Ceropegia Woodii ‘String of Hearts’ Problems & How To Fix Them
Updated:Feb 1
Ceropegia Woodii also known as String of Hearts or Chain of Hearts is a beautiful succulent with hearts shaped leaves. It is incredibly popular amongst plant lovers.
Although Ceropegia Woodii and its variegated cousin are usually fairly easy to look after, there are a few things this plant dislikes and as a result, can become a bit problematic.
In this article we will have a look at problems the String of Hearts can encounter and how to fix them.
The Most Common Ceropegia Woodii Problems
Leaves curling
Leaves drying
Leaves falling off
Leaves growing too small
Leaves growing thin rather than plump
Leaves rotting
Dark spots on the leaves
Loss of colour
Slow growth
1. Leaves curling
Leaves curling on the String of Hearts can be due to lack of light, but it can also happen as a part of its natural growth or because of animals.
When the chain of hearts is kept indoors, the growth slows, and the leaves do not get as thick as when the plant’s grown outdoors. Ceropegia Woodii grown outside, especially the ones that get a little filtered sun, will have thicker leaves that are unlikely to curl.
String of Hearts indoors, that are not in bright light can end up with curled leaves. Although this will not kill the plant, it may distort the look.
To fix the curly leaf in this scenario, move the plant closer to a source of light.
Natural curl on young String of Hearts leaves. These will eventually straighten up as they grow older.
The natural curl can happen when the leaves are young. New growth is thinner than more mature leaves, and so they are prone to bending. They should eventually straighten up as they grow older and thicker.
Having the plant in as much light as possible will help greatly. Young leaves in a dark spot can be a double whammy and the leaf curl can become more pronounced.
Despite the String of Hearts being fairly pest free the odd mealy bug or a bunch of aphids can sometimes attack and may cause the leaves to curl, as a result of the damage they have done to the leaves.
There are also other animals that cause leaves to curl such as some species of spiders, moth or butterfly eggs and other insect eggs. They commonly reside in a web which is strong enough to bend the leaves inwards.
2. Leaves drying
This is a very common problem one might experience with Ceropegia Woodii. Despite String of Hearts being a succulent, it does like to be watered regularly, providing the potting mix is not over-saturated/ soggy at all times.
Many people make the mistake of keeping the Chain of Hearts too dry which usually results in leaves drying up and looking shrivelled, especially on new growth as these leaves are still quite thin and not filled with water as much. Older leaves have much higher water content and can deal with a bit of drought.
The remedy for drying leaves is nearly always more water, though do make sure the plant is in well-draining succulent potting mix that will not stay soggy for too long.
Leaves can also start drying out when the plant is root-bound, and the roots are crammed in a small pot. When this happens, String of Hearts responds by losing some of its leaves.
Before they fall off, the leaves will start drying out. If the plant is watered often enough, it may help, but the best thing to do is upgrading the pot.
Another reason for leaves drying is the plant being in too much sun. Ceropegia Woodii can handle direct sun in the cold months, but not in summer when the temperatures are high.
The sun will dry the leaves out and can also cause burns. Moving the plant into bright shade will stop the drying.
3. Leaves falling off
Leaves can fall off the String of Hearts for a number of reasons. It is usually (but not always) the next step after the leaves have started to dry out, and the problem is not addressed. So all the causes in number two are also the causes here.
Another reason that can result in leaves abruptly falling off is lack of light. Although Chain of Hearts is shade tolerant and prefers bright shade/ filtered light to full sun, too much shade can cause the leaves falling off as a stress response. Plants need light to survive.
Ceropegia Woodii suffering from wet feet will also loose leaves, usually the ones closest to the roots. This would have to be a seriously soggy potting mix in a pot with no drainage as the String of Hearts usually does not mind moist (but not saturated) potting mix.
If water is the cause of leaves falling off, they will be yellow/ brownish as mushy. The Chain of Hearts plants in our nursery are kept outdoors and do not mind if it rains a lot, and so in our opinion, this plant is not easily killed by over-watering, though our plants are planted in good quality potting mix and are outside where the air will help water evaporate quicker.
Indoors, water evaporation from potting mix is slower. If the mix is heavy and retains too much water, the roots will become over-saturated, and this is when the plant can suffer.
The roots may also get waterlogged in apot with no drainage hole. This can literally drown the plant as the roots need to breathe. For the Chain of Hearts not to loose leaves because of water, it should be planted in well-draining potting mix and in a pot with a hole at the bottom. Perlite can be added for extra drainage.
Indoors, water when the potting mix has dried out, but do not leave dry for too long.
