Cissus - home care, species, characteristics, and properties

Flowers

Cissus is a favorite plant among many gardeners. The bush owes its origins to tropical and subtropical climates. In the wild, it is found in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia. After arriving in Europe, the plant quickly gained popularity. The bush belongs to the grape family. Its sculpted, rich-green leaves, tendrils, and ability to twine around everything in its path are successfully used for decorative purposes. Being a trailing plant, cissus thrives in hanging baskets, quickly producing new shoots, but rarely blooms.

Its resemblance to the birch tree and wild grapes, native to our latitudes, has given the flower other common names, including indoor grapes, birch vine, and grape ivy. Cissus is easy to care for; even a novice gardener can grow it at home.

Is it possible to keep cissus at home? Signs and superstitions

Domestic grapes have a somewhat unflattering reputation among superstitious people and are traditionally surrounded by superstitions, as are many vines. They are credited with mystical properties in the realm of human relationships. It is believed that grape ivy "drives" men out of the home. Such plants are called "husband-killers," and in addition to cissus, this group includes spiderwort, hoya, and scindapsus.

Characteristics of the variety and species diversity

Cissus is a creeping shrub belonging to the group of hanging plants. The stems are firm and twining, and the leaves are bright green and glossy. It rarely blooms indoors, producing mostly white or cream-colored flowers. It occasionally bears fruit. There are over three hundred species of Cissus in the wild, but only a few are suitable for indoor cultivation. The most common are the rhombifolia, antarctica, and quadrangularis species.

The rhombifolia species is the most popular among gardeners. It is easy to care for and grows quite quickly. Its native land is considered to be South America. The plant is characterized by vigorous and rapid growth, clinging to any support. The leaves are bright green, serrated, medium-sized, and resemble grape vines. This species is often called grape ivy. The stems are flexible and slender, allowing the plant to not only spread out but also climb upward.

In the wild, this species can reach five meters in height, forming a dense foliage mass. Among the Cissus rhombifolia species are many popular cultivars, including Ellen Danica, Mandiana, and Fiona.

The Antarctic species of cissus is slightly less popular. It is native to Australia. In the wild, the plant's stems become woody, but when grown indoors, the shoots retain their flexibility and elasticity.

Cissus antarctica has oval, bright green leaves with serrated edges. They can reach 11 centimeters in size. The shoots and tendrils are hairy, giving them a brown tint. In the wild, it flowers and bears fruit. The fruits are edible but can irritate mucous membranes.

Cissus quadrangularis is native to India and is found in Sri Lanka, southern Asia, parts of Africa and Arabia, and also grows in the southern United States and South America. It grows up to one and a half meters, with leaves reaching 10 centimeters. The flowers are light-colored. It bears small, round, red fruits.

Its medicinal use has been known since ancient times. This plant was used to treat sprains, fractures, and joint injuries, and was also used as an anesthetic.

In addition to those listed, there are a great many varieties of ornamental grapes: cactus, glandular, and striped. However, they are practically absent from the collections of amateur gardeners.

Secrets and difficulties of caring for cissus at home

Cissus grows very quickly, twining around any available support. It is often used in interior arrangements or to decorate garden fences, creating a striking hedge.

They are relatively low-maintenance and grow in almost any room. This is why they are recommended even for inexperienced gardeners. The plant's undemanding light requirements make it suitable for decorating remote and poorly lit areas of a room.

General rules

Like most tropical and subtropical plants, indoor grapes prefer bright but filtered light. A south or west-facing position, some distance from a window, is considered the best location. Cissus also thrives in the shade.

It's best to protect the bush from bright, direct sunlight. The plant is sensitive to sun and can suffer from sunburn, so it's best to shade it in bright light.

Lighting — If there is insufficient natural light, additional lamps are used.

Cissus tolerates temperatures ranging from 10 to 25 degrees Celsius. Some species can tolerate temperatures as low as +5 degrees Celsius.

In summer, the plant thrives outdoors. A warm summer breeze won't harm it, but it's best to protect the bush from drafts. A sudden drop in temperature can cause the plant to lose its foliage completely.

