Ceropegia is also popularly called lantern plant. There are 200 different Ceropegia species.
The most famous is the Ceropegia woodii, the hanging lantern plant. During our visit to nursery Hoogendoorn Stephanotis we noticed a Ceropegia variety with a flower that really lives up to the name "lantern plant"; the Ceropegia sandersonii, also called African Parachute Plant. The flowers are solitary, green parachute-shaped with a funnel-shaped tube up to 2 inches (5 cm) long. They appear in summer and fall.
Common Names:
Parachute Plant, Parachute Flower, Fountain Flower, Umbrella Plant, Umbrella Flower, Sanderson's Ceropegia, Giant Ceropegia, Windowed Flowers
Synonyms:
Ceropegia monteiroae, Ceropegia sandersoniae
Scientific Name:
Ceropegia sandersonii Decne. ex Hook.f.
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Genus: Ceropegia
How to grow and care
A gritty compost is suitable and clay pots help with drainage, especially for the species with white thickened roots which are the most susceptible to rotting and for species forming large tubers. Ceropegias appreciate water and a little fertilizer during warm weather, although some care with watering is required for the more difficult species. The vine-like species can suffer from prolonged drought.
Typically, many of these species grow and climb naturally among bushes which provide shade and humidity to the base, while the vegetative growth is in the light.
Light: Ceropegia does well in bright light. It does not need full sun. If the light is too low the stem will stretch and the leaves will be far apart. It will look better if grown in enough light. Also, the purple coloring will fade.
Water: It likes to be water regularly. The leaves should be thick and full. If they are paper thick the plant is low on water.
Soil: Ceropegia will grow in any type of soils. Add more perlite to the mix so the roots do not get too wet. In wetter soil mix the plant must be allowed to dry between watering.
Fertilizer: Alway with fertilizer, less is more. A little fertilizer is helpful. Using too much will possibly burn the roots.
Origin: ??
Propagation
It is usually from cuttings. If they are a tuber forming on one of the stems. They can be placed against the soil in a pot. When they have rooted down you can cut the stem and have a separate plant. You can also cut off a tuber and part of the stem and coil it around the small pot. It will have the chance to root. Most succulent plants will root from small pieces. It is a natural way to maximize the chances for the plants' survival if not the mother plant then pieces of it.
- Learn more at TIPS: HOW TO GROW AND CARE Ceropegia
The most famous is the Ceropegia woodii, the hanging lantern plant. During our visit to nursery Hoogendoorn Stephanotis we noticed a Ceropegia variety with a flower that really lives up to the name "lantern plant"; the Ceropegia sandersonii, also called African Parachute Plant. The flowers are solitary, green parachute-shaped with a funnel-shaped tube up to 2 inches (5 cm) long. They appear in summer and fall.
Common Names:
Parachute Plant, Parachute Flower, Fountain Flower, Umbrella Plant, Umbrella Flower, Sanderson's Ceropegia, Giant Ceropegia, Windowed Flowers
Synonyms:
Ceropegia monteiroae, Ceropegia sandersoniae
Scientific Name:
Ceropegia sandersonii Decne. ex Hook.f.
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Genus: Ceropegia
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| Source photo: Pinterest |
How to grow and care
A gritty compost is suitable and clay pots help with drainage, especially for the species with white thickened roots which are the most susceptible to rotting and for species forming large tubers. Ceropegias appreciate water and a little fertilizer during warm weather, although some care with watering is required for the more difficult species. The vine-like species can suffer from prolonged drought.
Typically, many of these species grow and climb naturally among bushes which provide shade and humidity to the base, while the vegetative growth is in the light.
Light: Ceropegia does well in bright light. It does not need full sun. If the light is too low the stem will stretch and the leaves will be far apart. It will look better if grown in enough light. Also, the purple coloring will fade.
Water: It likes to be water regularly. The leaves should be thick and full. If they are paper thick the plant is low on water.
Soil: Ceropegia will grow in any type of soils. Add more perlite to the mix so the roots do not get too wet. In wetter soil mix the plant must be allowed to dry between watering.
Fertilizer: Alway with fertilizer, less is more. A little fertilizer is helpful. Using too much will possibly burn the roots.
Origin: ??
Propagation
It is usually from cuttings. If they are a tuber forming on one of the stems. They can be placed against the soil in a pot. When they have rooted down you can cut the stem and have a separate plant. You can also cut off a tuber and part of the stem and coil it around the small pot. It will have the chance to root. Most succulent plants will root from small pieces. It is a natural way to maximize the chances for the plants' survival if not the mother plant then pieces of it.
- Learn more at TIPS: HOW TO GROW AND CARE Ceropegia
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