4. Leaves growing too small
Leaves usually grow small when the Chain of Hearts is root-bound. As there is no space in the pot, the plant will slow its growth, and the leaves will become smaller. To get bigger leaves, the plant should be repotted into a larger pot once a year.
The string on the left was taken from a plant that is a little root-bound. As a result the leaves are smaller and more colourful. The string on the right has noticeably bigger leaves which is owed to a large pot with plenty of root-space.
Lack of water can also see the leaves shrink as the plant tries to lessen the chance of water evaporating. A larger leaf surface will mean more water loss.
Ceropegia Woodii that is grown in a spot with quite a bit o sun will also grow smaller leaves, though if the plant has plenty of space in the pot this should not be too dramatic.
The leaf on the left is grown in a bright spot but without any sun. The leaf on the right gets filtered sun under 30% shade cloth.
Lastly, new growth is always small, and it may take some time, especially for indoor plants, before these young leaves grow bigger. Remedy for this particular problem is patience.
5. Leaves growing thin rather than plump
In our experience, String of Hearts grown indoors or in deeper shade will always have thinner leaves compared to plants grown outside in plenty of light.
There is not much that can be done about this other than moving the plant into a bright spot/filtered light outdoors.
New growth is also pretty much always thin, but as the leaves mature, they will grow thicker.
6. Leaves rotting
Rotting leaves should not be too much of a problem with the Chain of Hearts if the potting mix is well-draining and the plant lives in a pot with a drainage hole. Leaves will rot when the plant has been sitting in waterlogged soil for too long.
Leaves may also rot if the plant is placed in dark and damp spots (bathroom with very little light etc.). String of hearts is not a good plant for rooms that lack in light.
Although this does not happen often, sometimes if Ceropegia Woodii is exposed to direct sun on a very hot day (over 35C/95F) the leaves can literally cook inside which will result in them turning to mush and rot. We would not recommend leaving the Hearts in direct sun on hot days as even a short exposure can damage the plant.
7. Dark spots on the leaves
Dark spots on String of Hearts' leaves are usually caused by fungal diseases, pests or the sun. If Ceropegia Woodii is grown somewhere dark and damp, it is quite likely black or brown spots will appear on the leaves. It is advisable to grow this plant in a bright and airy spot.
Sucking pests like aphids or mealybugs will create small holes in plants leaves to feed on the juices. When these wounds heals, they can permanently darken. Unfortunately not much can be done about this once the damage is done.
Sun can burn plants just like it can burn our skin. The difference is that our skin can regenerate, whereas the plants leaves will stay permanently damaged. The burns on Ceropegia Woddii can leave everlasting dark marks on leaves. The leaves can be pinched off, so the dark spots do not spoil the looks.
8. Loss of colour
Colour loss in Chain of Hearts can be caused by lack of light, seasons and temperature. Loss of colour is usually noticed on the Variegated String of Hearts as when grown in ideal conditions the leaves have a beautiful pink hue, more so if they are in filtered light with a bit of harmless sun (morning sun, sun in the cooler months). .Take away the bright light, and the pink disappears.
Loss of colour is hard to manage indoors as the plants will often not be able to get the same amount of light as outdoor plants. But closer to a sunny window the variegated Ceropegia Woodii is, the more colourful it will get.
This Ceropegia Woodii Variegata is grown in a spot with filtered sun. The photo was taken at the end of autumn when temperatures overnight started dropping to about 6C (42.8F). Low temperatures are very likely to bring out extra colour.
This plant is also grown in filtered sunlight, but the photo was taken at the end of spring when the plants are growing rapidly and the temperatures get warmer.
The colour can also change with the seasons and temperature. Most succulents, including the String of Hearts, are more colourful once the temperature starts dropping. In winter, the hearts are at their most pink.
Please note that Ceropegia Woodii is not frost tolerant and should not stay outdoors when frost or snow is expected. This change is natural and very hard to be forced.
Seasons also affect the colour in another way- growth. In spring the plants race ahead with new growth and are likely to lose some colour. This can happen when repotting into a bigger planter too as the roots, all of a sudden, have more space, and the plant starts growing. Eventually, the plant will colour up again.
9. Slow growth
String of Hearts is likely to grow slower indoors or when the plant is in too much shade. The brighter the position, better the growth rate.
Same applies to pot size. Bigger the pot, faster the plant will grow. When the Chain of Hearts is rootbound or in a small pot, it is likely to slow all growth, even in the growing season.
The growth rate is also affected by the season. Ceropegia Woodii is dormant during the cold months and does not produce many new leaves or strings. In cold climates, it almost stops growing altogether. In more temperate climates, it will still produce new branches but not as much as it would in spring and summer.
