The flower of ceropegia is an elegant exotic plant from the Lastovnie family. It belongs to succulents and lives in the subtropical regions of South Africa, Australia and Asia. Florists are attracted by its long vines, covered with rounded leaves and long, erect flowers. In our latitudes, liana is used for landscaping greenhouses and houses. Very beautiful photos of ceropegia, and a living plant is even more beautiful, no one can pass by it without looking at least once.
Plant description
Ceropegia is a herbaceous perennial in the form of a vine or a laden shrub. The fibrous roots of the plant are thickened enough; small oblong nodules are located on them, in which the ceropegia stores moisture in case of drought. Adult tubers produce their own shoots, so the density of the crown increases.
Smooth, flexible stems are covered with shiny dark green peel. The length of the vine in indoor specimens is about 1 m, but in the natural environment it can reach 3-5 m. The annual growth is up to 45 cm. Rare internodes are visible along the entire length of the stems. The distance between them can reach 20 cm. In the internodes there are pairs of opposite leaves on petioles 1 cm long. The fleshy dark green leafy plates are ovoid or heart-shaped. The leaf length is 6 cm and the width is 4 cm. There are varieties with plain and marble foliage. A relief central vein is visible on the flatter, lighter side of the leaf plate.
Sinuous single flowers bloom along the entire length of the vine. They can form throughout the year. On short thick peduncles is a large bud. Its length can reach 7 cm. The funnel-shaped flower of white or greenish color resembles a small fountain or pagoda. No wonder the name of the plant can be translated as "wax fountain". Corolla fused with bracts and forms a five-pointed dome. The inside of the tube has a faint pink tint.
After the flower withers, the peduncle is preserved. On it many more times buds are formed. Gradually, additional internodes appear on the process, and it more closely resembles a lateral shoot.
Types of Ceropegia
In the genus of ceropegia, there are about 180 varieties, however, only some of them can be found in houses. Most often, flower growers decide to buy ceropegia voodoo. This herbaceous perennial has thin, strong stems of green-brown color. Dark green petiolate leaves are modest in size. Their length is 1.5-2 cm, and their width is 1-1.5 cm. Darker spots are visible on the surface of the sheet plate. In the places of internodes, rounded light-brown tubers gradually develop. Of these, lateral processes and aerial roots appear.
Axillary flowers are formed one at each internode. A beige or pink narrow tube has a whitish pubescence inside. On the surface of the flower are dark brown petals.
Ceropegia african. Perennial plant with a more fleshy, drooping stalk. The internodes are juicy ovoid leaves. The length and width of the leaves does not exceed 1 cm. Small green-purple flowers cover the vine throughout the year. Over a narrow tube up to 2 cm long, there is a fused tip about 1 cm high.
Sanderson's Ceropegia. The plant is distinguished by beautiful thick leaves and stems of dark green saturated color. The length of the heart-shaped leaves is 5 cm, and the width is 3-4 cm. Beautiful large flowers reach 7 cm in length. Above the light tube is an umbrella of fused petals of green color. The pharynx and petals inside are covered with dark stains and short pubescence.
Ceropegia Barclay. This herbaceous vine consists of long pinkish-green stems covered with spherical tubers. On bare or slightly pubescent shoots, heart-shaped, petiolate leaves are occasionally found. The length of the silver-green leaves is 2.5-5 cm. The flowers are an elongated tube with a wide splayed edge. Above is a dome of fused petals. Outside, the flowers are painted in green-pink tones, and in the middle purple color prevails.
Breeding methods
Reproduction of ceropegia is carried out by dividing the rhizome, rooting cuttings or sowing seeds. This process is painstaking and lengthy.
You can buy ceropegia seeds online or in large flower shops. In the spring, a box with sand and peat substrate is prepared. Seeds are distributed on the surface and crushed with a thin layer of soil. Before emergence, the pot is kept under the film in a bright place at a temperature of + 20 ... + 25 ° C. Seedlings hatch after 14-18 days. The grown seedlings dive into separate pots.
In the spring, you can cut several cuttings with 2-3 internodes. Root them in moist fertile soil. If there are air nodules on the handle, then the probability of a positive outcome increases significantly. The stems should be dug up at an angle or horizontally, so that the internodes are in contact with the ground. The pot is covered with a film, kept in a bright place and ventilated regularly. The air temperature should be + 18 ... + 20 ° C. When the plant takes root and begins to start new shoots, you can transplant it to a permanent place.
When transplanting, you can divide the root of adult ceropegia into 2-3 parts. Each should contain several tubers and growth buds. Typically, the liana easily tolerates this procedure and does not require additional care.
Growing Features
Caring for ceropegia at home is very simple. Even at the beginning flower grower, it will actively grow and bloom regularly. Ceropegia need to choose a bright place. She needs a long daylight and normally tolerates direct sunlight. On a hot summer afternoon on the southern window, it is better to shoot the shoots. With a lack of light, the already rare leaves begin to fall off.
The optimum air temperature for ceropegia is + 20 ... + 25 ° C, from the fall this indicator should be slightly reduced and brought to + 14 ... + 16 ° C by winter. Cooling below + 11 ° C will lead to the death of the plant. From May to September, it is recommended to keep the vine in the fresh air. It is not sensitive to nighttime cooling and moderate drafts.
Ceropegia needs abundant watering, but between irrigation the soil should dry out by a third. Use soft water at room temperature. With cooling, watering is reduced. Liana prefers dry air. Its stems and foliage are protected from excessive evaporation. It is undesirable to spray the crown, so as not to provoke decay.
In March-September, it is recommended to apply mineral fertilizing for succulents to the soil. Twice a month, fertilizers are added to water for irrigation.
Ceropegia is transplanted in the spring, every 2-3 years. Care should be taken not to damage delicate shoots and roots. Usually use the transshipment method. Flat and wide pots are chosen, on the bottom of which a drainage layer is laid. Soil is made up of:
- sheet land;
- turf;
- humus leaf;
- pine bark;
- river sand;
- charcoal.
After transplanting within a week, watering is reduced by half.
With proper care, ceropegia is not damaged by diseases and parasites. If water regularly stagnates in the ground, root rot may develop. In this case, the shoots of ceropegia dry, and the leaves turn yellow. It is rarely possible to save the shoot; it is recommended to cut and root cuttings from the healthy part of the vine in a timely manner.
