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Cissus Amazonica – All You Need To Know

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The Amazon Jungle Vine, or Cissus amazonica, is a delightful small-leaved terrarium vine. The leaves will typically be 2-3 inches long and 112-1 feet wide broad.

The leaf’s surface is frequently silver with white veins and a rich crimson underside. It will creep around a terrarium employing tendrils that will wrap around other plants or hardscape elements as it grows.

In contradiction to many different varieties, this one is vastly longer, and it does not require pruning on a consistent schedule. The Amazon jungle vine is a close cousin to grape ivy (Cissus rhombifolia) and Rex begonia (Begonia rex) and is suitable for cultivation in terracotta pots.

Still, it can also be grown in hanging pots and containers if the circumstances are conducive. It can also be grown outdoors in USDA zones 10b and higher, where the temperature is consistently warm and somewhat humid.

CISSUS AMAZONICA 2
Cissus Amazonica via Flickr

Origin

Cissus amazonica is a vine-like plant native to Brazil that flourishes in hot, moist climates. Your plant will thrive in bright, filtered light but prevent natural daylight, which can make the foliage seem washed out.

From Spring till Autumn, keep the soil moist with room-temperature water, do not let the plant sit in it. Before watering again, wait until the top centimeter has dried off.

During their potential rest period in the cooler months, water is just enough to keep the potting mix from drying out. The Amazon Jungle Vine thrives in humid conditions, producing lush growth and leaves.

Features of Cissus Amazonica

1. Branches of Cissus Amazonica

Cissus amazonica has quadrangular-sectioned branches with internodes 8–10 cm (3–4 in) long and 1.2–1.5 cm (0.5–0.6 in) wide.

The height of this species is 1.5m which is around 4.9ft and branches having internodes range from 8 to10 cm (3–4 in) in length and 1.2 to 1.5 cm (0.5–0.6 in) in width. A leathery edge runs alongside.

The toothed trilobed leaves of 2–5 cm (0.8–2.0 in) wide grow over nodes. You can see a tendril at each node that originates from the reverse side. Greenish, yellow, or small white blossoms bloom in racemes; ripe globular berries are crimson.

Cissus amazonica is a fast-growing evergreen climber that can grow to a height of 5 m (16 ft) by.5 m (1.6 ft). It is hard to zone 10 in the United Kingdom.

Light (sandy), medium (loamy), and heavy (clay) soils are all suitable, and it appreciates well-drained soil but may grow in nutrient-deficient soil.

Acid, neutral, and basic (alkaline) soils are appropriate, and they may develop in very acidic and alkaline soils, which cannot thrive in the shade. It prefers moist or dry soil.

2. Foliage of Cissus Amazonica:

Cissus Amazonica, which has the stunning leaves of a Rex begonia, and a vining growth habit looks fantastic in a pot and maybe trained onto a form.

It seems to have dark green leaves with the heart or oval, crimson pattern undersides, and silver patterns on the upper side. In containers, the vine remains between 1 and 3 feet tall.

It’s also appropriate for trellises and architraves. Depending on how you train them, these have stems that trail or advance.

They’re perfect for hanging bouquets or planting in the ground where they’ve been adequately protected. While trailing varieties are not lifted, the growing conditions are identical to begonias.

3. Climbing

Cissus Amazonica 1
Cissus Amazonica is growing up a trellis via Reddit

This climbing plant is an Australian native. It’s a fast-growing houseplant that thrives in a spectrum of various conditions between low to bright.

The plant’s leaves are lustrous and oval, with serrated margins. Cissus amazonica is frequently used as an ornamental plant in subtropical climates, such as California.

Kangaroo vine is also a famous interior or houseplant, a tough plant that flourishes in low–light conditions. It does not survive in temperatures above 15 degrees Celsius, exposed to central heating, which might also cause the leaves to drop.

4. Evergreen

Princess vine (Cissus Amazonica) is a perennial evergreen vine with absolutely glabrous, slender branches and tendrils, also known as season vine and curtain ivy.

Simple interchanging leaves have long cordate margins and a 5-10 cm long stalk. The adult plant has a reddish-brown metallic gloss, unbranched, slender air roots, and therefore can reach a size of 3 meters from the stem node.

With its glossy heart-shaped leaves and elegant tendrils, the vine looks beautiful. It thrives in bright, indirect light and looks gorgeous in miniature pots.

5. Growth

Care Grow in partial to full shade in moist, well-drained, humus-rich, slightly acidic soils. Start tubers inside if the earth hasn’t warmed up yet.

Again for winter, one must lift. Grow in a soilless mix in bright, filtered light with enough humidity as a houseplant. This plant features glossy leaves that are segmented and have a texture.

Moreover, Caladiums are popular spectator plants amongst gardeners. Caladium care indoors requires some particular recommendations to keep the plants healthy and the tubers safe.

Caladiums are hard to grow as indoor plants because they need high humidity, challenging to achieve in warm home interiors.

6. Elegance

Unlike the other trailing species on this list, now this grows upright. For the wealthiest display of its foliage, raise it with the assistance of a trellis.

Cissus amazonica is an evergreen vine with elegant, glossy compound leaves with three leaflets each. Young leaves have a silvery luster owing to their fuzzy structure. It adapts well to indoor conditions and is a basic houseplant to manage.

Use a hanging basket to showcase this cicuss amazonica lovely trailing foliage.

You can use a trellis or moss pole to train large plants. Its tenacious vines will scramble up any support, clinging to that with its curling tendrils.

You can grow cissus amazonica by placing cuttings in water until they start to root or by planting them in rich, fresh organic soil, just like a grapevine. The clippings should be around six inches long and have several leaves on the top and stem.

