Ceropegia woodii Care Guide (String of Hearts)

A vining houseplant noted for its little green heart-shaped leaves and long stems, the Ceropegia woodii (also known as the String of Hearts) is an easy-to-care-for house plant that will make a fantastic addition to your indoor garden collection. This plant grows up to 14 feet (4.2 meters) long vines and can be grown in a hanging basket or in a regular planter. Here's a full Ceropegia woodii care guide, including how to water the plant, best soil to use, what environment it likes, and how to propagate it.

CC faetured image by Maja Dumat.

General Care for Ceropegia woodii (String of Hearts)

The Ceropegia woodii is actually a succulent and grows in Africa. Like most succulents, it doesn't require a lot of water.

Watering

The string of hearts tends to need very little water. It's not a problem if you forget to water this plant once. It's best to only water when the soil is dry. To make sure the soil is dry, put your finger 1 inch deep in the soil and if the soil still feels dry, you can water the plant.

Where to Plant

The Ceropegia woodii is not cold hardy, so if you live in a zone that gets colder than 40°F (4.5°C), it's best to place this plant in a container that can be brought indoors.

It does well in bright light to part sun. Plant in an area that gets a lot of bright light, but avoid too much direct sunlight.

How to Propagate Ceropegia woodii (String of Hearts)

The Ceropegia woodii can easily be propagated by stem cuttings, tubers, or seeds.

Stem Cuttings

When propagating the heart of strings by stem cuttings, you want to cut the top 6 inches (15cm) of the stem with a sharp and sterile knife or pair of scissors. Then wait two days for the cutting to harden and dry. After that, you can plant the cutting in well-draining soil and only water when the soil is completely dry.

You can also use water to propagate the cutting. Just place the cutting in a clear vase filled with water and make sure the part that you cut is submerged in the water. Every couple of days you want to give the cutting fresh (preferably filtered) water. After about two months, the cutting will have grown roots and you can now plant the cutting in well-draining soil.

Tubers

This is one of the easiest ways to propagate the heart of strings. Just press a tuber (that is still on the stem) into well-draining soil and water as normal. Within a few months, the tuber will have grown new roots and you can now enjoy the propagated plant!

Seeds

Propagating from seeds can best be done in the fall. For this, you want to use a seedling potting mix. Keep the seeds in a warm spot, with lots of bright indirect sunlight. The seeds should sprout within a month if you have planted them in the growing season.