Top 3 Propagation Method
Propagating string of heart plants is not easy even some time a failed to propagating new plant. propagating string of heart plant from mother plant to several new growing string
String Of Hearts Through Water Propagation Method:
The string of hearts plants easy to propagate through the water, the roots easily rooting in water. All you need to do just take a few inches-long stem cuttings and put them into the water. The stem cuttings that are drowning under the water must have no leaves; you need to remove the leaves from the part of the cutting which will be underwater in your container of any glass or vase. In that way, your leaves far from rotting and also your water will be fresh.
Ensure that every stem cutting has some leaves except the underwater part. The roots grow from the part of the stem from which you had removed the leaves earlier, which is underwater. Two or three nodes should be in the water, if not, at least one is necessary. I bought the well-grown string of hearts plant, and use its stem cuttings for propagation. Genuinely, it’s not the first time I propagate variegated String of Hearts. Keep eyes on the stem cuttings, if you see that the water getting dirty and murky, ensure to change the water. It would be best to place your vase or glass in the most appropriate area, where underwater stem cuttings receive enough amount of filtered or partial shade sunlight. It depends on the warm temperature; enough amount of heat encourages quick rooting of stem cuttings. Soon you see roots are growing on the tiny tuber from this stem cutting. Later we will talk about tubers. Once your stem cuttings take roots; you can plant them in any pot with appropriate soil. 1/2 inches long roots are enough for planting.
Propagate String Of Hearts Through Soil Propagation Method:
Propagation through Soil is not much different from water propagation. All the starting processes are the same except drowning the stem cuttings in water; you have to stick the cuttings directly in the Soil. Another option for improving the possibility of the root by cuttings, using a rooting hormone, in which you can dip each node that is going under the Soil.
You can buy this rooting hormone from Amazon. Use any nutritious soil mixture and wait. Water the newly potted cuttings; try to keep the Soil hardly moist to increase the overall growth.
You can Cover the pot with plastic Cover to retain Moisture
Propagating Using Tuber Propagation Method:
It would be best if you got a big tuber for propagation. A fingernail-sized tuber is the right choice for propagating. It would be best if you left some of the tubers on the creeper; gently press it into the soil mixture to grow a root.
You can directly cut the vine from the main “string of hearts” plant whenever roots grow on it.
Alternatively, you also have another option for growing the roots from the tuber. Cut off the vines, including tubers from the main “rosary vine” plant, put them into any container with some soil, cover the tubers with some soil.
Keep them into some bright sunshine and water them so the soil will not dry; watering them once a week; after a few weeks, you will see tuber rooting.
String of Heart Butterfly Merhod
Pick the butterfly method if you want to grow multiple cuttings in the same pot for a lush, full-bodied plant.
Image titled Propagate String of Hearts Step 10
1
Use scissors to cut off a piece of stem with multiple sets of leaves. Leaves on a string of hearts usually grow in pairs. Choose a stem that has several sets of pairs, then take a cutting.[12]
You can use one or several stems for this method.
Image titled Propagate String of Hearts Step 11
2
Trim the stem into pieces by cutting on either side of the leaves. Use your scissors to snip the stem into several pieces that are about 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) long. Each piece should have two leaves on it.[13]
This is where the butterfly method gets its name. The leaves sprout in pairs along each side of the stem, so they look like butterfly wings.
Image titled Propagate String of Hearts Step 12
3
Soak sphagnum moss in water for 5 minutes. Fill a container with water and submerge the sphagnum moss. Set a timer for 5 minutes and wait. The moss needs to be damp for your cuttings to root.[14]
Image titled Propagate String of Hearts Step 13
4
Drain your moss and place it in a container. Pour the water out of your container and squeeze out the moss. Then, put the damp moss back into the container to use as a rooting substrate.[15]
If you use a clear container, you can watch the roots grow and easily determine when your plant is ready to transplant.
Image titled Propagate String of Hearts Step 14
5
Lay the cuttings over the moss with the nodes touching it. Space out the cuttings so your propagated plant will look lush and full. Each end of the stems should touch the moss to encourage rooting.[16]
Both ends of the stem should grow new roots. Then, new growth will expand from the leaf nodes on the cuttings to make a full plant.
Image titled Propagate String of Hearts Step 15
6
Cover the container with clear plastic wrap to trap the humidity. String of hearts is more likely to root in a humid environment. For this method, use cling wrap to cover the entire container that you’re using to sprout your butterfly cuttings.[17]
If you don’t have cling wrap, you can use a plastic bag.
Image titled Propagate String of Hearts Step 16
7
Place the container in a bright location. Put it on a windowsill or near a window that gets a lot of sunlight. The light will stimulate root growth, as well as new growth on the cuttings.[18]
A south-facing window is the best option, but you can use any window.
