Candlestick flowers have evolved flower shapes unmatched in complexity by any other flower. Due to their special specialization in the environmental conditions, the plants require little care. With regard to the choice of location and substrate, you have to consider a few factors so that candlestick flowers feel good.

Candlestick flowers bear candlestick-like flowers

Table of Contents

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  1. origin
  2. leaves
  3. blossom
  4. growth
  5. use
  6. Is candlestick flower poisonous?
  7. Which location is suitable?
  8. What soil does the plant need?
  9. Multiply candlestick flower
  10. sowing
  11. cuttings
  12. Candlestick flower in a pot
  13. balcony
  14. Water candlestick flower
  15. Fertilize candlestick flower properly
  16. Cut candlestick flower correctly
  17. How do I plant correctly?
  18. hibernate
  19. Diseases
  20. fungus
  21. pests
  22. sorts

    23. origin

    Both the plant genus Ceropegia and the species Ceropegia linearis subsp. called woodii. It is a popular ornamental plant and is also sold under the name Ceropegia woodii. Candlestick flowers belong to the dogbane family. The natural range of the subspecies cultivated as an ornamental plant is limited to the subtropical regions of South Africa. Other subspecies of Ceropegia linearis are also found in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi as far north as Kenya in the continent.

    leaves

    Ceropegia woodii has fleshy, thickened leaves that serve as water storage. These succulent leaves are divided into a lanceolate to heart-shaped leaf blade and a three to ten millimeter long petiole. The leaves can be more or less round in shape. The blade is pointed at the end and colored dark green on top. The underside of the leaf appears light green and often has a red tinge. The small leaves are opposite on the shoot and have a high ornamental value due to their silvery-white grain.

    blossom

    The candlestick flower owes its name to the strikingly shaped flowers. These are hermaphroditic and have an axis of symmetry. Each flower reaches a length between two and 2.5 centimeters. Their petals are fused together and form a crown cauldron, which merges into the corolla tube with a visible constriction. The crown cauldron is spherical to oval in shape and about four millimeters wide. The corolla tube has a diameter of two millimeters.

    flower color

    While the corolla cauldron is colored greenish-white to whitish-purple with dark purple veining, the corolla tube appears light purple or streaked with purple. It is often whitish dotted at the upper end or has a net-like structure. Their light green to purple corolla lobes curve inwards. They are fused together like an umbrella at the top.

    flower ecology

    The flower anatomy is reminiscent of small lampshades. Candlestick flowers have a special purpose with this flower shape. They give off an odor that attracts small flies. These get lost in the corolla tube, in which they are caught by the small hairs. The flies pollinate the female flower organs that have matured first with the pollen they have brought with them. The male organs then mature and produce new pollen, which the flies ingest through their movements in the flower. The hairs in the pharynx of the flowers go limp, allowing the flies to escape again.

    growth

    Ceropegia woodii develops root nodules that are spherically thickened and have a rough surface. With increasing age, the rootstock becomes stronger and stronger. Winding, creeping or hanging shoots that can reach a length of 100 centimeters drive out of them. They are very thin with a diameter of between one and two millimeters. Older specimens form small white nodules in the leaf axils, which are used for vegetative propagation.

    use

    Candlestick flowers are ideal traffic light plants. The green curtain of shoots and leaves is an interesting eye-catcher in hanging pots. But tall vessels such as vases, old copper jugs or zinc tubs are also perfect for creating green plant arrangements with the candlestick flower. The shoots of the succulent plant can be shaped as you wish. You can grow the plant in a heart shape or as a trellis. Use flexible wires to steer the rung in the right direction.

    Is candlestick flower poisonous?

    No information is known about possible toxic ingredients. In the root tuber and parts of the plant, the candlestick flower produces a transparent to whitish milky sap that is considered harmless. As a precaution, sensitive persons should carry out care measures with gloves to prevent possible skin reactions. There is also no known danger to animals from eating the plant.

    Many dogbane plants, which include the candlestick flower, are poisonous and should not be cultivated within the reach of children and pets. If you choose this plant, it should be placed in inaccessible places as a precaution. Note that the shoots can get very long. The hanging stems pose a potential hazard for cats, who can get caught in them while playing and tear down the bucket.
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    Which location is suitable?

    Give the candlestick flower a bright spot where the room temperature is normal. Avoid places that are in direct sunlight. The succulent plants react sensitively to direct sunlight, especially in the midday hours. Flower development will be aided if the plant gets some sun in the mornings and evenings. Candlestick flowers do not require special humidity. They also thrive in dry air. In summer, the plant will thank you for being outdoors.

    What soil does the plant need?

    Ceropegia woodii prefers a nutrient-poor and highly permeable substrate. For higher permeability, you can mix 60 percent soil with 40 percent loose mineral material. Beads made of expanded clay,(19.73€) sand and perlite, pumice or lava granules are suitable for this.(13.99€) These mineral admixtures ensure better air circulation because they increase the crumbly structure of the substrate. They also store nutrients and moisture, which they gradually release to the substrate.

    This substrate is suitable for the cultivation:

    • cactus soil
    • potting soil
    • pricking earth

    Multiply candlestick flower

    The easiest way to propagate candlestick flowers is through their brood bulbs, which grow in the leaf axils. This propagation variant is possible during the main growth phase from spring to autumn. Pick off the nodules and sprinkle them on a suitable substrate. Cover the nodules with a layer of quartz sand to prevent rot. Place the pot in a shady place where the temperature is between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius. Ensure constant soil moisture.
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    sowing

    When your plant has developed fruit, you can use the seeds inside for propagation. Fill a plastic pot with a suitable growing substrate, which you loosen up with mineral admixtures. Distribute the seeds evenly over the soil and lightly cover larger seeds with substrate. Small seeds may be free.

