptable to typical household humidity levels, generally thriving in humidity between 40-50%. Excessive humidity can sometimes lead to fungal issues if ventilation is poor.
Fertilizing
The Falling Hearts Plant is not a heavy feeder and benefits from light fertilization during its active growing season, which spans spring and summer. A balanced, water-soluble liquid fertilizer, diluted to half or quarter strength, applied once a month or every four to six weeks, is generally sufficient. Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can lead to salt buildup in the soil and potentially harm the plant. During the fall and winter months, when the plant enters a period of dormancy and growth slows, reduce or cease fertilization entirely.
Propagating Falling Hearts Plant
Propagating the Falling Hearts Plant is commonly achieved through stem cuttings or by utilizing the small tubers that form along its vines. For stem cuttings, select healthy stems at least 4-6 inches long and remove the leaves from the bottom few inches, ensuring at least two nodes are exposed. These cuttings can be rooted in water by placing the bare end into a glass of water, ensuring no leaves are submerged, and roots typically appear within a few weeks. Alternatively, cuttings can be planted directly into a well-draining soil mix, with increased humidity around the cuttings often encouraging faster rooting.
Another effective method involves tuber propagation. The plant naturally forms small, potato-like tubers along its stems, particularly at nodes. You can gently detach these tubers and plant them directly on the surface of a moist, well-draining soil mix, pressing them slightly into the substrate. Keeping the soil lightly moist and providing bright, indirect light will encourage the tubers to root and sprout new growth.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Leggy growth, characterized by long stems with widely spaced leaves, often indicates that your Falling Hearts Plant is not receiving enough light. Moving the plant to a brighter location with indirect sunlight can help promote more compact and fuller growth. If the leaves appear shriveled, thin, or crispy, it is a sign of underwatering. Conversely, yellowing or mushy leaves, especially at the base, are common symptoms of overwatering and can lead to root rot. To address this, allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings and ensure adequate drainage.
A lack of variegation, where the distinct patterns on the leaves become less prominent, is often due to insufficient light. Increasing the light exposure, while still avoiding harsh direct sun, can help restore the leaf coloration. Sometimes, leaves may curl or dry out and fall off; this can be due to too little light, being root-bound, or in some cases, too much direct sun during hot periods. Adjusting light conditions, considering repotting if root-bound, and ensuring consistent, appropriate watering can help resolve these issues.