How to Propagate String of Hearts (The Easy Way)

Your Guide to propagating the String of Hearts plant.

Do you love the String of Hearts plant as much as I do?

I picked up the Variegated String of Hearts today and it’s love at first sight! What a beautiful plant!

While my plants are still only babies, I’m looking forward to the day when they are big enough to propagate. Because there’s just not enough String of Hearts plants in my life.

If you’d like to make more String of Hearts plants too, I’ve got your go to guide right here. There are 5 different methods you can use when propagating String of Hearts plants – and if you’re new to propagating, you’re in luck – the String of Hearts plant propagates easily and grows quickly, if you follow the right steps.

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About the String of Hearts Plant

The String of Hearts plant (Ceropegia woodii – also known as the Rosary Vine, Sweetheart Vine or Hearts Enmeshed) is a creeping flowering vine that has heart-shaped leaves and long stringy vines. This beauty doesn’t grow very tall but can trail quite a distance – up to 9 feet.

It’s also one of the prettiest indoor plants you’ll find with beautiful patterning on its heart shaped leaves. The variegated version looks like something from a fairy tale – it is lighter in color and each leaf is outlined in pink!

You can learn more about how to care for your String of Hearts Plant here – String of Hearts Care Guide.

When is the Best Time to Propagate String of Hearts

Before we get into the different ways of propagating the String of Hearts, it’s important to know when to do it.

The best time of year to propagate your plant is during the growing season. This is Spring to Summer. You could attempt to propagate your plant during its more dormant period, Autumn to Winter, but you’ll get best results if you stick with the growing season.

Propagation Methods

String of Hearts is known for being easy to propagate and a fast grower.

It can be propagated using various methods.

• stem cuttings in water, moss, or soil;
• pinning a vine with a node onto soil in a separate pot (you don’t even need to cut the original vine until after it has rooted);
• from tubers that form on the vines after flowering;
• from seed;
• from a leaf (though a full plant may only rarely grow from this)

String of Hearts Anatomy Lesson

If I lost you at nodes and tubers… here’s a quick guide to the anatomy of the String of Hearts plant.

Vines – the trailing stems of the plant

Leaves – the cute little heart shaped opposing leaves

Node – the slightly swollen part of the stem where the leaves erupt from. These can form roots when pressed against soil.

Tuber – round marble-sized potato looking whitish balls that form between leaf sets after flowering

Seed pods – stick like opposing pods that appear after flowering.

Flower – pinkish purple tubular flowers.

My first String of Hearts is only a baby so I can’t demonstrate tubers and seed pods yet. As soon as I can, I’ll take some updated photos!

How to Propagate String of Hearts from Cuttings

Propagating the String of Hearts from a cutting is the easy way to grow more String of Hearts!

You will need:

• a String of Hearts Plant
• a sharp knife or scissors that won’t crush the stem
• a container with water, soil, or sphagnum moss

How to Take a String of Hearts Cutting

If you’ve never taken a cutting before, it might be nerve-wracking to think about cutting into your plant. Luckily, it’s not that difficult.

The most important things to keep in mind are:

• Use a clean, sharp knife or scissors.
• Choose a cutting point where the cutting will have mature leaves to support its growth.
• Cut between pairs of leaves above or below a node. (The nodes are where roots will grow from.)

Step by Step Guide to Propagate String of Hearts Cuttings in Water

Propagating String of Hearts cuttings in water couldn’t be easier. What’s even better is you can even see where it’s at in the rooting process without having to guess or poke around in the dirt.

1. All you need is a glass or a vase, scissors and water.
2. Take several cuttings of 2-3 inches in length.
3. Prune off the leaves that will be underwater so that the nodes are exposed.
4. Position the vase in a spot that is warm and gets nice, indirect bright light (but no direct sun, you don’t want to cook it!)
5. Change the water at least once a week, or when it looks cloudy. Top it up if the water level is getting low – the nodes need to stay wet or you’ll kill the growing roots.
6. Roots should appear within a few days to a few weeks.
7. You can pot your String of Hearts once roots have appeared and have grown to at least two inches in length (as a general rule of thumb) or even just keep it living the hydro life!

Step by Step Guide to Propagating Cuttings in Soil

If you don’t want to muck around with water propagation, you can propagate cuttings of String of Hearts directly into soil.