Image titled Propagate String of Hearts Step 17
8
Transfer the moss to a pot full of soil once the cuttings root. Periodically lift your container and check for root growth. When you see roots growing into the moss, it’s time to move your moss to a planter. Wet the moss to loosen it from the container, then use your fingers to lift it out. Place the moss on top of the full pot of soil.[19]
It takes about a month for the roots to grow.
The roots of your new plant will continue to grow down into the soil. Over time, the plant will fully cover the moss, so it won’t be visible anymore.
All About the Variety, Care, and History of the String of Hearts Plant
The String of Hearts, orCeropegia woodii, is an amazing houseplant.
It grows extremely fast, producing gorgeous trailing vines of heart-shaped leaves, and thrives on neglect.
It has MANY common names. It can be found under string of hearts, chain of hearts, rosary vine, sweetheart vine, and more. It is also known scientifically asCeropegia woodiiandCeropegia linearissubsp.woodii.
This week we will dive into the many varieties ofCeropegia woodii, how to care for them, where they are found in the wild, and their origin story as a houseplant.
The Varieties of String of Hearts (that I’m aware of)
String of Hearts (the original)
This is the String of Hearts orCeropegia woodiithat is generally considered the standard form.
It is the most widely available and most reasonably priced of all the varieties. The leaves are perfect little hearts with various levels of silver across the leaves.
The more light this one receives, the more silver splashing the leaves can potentially develop. Higher light also turns the backs of the leaves pink to purple, creating a beautiful contrast.
You can see below two different pots of String of Hearts that I’m growing in my home. One is in lower light and the other is in high light. Notice how much more silver is on the leaves of the one growing in high light.
It is an incredibly fast grower and tolerates neglect well, which has made it a fantastic houseplant.
String of Hearts Variegated
The variegated SOH develops white edges on the leaves. These white edges can turn pink in high light.
Because of its ability to turn pink when light-stressed, sometimes sellers will sell this plant as the “Pink String of Hearts,” however, there isn’t any formal plant that falls under this name. It’s just the variegated plant you see here.
It is a slower grower than the original but still grows decently fast in comparison to a lot of other plants.
The String of Hearts (or SOH) Silver Glory has a similar leaf shape to the original and variegated SOH.
The front of the leaves are almost entirely covered in silver (thus the name silver glory) and the leaves can develop pink or purple undersides when grown in high light.
String of Hearts Orange River
SOH Orange River has more of a spade-shaped leaf that can blush orange in high light. It is a fast grower, like the original SOH.
It used to be hard to find, at least where I live. However, I’ve noticed it popping up more and more in 2021 at much lower prices. A wonderful change for enthusiasts like myself who might be looking for this plant!
String of Spades (Ceropegia woodii‘Heartless’)
String of Spades has a leaf shape that is more similar to a spade or an arrowhead than a heart. Its coloration is the same as the original SOH.
It is sometimes referred to as the cultivar ‘Heartless’ to denote its departure from heart-shaped leaves.
String of Daggers
String of Daggers departs from the heart-shaped leaf, just like String of Spades. It differs from String of Spades because its leaves have a much narrower form than String of Spades.
I wonder if this plant is the result of a cross between String of Spades and String of Needles, but do not have any definitive answer about that. If you know the origin of this plant, please let me know!
Very few people talk about the String of Daggers, so I’m not sure how accepted this particular plant is. In fact, this plant was labeled as String of Spades, but you can see how different the shape of the leaves is from the plant above.
String of Needles (Ceropegia linearissubsp.debilis)
String of Needles is not aCeropegia woodiicultivar. It’s actually its own subspecies ofCeropegia linearis, calleddebilis. SometimesC. woodiiis also categorized as a subspecies ofCeropegia linearis.
I included the String of Needles because the growth habit is very similar to the other varieties we discussed above, with the exception that the leaves are incredibly thin and needle-like. This one is an incredibly fast grower, just like the original String of Hearts.
I see it as a part of my SOH collection so I included it here as well. 🙂
The Care of String of Hearts (SOH)
Light
SOH can grow healthily and happily in any window that gets a couple of hours of direct sun each day.
If choosing a window that receives direct sun the majority of the day, you will want to use a sheer curtain or blinds to reduce the intensity a little.
This will ensure that the leaves do not burn.
When in lower light, SOH will stay green and grow moderately well.
When in high light, SOH will develop a pinkish or orangish hue and grow much faster.
I grew a large string of hearts for a couple of years in a South-facing window that received direct sunlight most of the day. I shaded the plant a little with a sheer curtain.