Despite its tropical origins, cissus tolerates low humidity well. It's advisable to mist it regularly during hot summer weather and during winter when heating is on.

Water indoor grapes regularly, as the soil dries out. In summer, watering should be intense, but not excessive, to prevent root rot. Use soft, room-temperature water. Reduce watering during the fall and winter. Keep the soil moist enough to support root activity.

Fertilizing is done during the active growth period—spring and summer. Fertilizing is done on average every two weeks using a general-purpose mineral fertilizer. Fertilizing is not required in winter.

Advice!

Since cissus is a trailing plant, it's recommended to provide it with a support around which it can twine. Alternatively, place it in a hanging pot so that the creeping cuttings gently fall down.

Despite the existence of general rules for maintaining grape ivy, its different species have their own characteristics.

Caring for Cissus rhombifolia

The unpretentious rhombifolia cissus does not require complex care, and its impressive appearance will decorate any interior.

It loves light but dislikes direct sunlight. To avoid burning, place the plant away from the window. It grows well in the shade, but in low light, the leaves become thinner and the stems become more elongated.

Every year, the diamond-leaved variety is repotted in fresh, nutritious soil and fertilized several times a year. The appearance of the leaves will indicate the need for fertilization: if they're slightly yellowed, it's time to fertilize.

Caring for Cissus Antarctica

Antarctic cissus doesn't require bright light, but it does react extremely negatively to temperature fluctuations. However, it prefers heat to cold.

In summer, this species requires frequent and generous watering, and regular misting is also necessary. Dry air can cause leaf spots. Fertilize the bush frequently, using a nitrogen- or phosphorus-containing fertilizer as needed. In winter, water sparingly and keep the plant cool. Repot annually, using nutritious soil.

Care and healing properties of Cissus quadrangularis

The quadrangular variety of Cissus is rarely cultivated indoors. This large plant with fleshy stems came to Europe from hot India. Despite its thick stems up to 1 cm, its leaves are small, fall quickly, and grow rather slowly.

Interesting!

It loves a lot of light, but this does not affect the growth rate.

European medicine is actively studying the therapeutic properties of the flower, while Indian medicine has brought back extensive information about its use in treating bone tissue and joints. Its effect on bone healing, pain relief, and weight loss have been proven. Furthermore, the plant is known to have other beneficial properties:

improves metabolism;
relieves fatigue and tones the body;
prevents the development of cardiovascular diseases, stabilizes blood pressure;
reduces blood sugar levels and prevents the development of diabetes.

Not all of the plant's potential has been explored to date. Research is ongoing in many European countries.

How to propagate and transplant a flower at home

Early spring is considered the best time for repotting. Young plants are repotted annually, while mature bushes are repotted approximately every two to three years. To avoid damaging the plant, use the root ball repotting method, known as transshipment, adding fresh soil on top.

If the plant's roots show signs of rot, completely replace the soil. Choose a small pot, slightly larger than the previous one. Cissus prefers a somewhat cramped environment and will not thrive in a large pot.

To propagate home grapes, cuttings and division of the bush are used.

To propagate by cuttings, cut a shoot with several leaves from the upper stem and place it in water until roots appear. The plant is then rooted in a small container with the usual soil. To achieve a more lush appearance, several shoots can be planted in a single container.

When replanting, you can use division. To do this, divide the mature plant so that each part has a strong, developed root and a healthy, mature shoot. The resulting bushes are rooted in new containers in prepared soil and cared for as usual.

Frequently asked questions about growing

Should the plant be pruned?

This grapevine appreciates pruning, which is done to create a fuller, more spreading bush.

Why do leaves lose color?

Most often, the cause is a nutrient deficiency. The plant needs to be fed with a ready-made mineral fertilizer.

Can you eat cissus berries?

The berries of the grape ivy are edible. They taste similar to regular grapes, but can cause irritation to the mucous membranes of the mouth and stomach.

Cissus is a plant prized for its lush green foliage rather than its abundant blooms. Following a few simple rules will help the bush develop a dense, branched crown and be a worthy addition to any indoor greenhouse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytJs7GQbNMU