7. Sunlight

Cissus Amazonica is yellowing
Cissus Amazonica is yellowing via Reddit

The tiny leaves of such an evergreen, fast-growing climber can impart a timeless charm to your home. In a moist environment, the plant flourishes.

Cissus amazonica plants require medium to solid sunlight to survive. As natural sunlight can burn the leaves of indoor houseplants, high light only refers to powerful indirect light.

Spider Mites develop in hot, dry regions, prompting blooms to fade quickly. Cissus amazonica should not need to be transplanted frequently due to its slow growth rate. Nevertheless, report it in the spring if your vine oversteps its planter.

Care tips for Cissus Amazonica

1. Soil

They require nutrient-rich soil, which distributes efficiently. I’ll make my soil mix with around 50% conventional potting mix, 10% peat moss for extra nutrients, and 40% perlite or pumice for additional drainage because I wouldn’t say I like to let the soil dry out.

Loamy soils are well-drained, nutrient-rich, moderately acid potting mix.

2. Propagation

You have two possibilities here: root your stems in water before putting them on, or place stems effectively into a sandy compost and wait for them to root.

At this point, retaining the humidity high is beneficial, so cover your cuttings in a propagator/humidity dome or plastic bag and place them in a well-lit region.

When these cuttings have already been rooted, you can consider putting them back into the main pot to make a bushier plant.

Cissus amazonica is propagated by stem cuttings in a potting mix or water during the spring and summer.

We recommend using potting soil because the plant will continue to grow after being transplanted. Expect some shock when you finally take it to its growing pot if you propagate it in water.

3. Leaves

It has elongated, heart-shaped leaves that vary from 2 to 4 inches long and 12 to 34 inches wide. Their shape is described as lance-shaped leaves with a cordate base.

These olive green leaves have silvery or greyish coloration along the primary veins and a reddish or burgundy underside. This pigmentation on the bottom can indeed be pinkish or reddish. Unlike Cissus discolor, though, the leaves are not velvety.

They can, however, produce cystoliths. For those unfamiliar with the term, cystoliths are just minor, opaque bumps or patches that resemble bugs and emerge on the lower side of the leaves. They are not toxic, so don’t be concerned.

4. Temperature and humidity

Cissus amazonica, like the tropical Brazilian Amazon jungle, loves hotter temperatures, ranging from 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 29.4 degrees Celsius), but will withstand temperatures as high as 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius).

As a result, you can grow them in standard household settings (within the above range), ensuring that the temperature at night is at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit. In such climates, irrigate every three or four weeks.

Water them sparingly in the winter season. Don’t rinse till the earth has healed out. Since this plant needs sufficient humidity, misting it keeps it healthy.

5. Watering

Cissus Discolor detests standing in dry soil since it encourages them to wither. Make sure the soil doesn’t dry out completely in between watering. I usually stick my finger an inch deep into it to feel the dirt.

If it’s dry and the pot is starting to feel light, I’ll give it a good watering and make sure the water drains adequately. Banks with less than 8 inches will most likely need to be watered every 8-10 days.

Hydrating larger pots every 10 to 14 days is recommended. Please make sure the drainage saucer beneath the bank doesn’t have any water in it.

6. Flowers

The flowers are insignificant and only appear rare, particularly when the plant is kept indoors.

7. Fertilizer

Fertilizer is also helpful to Cissus amazonica in the spring, summer, and fall. During these seasons, fertilize every three or four weeks. Water sparingly in the winter.

Don’t fertilize until the soil has dried out. Since this plant requires a lot of humidity, watering it keeps it healthy. Therefore, it’s essential to mist this plant one or two times a winter.

8. Grooming

The begonia vine plant does not require grooming, but trimming it as it develops on a pole, trellis, or in a suspended basket helps define it.

9. Pests and insects

Sometimes,  small whiteflies or small insects can cause a whitefly infection. In that case, you can apply some insecticides or pesticides to control such small insects in plants.

But it’s somewhat challenging in the case of bugs killing process. Bugs may cause brown scars or patches on various leaves of plants. In this case, you need to go through special insecticide treatment.

If you need a natural growth of your plant, then observe whether a white silver vein on the plant is growing or not. If not, then mist the plant properly along with insecticide treatment.

10. Uses

 Cissus amazonica Has been investigated into possible therapeutic diagnostics. The extracts may have medical effects as a source of carotenoids, triterpenoids, and ascorbic acid, including “gastroprotective activity” and benefits in terms of “lipid metabolism and oxidative stress.

The Maasai people of Kenya employed Cissus quinquangularis to cure some of the symptoms of malaria.

Quadrangular Cissus Anti-lipase and anorexiant actions of phytosterols and cellulose extracts have been demonstrated to reduce dietary fat absorption and increase satiation by increasing serum serotonin levels.

 At the nodesTheepending on the area of the world, Cissus Antarctica, Cissus alata, and Cissus incisa are cultivated as garden plants.

Cissus quadrangularis, a succulent member of the genus, is also accessible in the nursery trade but is frost vulnerable and not frequently cultivated.

11. Potential issues

Cissus quadrangularis can be used safely with a slight chance of detrimental consequences when taken as recommended. However, occasional minor adverse effects have been reported, with most common gas, diarrhea, dry mouth, headaches, and insomnia.

Absence of evidence on the safety of using Cissus quadrangularis while pregnant or breastfeeding; it’s best to avoid it.

If you’re on diabetes medicine, check with your doctor before starting Cissus quadrangularis supplements. It has the potential to lower blood sugar levels and interact with drugs.