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For many , seeing a thick spate of English ivy sneak up the side of a brick home is a thing of ravisher .
However , true ivy plants ( the genus Hedera ) can be invasive and all are toxic to some degree .
Photo by David J. Stang,CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The good newsworthiness is that there are many other vining plants in the Vitaceae family that make heavy substitutes .
One of these is Cissus amazonica ( SISS - us am - uh - ZOH - nik - uh ) , commonly referred to as either amazon jungle vine orgrape ivy works , is enceinte example , with its attractive leafage and the ability to be grow as either an annual or perennial .
This hardy native of the Brazil and Amazon rain forest and the genus Cissus is a small , best-loved - friendly climber that ’s certain to please .
Photo by David J. Stang,CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Amazon Jungle Vine Care
Size & Growth
Generally reach 3 ’ feet tall and a little under 2 ’ pes wide , this little climber or hang basket houseplant is not most as aggressive as its ivy kin .
It can be a very slow raiser , but with proper humidness levels will suddenly spring to life , achieving its full size after 2 to 5 yr .
The dark green leaves are the main showstopper , with a viridity on both vine and foliation that can range in colouration from a blue green to silvery greenish , and occasionally leaves will acquire a burgundy bottom .
Both the leave of absence – which may grow as retentive as 5 ” inches – and stems tend to release a substance that can be err for an infestation but is perfectly natural and non - toxic .
Flowering and Fragrance
Cissus plant , in universal , do n’t blossom domestically , and Cissus amazonica is no exclusion .
Indoors or outside , this industrial plant is so fussy that you will belike never see it bloom .
Light & Temperature
Lianas ( or woody vine plant life ) are used to living in the protection of a timber canopy and do n’t wield verbatim sunlight very well .
rather , a bright indirect luminousness or dappled sun will work easily for this plant life .
Unlike true English ivy plants , it ’s best to forfend too much shade for this works as it can modernize soil mould if there ’s not enough lighter to keep the grunge from being too squiffy .
Speaking of moisture , this plant needs a high humidity .
Attempting to mature it in temperate room humility may work , but the industrial plant will be sluggish and less vibrant .
Instead , you should seek to keep it in a high humidness of 70 to 80 % percent , at which point it will absolutely thrive .
Most grower favor to keep it in a terrarium or glasshouse , but you may also choose to use a humidifier or pebble tray to keep the humidness level up .
An interesting side burden of lower humidity is that the plant will refuse to rise , which has been a matter of frustration for many first - time agriculturist .
However , the flora will snaffle onto anything in reach when it ’s adequately humid .
This industrial plant can be grown outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 10c to 12 but may suffer from the lower outdoor humidity levels in most domain .
Indoors , it ’s very forgiving and can handle temperatures from 50 ° to 85 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
However , it will best relish a daytime range of 70 ° to 85 ° degree Fahrenheit and a nighttime range of 50 ° to 65 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
Be heedful not to peril the industrial plant to draft , as sudden temperature change can lead to fainting and other issues .
Watering and Feeding
elbow room temperature distilled water or raw rainwater is best for this plant .
Using the soakage - and - ironical method acting , water this plant when the ground is dry ⅓ of the way down , going lento and evenly until moisture seep from the drainage holes .
Be very thrifty not to overwater or let the grunge dry out completely , as both can have austere hurt to the industrial plant .
In the wintertime , cut back on watering , but add a pocket-sized amount of body of water here and there to insure the dirt never becomes completely ironic .
Feed the plant 1 to 2 time per month during spring and summer using a balanced liquid fertiliser diluted to half and cut back to half that frequency in drop and wintertime .
Add the fertilizer flat after a lacrimation to avoid chemic burns .
remark that many grower opt to time their alimentation to be every four watering in the growing period and every 6 in the hibernating menstruum .
Soil & Transplanting
Amazon English ivy plant is happy in any good , slightly acidulent pot mix as long as it ’s well - draining .
You may care to add some perlite to serve ensure the soil is well - draining .
It will need to be repotted every 2 to 3 years , replacing the soil when you do .
As this plant is extremely susceptible to transplant daze and prefers to be somewhat radical - bond , it ’s best to repot only as often as necessitate .
You may opt to calibrate to one container sizing bigger or keep the flora in the same size pot to check ontogeny .
Watering the industrial plant 24 hours before repotting can help against the risk of transplantation shock , as well as assay not to handle the ancestor more than necessary .
Grooming And Maintenance
Trimming your cissus is an easy matter , but the plant does n’t palm damage well , so you will desire to always habituate sharp , unfertile shears and make undivided cuts .
Remove any damaged or morbid leaves , cut below any discoloration to avoid fan out possible infection .
you may also clip the stems for habit in propagation at this time .
Related : Cissus Discolor – Rex Begonia Vine
How To Propagate Grape Ivy Plant?
As mentioned , stem or folio - crest carving dipped in a rooting endocrine are the most common mode of propagating this works .
However , it is also possible to disperse through air division .
Amazon Jungle Vine Pests or Diseases
This plant is n’t drought tolerant and the high humidity it require can precede to fungous and bacterial infection such as :
Similarly , moisture - loving pests can be a trouble , with the most mutual invaders being aphids , greenflies , mealy bug , scale , red spider touch , thrips , and whitefly .
While not precisely edible , the plant is non - toxic to both humans and darling .
Ingesting too much of the vine or leafage may ensue in nausea , vomiting , or deprivation of appetite , but no serious symptom .
Cissus Amazonica Uses
This flora looks great when climbing a bamboo trellis or moss pole where the tendrils seize . Is it also at home cascading over the sharpness of a hang basket .
It ’s also a popular alternative to true English ivy plants due to its small size , less belligerent growth habit , and non - toxic nature .
