Image source Stephania erecta: Shanghai Nurseries
One of the plants that attracts the most attention due to its shape and leaves is Stephania erecta. Although it’s not an easy plant to care for and you have to be a little aware of it (especially with the humidity), it’s worth seeing with those leaves.
But what do you know about Stephania erecta? What care do you need? How is he physically ? Is there a trick to get it? All of this, and much more, is what we are going to talk about. Shall we start?
Contents
How is Stephania erecta
Source: Plantcarefully
Those who have an erect Stephanie say it’s a “giant potato”. And they are not without reason. This plant is native to Southeast Asia and is a very rare plant but with great growth because everyone wants to have it at home.
However, it is not easy to take care of it because it must satisfy needs that are sometimes difficult to meet.
The first time that Stephania erecta was known was in 1922, by British botanist William Grant Craib. It is a caudiciform plant, that is to say that it has an aerial root which would be the caudex. And how is? We explain it to you:
the caudex
We start with the caudex, which supports those who call it “potato”. Visually, it is very similar to this one and can reach 30 centimeters in diameter.
It stores both water and nutrients and its color is dark brown.
It goes without saying that it is the most important part of the plant and it looks like the bulbs of other plants.
In the ground, it is not hidden or completely covered with substrate, but only a third of it is planted, the rest is left in the open.
Stem
The stem of Stephania erecta is thin and woody. It can reach 5 meters in length. But the normal thing is that, in a pot, these are very short (in fact it is the best because that way we make sure to take good care of it).
We are talking about a climbing plant, which likes to have a trellis or something to hold onto to keep it growing.
Leaves
The leaves of Stephania erecta are the most beautiful part of the plant, and one that many are encouraged to have in their homes. These can be small or large (up to 20 centimeters in diameter in their natural habitat). They are lobed and have a round or oval shape and a smooth texture.
As for their color, they are green, with the leaf veins visible in white. Also, the edge of the leaves are usually white, although we have seen some that come out black.
Keep in mind that we are talking about an annual plant, that is, in autumn it is normal for it to lose its leaves and the caudex to go into hibernation (at this time you need to put it in a cool, dry place to activate after January).
Stephania erecta care
Source: Just Houseplants
If after what you have read you want to have an erect Stephanie at home, the most important thing you need to know is how to keep her alive. You don’t want to buy a plant and have it die after a short time.
Also, in the case of Stephania erecta, it is very difficult to find plants that have already sprouted (and are cheap). You can find some, but they are almost always sold in caudex so that during the trip they do not suffer or the leaves do not break (they are very fragile).
Therefore, before giving you the care, we will take care of helping you know how to germinate a caudex of Stephania erecta
Sprouting an erect Stephanie
When you buy this plant, it will most likely come to you in the form of a bulb that you will need to plant to activate it.
The steps we recommend are those that are usually taken, even if everyone does well to do one thing or another. Our advice is to watch several videos and read several publications to get an idea.
In this case, the steps that we consider most appropriate are the following:
Put the caudex in lukewarm water for 24 hours. This way you will activate it as with other seeds or bulbs.
After this time, take a pot. Make sure it has holes in the base so water can escape easily (if they’re thick, it’s almost better).
Fill a first layer with white stones or similar. The objective is that the water does not remain stagnant in this part and touches the roots, because then it can easily die. Then use a mixture of cactus and loam and perlite (in a 50-50 ratio).
You need to fill the pot almost completely, since the caudex should be placed above the ground, and you will only have to hide a third of it. Now be careful how you put it on. If you look at the bulb, you will see that it has a bit of a pointy part and it may make you think that the roots will come out of there. But that’s really not the case. That’s where the stem comes from.
Once you have planted it, we recommend that you cover it with a dome or similar to maintain the humidity in the plant as well as the temperature (and this way you will make it germinate earlier).
Speaking of germination… It can take up to two months to germinate, so try to be patient. When you see the first green shoots, you can be sure that the plant is already active and will grow.
Location
The Stephania erecta needs a very bright place, but no direct sun. As long as you give it light at least 6 hours a day, that will be enough.
If you see that the stems are starting to get very long and the leaves are small, this will indicate that she lacks light.
Temperature
The ideal temperature should be between 15 and 27 degrees. It tolerates heat much better than cold, but as long as you have moisture in the plant waiting.
Source: ebay
Irrigation
The Stephania erecta is very easy to water because the caudex retains water and humidity. Which means you don’t need to water it as heavily.
In general, irrigation is usually every two weeks. It will all depend on the climate you live in, the temperature, etc.
Humidity
About humidity, we have already given you some notes. And it is that it needs a humidity of at least 60%. Reason why you can’t have it everywhere.
Sometimes with a humidifier, or using a dome to keep the water and temperature constant, it can be worth it, but be careful because it’s very delicate in this regard.
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It is important, every 4 to 8 weeks, and in spring and summer, to fatten it up a little. Use liquid fertilizer.
Plagues and diseases
Rust, root rot, cottony mealybug, aphids, whiteflies or mites are some of the problems you may encounter. To solve them, in case of pests, use neem oil.
Keep in mind that Stephania erecta can take up to 20 years to mature, so be patient with this plant. And don’t forget his care if you want him to survive.