Keep in mind, it may not have the same success rate as propagating into water or with tubers.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Beginning with clean scissors, take several cuttings of String of Hearts about 3 inches long (or longer), cutting between leaf sets. You can split longer vines into multiple portions.
2. Fill a new pot with potting mix and dig a small hole in the center.
3. Remove 1-2 sets of leaves from one end of your cuttings. This will expose the node and encourage roots to form. Optional – you can douse your nodes in rooting hormone if you like, that will help your plants form roots.
4. Place your String of Hearts cuttings node end first into the hole and cover over with soil.
5. Keep the soil damp by misting every day or two.
6. Roots should form within a few days to weeks and you’ll eventually have an established plant.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Propagating a String of Heart Using Aerial Tubers

Mature String of Hearts plants will start to form small, round, marble like growths in between leaf sets, these are called tubers.

String of Hearts can be readily propagated from tubers.

When you’re trying to propagate from a tuber, choose the largest one you can find. Make sure you choose a tuber that has some vine and mature leaves to sustain it.

There are three ways to handle tuber propagation:

1. Leave the tuber attached to the original plant and press it into the soil where it can grow roots.

• find the largest tuber on your plant that is at a point where it could reach into a new pot alongside the ‘mother’ plant.
• fill a new pot with potting mix (see our guide on String of Hearts care).
• press the tuber into the soil so about half of it is beneath the soil.
• keep the soil lightly damp by misting with water each day.

The tuber will grow roots and establish new growth, sustained by its connection to the mother plant. Once it’s rooted to the soil, you can cut the vine and say hello to your new baby plant!

2. Take a cutting of your String of Hearts just above a tuber – you need to leaves some vines and leaves to sustain it – and press the tuber into soil.

• follow the above method for leaving the tuber attached, just you’ve separated them early.

3. Instead of pressing the tuber into soil, place into a vase of water until roots form.

• you can repot your plant once the roots have grown to about 2 inches in length.

How to Propagate String of Hearts Using Nodes in Soil

Similar to the tuber method above, you can propagate String of Heart plants using just the node at the base of the leaves.

How do you do it?

1. Get a new pot, fill with cactus mix or succulent potting mix and place it next to the mother plant.
2. Next, grab one of the plant’s vines and place it into the new pot.
3. Make sure a healthy, mature, plump looking leaf set touches down in a good position in the new pot.
4. You can remove the leaf set to expose the node, then pin it to the soil using a hair pin.
5. Keep the soil damp and roots should form while the mother plant keeps your new one alive!
6. Once your baby plant has roots, you can cut the vine to the mother plant and separate the two.

Step-by-step Instructions for Growing a New String of Hearts Plant Using Seeds

String of Hearts propagates easily from seed, however, this is a time consuming method.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Acquire your seeds – if you have a mature plant, seed pods will form after flowering. Once these have hardened they will start to open, you’ll need to bag your plant (or just the pods) to stop the seeds from flying away as they’re attached to a bit of fluff and designed to spread!
2. Plant the seeds in seedling potting mix, during the growing season (Spring to Summer).
3. Keep the seeds in a warm, bright but shady spot. They need to get enough light to grow. Mist with water every day or two to keep the soil damp.
4. Seeds should sprout within a month.

Frequently Asked Questions about Chain of Hearts Propagation

How long does it take to propagate variegated String of Hearts?

Any of the methods mentioned here will work to propagate the variegated String of Hearts. Time taken will vary depending on the right conditions – how warm, humid, light you’ve positioned your plant – and method.

You can expect to see some roots forming within a few days to a few weeks.

Can you propagate String of Hearts via just a leaf?

While not impossible, it is very unlikely for String of Hearts to grow into a full plant with just one leaf. It is much easier to propagate using other methods or even grow from seed.

Do String of Hearts grow fast?

Yes, the String of Hearts is quite a fast grower in the growing season if all its needs are met! In the winter months, it won’t grow so much. You can check out our String of Hearts Care Guide for more information.

How often should I water String of Hearts propagations?

Plants you’re trying to propagate have different needs to mature plants. To encourage root growth, you’ll want to keep the soil damp by misting with a spray bottle of water every day or two.

Do Chain of Hearts Need Drainage Holes?

Yes, the Chain of Hearts plant is a semi succulent and doesn’t like to sit in wet soil. Well draining soil in a pot with a drainage hole is a must if you want to avoid root rot.

What are the white balls on my String of Hearts?

These are tubers – and an excellent way to propagate your String of Hearts and make more plants!