    Put a transparent plastic bag or foil over the pot to keep the humidity constant. To prevent mold growth, you should consider daily airing. On this occasion, put some fresh water on the substrate.

    The seeds germinate at this location:

    • partially shaded on the windowsill or in the mini greenhouse
    • Temperatures between 23 and 28 degrees Celsius during the day
    • 20 to 22 degrees Celsius are ideal at night

    cuttings

    Cut shoots between three and four inches long from the plant and allow the cuttings to air dry for a few days. Remove the bottom leaves and place the shoots in a sandy substrate.

    The cuttings do well in slightly moist soil. Water sparingly and allow the top layer to dry between waterings. The location should be bright and ensure temperatures between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius. After seven to eight weeks, the first roots have developed.

    Candlestick flower in a pot

    Choose a bucket that offers enough space for the root system. Candlestick flowers do better in shallow pots than in deep containers. When choosing, you should make sure that the pot offers enough space for drainage. It should have a drainage hole so that the water can drain away. Cover the bottom with potsherds and then fill the vessel with substrate.

    Ceropegia woodii develops a fine root system on which numerous nodules are formed. These thickenings not only serve to store water and nutrients, but also take on photosynthetic functions. For energy conversion, the roots need some light. Cover the root system only lightly with a sandy layer that should not exceed a thickness of one centimeter.

    balcony

    During the summer months you can put the candlestick flower on the balcony or terrace without hesitation. A place in the semi-shade is ideal because the leaves are sensitive to direct sunlight.

    Water candlestick flower

    Candlestick flowers are specialists when it comes to water supply. They store moisture in their thickened plant parts and draw on these reserves during dry periods. You only need to water your candlestick flower moderately. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. The plant does not tolerate waterlogging. Pour out the excess water in the coaster after five minutes at the latest.

    Water candlestick flower in winter

    Reduce dormant watering to a minimum so that the root ball does not dry out. Orient yourself to the room temperature of the winter quarters. The cooler it is, the less often you need to water the plant. Rainwater is suitable for watering. Candlestick flowers are satisfied with tap water, as long as it is not too calcareous.

    Fertilize candlestick flower properly

    Fertilize the plant sparingly as its nutrient requirements are low. Mature and healthy plants are fertilized every four weeks between spring and autumn. Cactus fertilizer is a good source of nutrients, which is given in a weak concentration with the irrigation water. If the candlestick flower goes dormant in winter, you do not need to continue fertilizing the plant.

    Cut candlestick flower correctly

    Candlestick flowers can be cut all year round if the shoots get too long. Larger prunings should be carried out in spring so that the plant can then regenerate quickly. A heavy pruning causes the plant to develop numerous new shoots. This stimulates the brood tubers to sprout.

    How do I plant correctly?

    As soon as the root system has spread throughout the pot, you should transplant the candlestick flower. Young plants need a few years until the space becomes too small. Older plants can be repotted annually. The best time for this measure is spring, just before the end of the winter dormancy.

    hibernate

    From November, the candlestick flower goes into hibernation, which lasts until February. The succulent plant likes to spend the winter in a cooler place in the house. Place the bucket in an unheated stairwell or in a room that is rarely used. Temperatures should be between 12 and 18 degrees Celsius. If the thermometer falls below eight degrees Celsius, the candlestick flower can be damaged.

    The cold period is important for the plant to develop flowers in the following spring. During this time you should reduce the care measures to a minimum.

    Diseases

    Candlestick flowers are hardy plants that are rarely weakened by disease. Frequent damage is due to care errors. Waterlogging is the plant's greatest enemy, as it leads to root rot. If this factor is not recognized quickly enough, the plant can die.

    fungus

    If the leaves suddenly wilt or turn a pale green color, an infestation by fungi of the genus Phytophthora can be the cause. These fungi are considered aggressive occasional parasites. Once they have settled on a host plant, it usually does not survive the infection. You should remove the affected plant to prevent the fungus from spreading to other plants in the area.

    Phytophthora inhabits rotten plant parts. The fungi are often involved in root rot and further accelerate the rotting processes. As a preventative measure, you should make sure that there is no waterlogging in the substrate. Over-fertilization also favors the living conditions of the fungal spores.

    pests

    Candlestick flowers are attacked by pests that feed on the sap of the plants. If the infestation is not treated in time, the growth will become increasingly weak.

    aphids

    The pests leave a sticky film on the leaves. This honeydew offers sooty mold fungi optimal growth conditions. These fungi look unsightly, but do not further damage the plant. Aphids tend to multiply in the dry summer months. Healthy plants are less susceptible to the pests. If your plant is infested, you can remove the aphids with a sharp jet of water. Neem supplements are helpful for a larger pest infestation.

    Mealybugs and Mealybugs

    These pests appear occasionally and leave white webs resembling cotton balls. They suck out the plant sap and inject the plant with toxic substances that affect its growth. Affected leaves turn yellow and curl up until they eventually fall off. Plants weakened by care errors are particularly susceptible to pest infestation. Place affected plants in a light and cool place and spray the plant parts with an antidote.

    Remedies against mealybugs and mealybugs:

    • 15 ml spirit
    • 1 liter of water
    • 15 ml curd soap dissolved curd soap or paraffin oil

    tips

    Chandelier flowers are often offered commercially in normal peat or potting soil with a few Styrofoam beads mixed in. Replace the substrate at home with more suitable soil, as this will support healthy and vigorous growth.

    sorts

    • Variegata: Silvery-white striped leaves with a pink edge, vigorous. Hanging shoots, up to 51 centimeters tall.
    • Ceropegia sandersonii: Candlestick flower with climbing shoots. Flower up to seven centimeters large, light green with white stripes and dark green speckles. Rungs up to two meters long.

Category:

Vegetable garden