It did so well that it trailed about 6 feet, all the way to the floor. The backs of the leaves turned a beautiful pinkish purple.
Water
String of hearts like to dry between waterings, but do not want to sit dry for long periods of time.
Some people judge when to water by monitoring how succulent the leaves are.
When the leaves are plump and succulent, the plant is well hydrated.
When the leaves become softer and less succulent, the plant is ready for water.
This is the method I used for the first year I had String of Hearts so I could avoid potential rot.
Now that I’m more comfortable with its care, I do not monitor the succulence of the leaves. Instead, I check whether the soil is dry and water thoroughly.
Potting Mix
String of Hearts is a succulent plant that is prone to rot, like other plants that climb and scramble in the wild. As such,Ceropegia woodiiand its many varieties require a well-draining potting mix.
I use my typical epiphytic potting mix for these plants: 1 part indoor potting soil, 1 part perlite, 1 part orchid bark, with some charcoal added in.
It would also be fine to use a succulent mix of some sort. The key is fast-draining. The individual ingredients are less important.
Pot/Container
To prevent String of Hearts from rotting, use a pot with drainage holes and ensure that the plant doesn’t sit in excess water in its drainage tray.
Fertilizer
String of Hearts, like most succulents, do not require a large amount of fertilizer. They are used to poor soil conditions, limited rainfall, and nutrients.
You can use a well-balanced fertilizer or a succulent fertilizer with success. Fertilize sparingly throughout the growing season.
Humidity
While String of Hearts does not mind having humidity, they definitely do not require it.
Temperature
String of hearts, like most houseplants we keep, want temperatures to remain similar to what we humans prefer. They cannot tolerate a lot of cold.
Common problems
Root Rot
String of Hearts is very prone to root rot. It doesn’t want to sit in wet soil, but it also doesn’t want to be massively underwatered either. Both over and underwatering can cause damage to the roots that allows harmful fungus and bacteria to move in and rot the roots.
Let String of Hearts dry, but not remain dry for a long time. This will ensure the roots do not develop rot.
It can become a tangled mess
The vines are very easy to tangle up and become a knotted mess that can take an hour or more to untangle. Some people leave it tangled and others work hard to keep their vines separated.
I’ve done both and have ended up in the category of leaving it tangled because the plant doesn’t care and it still looks nice just as it is.
Mealybugs and Aphids
String of hearts is pretty resilient in terms of pests. It can suffer from mealybugs and aphids, like most succulents, but I will say that I’ve been lucky to have neither on my SOH collection so far.
You can also propagate the plant by placing a tuber from a cutting in soil. The tuber will root easily and continue to grow.
What’s a tuber?You are looking for the white-ish ball below. They can be smaller and a bit less obvious but are typically easy to find on plants that have been growing for a while.
What is the origin story of String of Hearts as a houseplant?
String of Hearts (SOH) has been kept as a houseplant for over a century!
Ceropegia woodiiwas first discovered in the late 1800s by a South African botanist, John Medley Wood.
The genus, Ceropegia, was chosen by Carl Linneaus (the father of taxonomy) to describe the plant: – Cero (from the Greek word,keros) means waxy – Pegia (from the Greek word,pege) means flowers shaped like a fountain
The SOH species (woodii) was named after John Medley Wood, its discoverer.
The genus Ceropegia is a member of the milkweed family, along with many other popular houseplants: Hoyas, Dischidias, Stapeliads, and more.
These plants are popular for a reason. They are easy to care for, fast growers, and absolutely beautiful.
They develop bizarre, lantern or fountain-shaped flowers as shown above.
The flowers are pollinated by flies who enter the tubes to find food and get trapped inside temporarily. As they struggle to leave, pollen is rubbed onto their bodies which they can then transfer to other flowers.
The scent of the flowers is carrion (which attracts the flies), but it is so mild that I have never noticed a smell even when a large plant is prolifically blooming. Thank goodness!
Where is String of Hearts found in the wild?
String of Hearts grows natively from Zimbabwe to South Africa.
It can be found weaving its way across and between rocks and other plants in poor soil conditions with a lot of light being partially blocked by other plants.
It is used to fairly dry conditions in South Africa with temperate to hot temperatures.
Below you can see a number of photos of SOH in the wild. Note the variety of leaf shapes and sizes even within the same growing space.
Photo by: Nicola van Berkel , iNaturalist,SourcePhoto by: Nicola van Berkel , iNaturalist,SourcePhoto by: thinus, iNaturalist,SourcePhoto by: Charles Abbott, iNaturalist,Source
Do you grow String of Hearts? What has your experience been? What is your favorite String of Hearts variety?
