Plant Care Sweetheart Vine

Sweetheart Vine

About Sweetheart Vine

The Ceropegia string of hearts has taken the plant world by storm. Native to southern Africa where it grows up to twelve feet, this vining plant is a lovely statement piece in any home. The string of hearts is an ideal plant for a hanging basket, where the vines can trail.For a fuller look, vines can be pinned back to the soil where they’ll root and create new growth! 💚

Taxonomy

Ceropegia woodiiii
Ceropegia
Apocynaceae
Gentianales

Also known as

String of Hearts, String of Hearts, Rosary Vine, sweetheart vine, string of spades, String of Spades, Strinf of Spades, Peggy: 'String of Hearts', String of Arrows, Ceropegia linearis subsp. Woodi, Ceropegia linearis subsp. woodii, Ceropegia linearis 'Woodii', ceropegia woodii linearis, Ceropegia woodii sp. and variegated chain of hearts

How to care for Sweetheart Vine

💦 Water

How often to water your Sweetheart Vine

Water needs for Sweetheart Vine
0.5 cups
every 12

Sweetheart Vine needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Sweetheart Vine

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for String of Hearts in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Sweetheart Vine: 3ft from a window
3ft or less from
a window

Sweetheart Vine may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Sweetheart Vine in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Sweetheart Vine

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Sweetheart Vine: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Sweetheart Vine after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #StringOfHearts
💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Sweetheart Vine is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!


💦 Water Needs

Sweetheart Vine thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Sweetheart Vine may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Sweetheart Vine is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.


💨 Humidity

Sweetheart Vine doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.


🪴 Soil

Sweetheart Vine is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!


💩 Fertilizer

Sweetheart Vine should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!


❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Sweetheart Vine to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.


🌎 Native Region

Sweetheart Vine is native to Africa to Southern Asia and Australia.


🌸 Flowers

Yes, you may see your Sweetheart Vine bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Sweetheart Vine has long, trailing foliage which makes them a great addition to a hanging planter. The newest growth will emerge from the tip of the stems.


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Sweetheart Vine can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-12a. Find your local hardiness zone here.


🌱 Propagation

Sweetheart Vine can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

  • Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
  • To get the cutting to root, you can either:
    • Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
    • Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Sweetheart Vine. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


Care Summary for Sweetheart Vine

Sweetheart Vine

Sweetheart Vine


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 3ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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