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TheVitaceaeplants are best known for being the folk of grapeshot , andCissus striata(SISS - us stree - AH - tuh ) is one of the many non - grape plants that resemble this common berry .
arise in south - central Chile and constituent of southern Brazil , this plant can now be found throughout South America .
peganum from Henfield, England,CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Since its discovery , this plant ( most commonly known as Ivy of Uruguay ) has had many scientific name , includingAmpelopsissempervirens , Parthenocissusstriata , andVitisstriata .
It ’s also sometimes concern to as miniaturegrape ivy plantsor an evergreen Virginia creeper due to its resemblance to the largerParthenocissus quinquefolia .
Cissus Striata Care
Size and Growth
This plant can variegate greatly in size , with specimens of this evergreen mounter reaching as marvelous as 30′ feet when give enough support .
However , it ’s far more potential your miniature grape ivy will be a more manageable 20′ feet or so .
The tendrils and leaf can spread the works approximately 3′ feet .
peganum from Henfield, England,CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
While considered a somewhat fast grower , this plant will still take 5 to 10 years to reach its full acme .
As the stem ripe , they turn arenaceous brownish to a reddish tone .
This contrasts wonderfully with its dark unripened palmate leaves , which are 1.5″ to 3″ inch across and have five glossy evergreen plant leaflets that become coarsely toothed at their gratuity .
The tendrils are also evergreen and aid the vine grab onto any nearby structure firmly without harm trees or other living accompaniment .
Flowering and Fragrance
look in the summertime , the tiny dark-green bloom are easy to lack visually , and they tend to appear in clusters opposite the vine ’s leaf .
However , if you do n’t see them , you ’ll belike know they ’re there by the pleasantly sweet odour they give off .
If fertilized , the flowers are replaced with lustrous blue - inglorious berry that resemble grapes or currants .
Light and Temperature
Cissus striatacan tolerate coolheaded full sun to partial specter , although too much rough sunlight can scorch its leaves .
Indoors , draw a bead on for bright , indirect sunshine to filtered light .
Outdoors , it ’s best to rank it in dappled sun or full morning exposure with afternoon shade .
industrial plant outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 11b , or bring an indoor specimen outside to warm weather in cooler zone .
Unlike many other plants , the ivy of Uruguay is surprisingly insensate brave and can handle winter temperatures as low as 15 ° academic degree Fahrenheit .
The plant has also been know to survive brief exposure of 5 ° degrees Fahrenheit , although this is best ward off .
Indoors , your normal household temperature range is perfect for the plant , and it wo n’t complain about it getting a small warmer or moth-eaten .
However , you may like to shelter it from drafts , such as being too close to a vent or AC whole .
Watering and Feeding
utilise the soaking - and - dry method for this works , testing the ground with your fingerbreadth to watch when to water .
For both indoor and outside plant , you ’ll require to allow restrained to episodic water when the territory is wry , or so 2″ to 3″ inches down .
Water tardily and evenly to avoid the hazard of overwatering , stopping when you see moisture seeping from the drainage yap or the garden filth begins to decelerate down its absorption charge per unit .
A balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser given monthly is perfect for this plant .
When fall comes , be certain to trend back on both food and piddle so the vine can safely enter its torpid period .
Soil and Transplanting
As with most terrestrial plant life , your miniature grape English ivy take well - draining soil to serve prevent the peril of root rot .
This can be achieved by placing coarse crushed rock substrate under your planting sphere or at the bottom of a container before add the works and soil .
alike , you may care to mix in some perlite or coarse grit .
The soil will need plenty of constitutive matter , so a potting premix for African violet can be a great start , as is mixing in coconut coir or sphagnum moss .
You may also choose to meld in some organic compost for the garden when plant and top with some additional mulch or compost each spring .
Ivy of Uruguay can handle a full pH reach from an acidulent 5.6 to a slenderly alkaline 7.8 , although you may wish to keep it slightly acidic 6.0 to 6.8 .
Whether planting in a pot or the undercoat , ensure to provide this tree creeper with some form of reenforcement to get the most out of it .
Some honest examples are trellis , bookshelf , trees , or even stone or brick paries .
Container flora will need repotting p.a. or whenever it doubles in sizing , whichever is first .
Be sure to give it new grunge when repotting and graduate to a pot size of it high if postulate .
Grooming and Maintenance
Pruning is well done in early spring , removing only as much as is necessary to maintain a healthy flesh .
However , remove isolated or diseased growth and swipe unseasoned growth can be done throughout the growing season .
When allowing the vine to mount trees , you may also choose to snip it back every few days to give the tree more way to develop , although this is n’t necessary .
How To Propagate Evergreen Virginia Creeper
This plant life is in the main propagated through base cut , although it can also be layered successfully .
Miniature Grape Ivy Pests or Diseases
Ivy of Uruguay is cold hardy down to around 5 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( if turn over abbreviated pic ) , and drought tolerant .
It ’s mostly pest and disease - costless , although mealy bug , wanderer mites , and whiteflies are bang to infest it .
Root rot is the biggest risk for the plant , and it may develop sooty mold as a side outcome of infestations .
The plant is generally considered non - toxic to human and favourite , although the berry are inedible .
Cissus Striata Uses
Ivy of Uruguay makes for an attractive , evergreen plant accent in various options , such as conservatory , growing up the sides of bookcases , and on paries , fence , or trellises .
If left on the ground , this evergreen plant vine will creep and become a ground cover , while plant it in a attend basket can result in an attractive cascading industrial plant .
