The string of hearts (ceropegia woodii) is a trailing vine plant with heart-shaped and variegated leaves. It belongs to the Apocynaceae family and hails from South Africa.
The string of hearts is also called sweetheart vine, rosary vine, a chain of hearts, and collar of hearts. The chain of hearts produces flowers and stems develop small tubers during springtime.
How to propagate string of hearts involves tuber division, seeds, and vine or leaf cutting methods. You can propagate these parts in water, soil, and sphagnum moss or using the butterfly method.
Keep reading this article to learn the 6 ways of propagating the chain of hearts. Besides that, I have shared the ultimate string of hearts care tips for propagation. Let’s find that out together:
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6 Methods of Propagating the Strings of Hearts
How to Propagate String of Hearts in Water
Rooting the collar of hearts in water is a no-brainer task. Cut several 5-6 inches long vines and place them in distilled water.
Remove the bottom leaves on each vine before placing them in a vase or glass full of water. It will help keep water fresh since it prevents the rotting of those leaves.
Ensure the vines over the water have few leaves. The roots will develop from the nodes under the water. Therefore, ensure each cut under the water has two or more nodes.
Change the water every week to avoid it getting murky. Place the vase or glass in a spot with bright indirect sunlight to enhance faster roots development.
Transplant your vines in the soil once the roots start showing out. There is no need to wait for roots to be half an inch long.
How to Propagate String of Hearts in Soil
The string of hearts propagation in the soil is the most common method. Cut several vines and dip the ends in the rooting hormone solutions.
Remove the lower leaves and clip the vines in relatively moist soil. The clips ensure the vines have close contact with the potting medium.
Increase the humidity level around the growing vines to trigger faster roots development. Dry air will result in wilting of the vines due to dehydration.
Place the vase or glass in a clear plastic bag and seal it. Open the seal more often to allow free air circulation to prevent mold growth. The roots will develop from the stem nodes.
How to Propagate String of Hearts in Sphagnum Moss
The string of hearts propagation in sphagnum moss is my favorite method due to the success rate. Get your sphagnum moss from a reputable plant or pet store.
Soak the moss with distilled water and place it in a clear container. Cut several vines of a string of hearts and remove a few leaves from the ends.
Place the cuttings in the soaked moss and tuck a little to ensure the nodes at the end have close contact with the moss. Close the container and place it in a warm area with bright indirect sunlight.
Open the container twice every week to let in the fresh air and check the roots. It will take about 1-2 weeks for the roots to develop. Transplant them in the soil if the roots are a half-inch long.
How to Propagate String of Hearts from Tubers
Tubers on the strings of hearts occur at the base of the leaves. These tubers develop a mature string of hearts of about 1-2 years old. (Source: University of Wisconsin)
Lay the vines with tubers on another pot and partially cover the tubers with soil. Roots will form on the tubers, and remember to cut off the vines.
Take each tuber and transplant it into a fresh potting mix. Place each pot containing the tuber in a spot with bright indirect sunlight. It will take a week for new growths to appear.
How to Propagate String of Hearts from Leaf
The string of hearts propagation from leaf has a low success rate. The leaves are more vulnerable to rotting after dipping in a moist potting medium.
Cut several leaves with petioles and place them directly in the soil, water, or moss. Ensure each leaf remains dry to avoid rotting. Maintain high humidity and free air circulation around the leaf.
It will take several weeks to roots since the success rate depends on the leaf health and potting medium. But I don’t recommend this method of propagation.
How to Propagate String of Hearts by Butterfly Method
The butterfly method is ideal for those houseplant enthusiasts looking to make the parent string of hearts appear fuller. It is a bit hands-on and time-consuming method.
The propagation method keeps the hearts together and cuts them into sections. Leave each vine about half an inch on both ends of the hearts.
Place the butterfly cuttings in a container with slightly moist moss. Ensure the hearts are facing up and the back of the leaves placed on top of the moss.
Close the container with a lid and place it in a spot with bright indirect sunlight. It will take several weeks for the roots to develop and new vines to shoot from the cuttings.
Transplant each cutting in fresh potting soil to grow into a full string of hearts. It is an excellent method for individuals with the ultimate experience.
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Related Questions
Can You Grow String of Hearts from Cutting?
Yes. The string of hearts can be propagated from cuttings. Cut the vines about 5-6 inches long and root in water or soil.
How Long Does It Take to Propagate String of Hearts?
Approximately 5-7 days. It takes the string of hearts to root within 5 days and new growths will appear after 2-4 weeks. The roots will mature after a few months to pot them in the soil.
Why Are String of Hearts So Expensive?
The popularity and demand is the reason behind the premium price attraction. Besides that, they are super easy to propagate into many new plants.
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Final Thoughts
I hope these few methods on how to propagate string of hearts will be helpful. The best time to propagate the string of hearts is during spring and summer at home.
Take the time to read through each method and choose the one with a high success rate. You can try other methods as fun in the long run.
Feel free to share this guide with other string of hearts lovers in your communities. Besides that, share your experience dealing with a string of hearts propagation in the comment section.
