When most people think of vines, they imagine ivy or morning glories. However, there are many other types of vines, one of which is the sugar vine. This beautiful plant is relatively rare and may be hard to find. It can be easily propagated from a cutting if you have a friend or neighbor with a plant or can source a cutting online.
Sugar vine plants can be grown outdoors or indoors and are very easy to care for. Read on to learn more about sugar vine plant growth and care.
What is a Sugar Vine Plant?
A sugar vine plant (Cissus ‘Sugar Vine’) is a creeping vine that can be grown as a house plant on a windowsill or in a hanging basket. It can also be grown outside in warmer climates and will form tendrils that will support it as it creeps along the ground. The foliage on this plant is small, elongated, and grows in clusters of five leaves. The leaves are also slightly saw-toothed. The plant can also be trained to climb up a fence or trellis.
The sugar vine plant is part of the Vitaceae family and originates from South America. It grows in tropical and sub-tropical regions. This plant is also sometimes referred to as a miniature grape ivy.
Unique Sugar Vine Plant Care Instructions
Sugar vine plants can be invasive, so you’ll need to prune your plant regularly to keep it at the desired size and shape. Alternatively, grow this plant in a container or an area where it won’t spread too quickly. Here are some tips to help you grow a healthy sugar vine.
Outdoor Growing
Growing this vine outside is possible if you live in an area where temperatures stay above 30F. All you need is some type of support for your plant to grow on, such as a trellis or fence. Place the plant in an area that gets plenty of light and keep it moist by watering frequently.
Indoor growing
Because of the sugar vine’s tendency to become invasive, many people choose to grow this vine indoors. It can be planted in any pot with good drainage and should be placed in a sunny area.
Watering requirements
The sugar vine plant likes to have consistently moist soil, but not soggy soil. To test if the soil is moist enough, stick your finger into the ground. If it comes back wet, then you can wait a few days before watering your plant.
Be careful not to let your plant get too waterlogged, or it may end up suffering from root rot.
Fertilization
When it comes to feeding the sugar vine plant, you can either feed it with a general-purpose fertilizer at half strength, a tropical plant fertilizer, or use compost tea every two weeks to one month during the growing season.
Soil
The optimal soil pH for growing sugar vines is between 5.5 and 6.5 on the scale, which is neutral. These plants are pretty adaptable when it comes to soil and can be grown in a standard pre-mixed soil, with some organic matter added.
It’s important to ensure that the soil is well-draining and your plants pot has adequate drainage holes to stop waterlogging from occurring.
Humidity
Sugar vines do well in humid conditions, so make sure to mist your plant every few days or use a humidity tray underneath the pot.
Propagation
To propagate this plant, you can either take cuttings from your already existing plant or buy a cutting online. Ensure you use a sterilized knife or pair of scissors when taking cuttings from plants.
Once you have a few healthy cuttings, you can place them in a jar of water which can be left in a sunny location until roots start to form. Once the cuttings are rooted, they can be planted in a well-drained soil in a sunny location.
Overwintering
If you are growing your sugar vine in a cooler climate, then it may benefit from being overwintered inside your home or a greenhouse. When the weather starts to warm-up in early spring, place your potted sugar vine plant outside again.
Conclusion
The sugar vine plant is tolerant of a wide range of climates and is very easy to care for. If you want a plant that will add color to your outdoor garden, then try growing the sugar vine. It will provide many years of beauty!