Ruby Necklace Plant, Cradle Vine or Othonna Capensis, is a popular houseplant due to its ruby-colored leaves and long vines that are often grown up on string. It’s easy to care for ruby necklace plant if you know what it needs – but there are some common problems that can arise. In this article we’ll explore the basics of ruby necklace plant care, including tips on keeping your ruby necklace plant happy!
What is Ruby Necklace Plant?
Othonna Capensis Ruby Necklace Plant is one of the most popular plants in homes and offices. The ruby necklace plant, scientifically known as Gloriosa superba Linn., is a part of the Amaryllidaceae family. It’s also called “the jewel among plants” because it has many petals that are showy and colorful like an expensive ruby necklace! There are many reasons why ruby necklaces are so popular with people–they’re beautiful, they smell great, they have a long flowering period, they require little care or attention.
The ruby necklace plant, also known as Cradle Vine or Upright Hamelia, is often used in commercial horticulture because it thrives on neglect, being drought-tolerant, and low-maintenance.
It has ruby-red berries which attract birds, as well as other animals such as deer to eat them. This carefree native perennial vine can be found growing over trees, shrubs, or fences with its deep green leaves that are shaped like hearts. It can be grown as an annual or perennial, which makes it versatile to grow in gardens across the country. With enough light and space, ruby necklace plants can reach up to 20 feet tall!
Origins of Ruby Necklace Plant
Ruby necklace plant originates from the African rainforest and has been used by indigenous tribes for a variety of purposes. The ruby necklace vine was introduced to Europe in 1770, when it arrived as part of an exotic cargo shipment that included coffee beans and rubber seeds. Tribes use ruby necklaces vines for medicinal properties (especially for lactating mothers). The ruby necklace plant is also believed to have protective powers.
The ruby necklace vine has been used in many ways: as a food source, for making jewelry and crafts, and it can be brewed into tea or wine. Common ruby necklaces plants are Psychotria Elata (golden vanilla) and Psychotria Acuminata (ruby necklace). The ruby necklace plant flowers are also the national flower of Tanzania.
Ruby Necklace Plant Care Guide
Ruby necklace plants are one of the most unusual plants to be seen in a garden. They can grow up to twenty feet tall with long vines that resemble ruby necklaces. These plants require specific care and feeding, but once you know how ruby necklace plants take root, they will thrive for years. Read on below for guides on caring for the ruby necklace plant.
Soil
Ruby necklace succulent care begins with the soil. This is where ruby necklace plants grow best, so it is important to choose a good potting mix that will provide all of their nutritional needs. Gardeners should be conscious of drainage and water retention in the container they are using. It’s also helpful to use some sort of organic matter to add some nutrients to the soil.
If the ruby necklace plant is in a pot, it’s important to use an organic matter that will break down and release nutrients into the mix over time. Good choices are compost or aged manure (manure should be broken up with a trowel).
Light
The ruby necklace plant is a delicate flower that likes bright but not direct sunlight. If you live in an area with cold winters, make sure to bring your ruby necklace indoors during the winter months or move it close to a window where it will get indirect light.
If you are using artificial lighting, place them on the brightest setting and make sure that the ruby necklace plant has a backdrop of darkness so it will be in an environment where its leaves are not reflecting light.
Watering
The ruby necklace plant likes to be watered every day and it needs a good soaking rather than just a spritz of water. A ruby necklace plant that is overwatered will become soggy, while one not getting enough moisture will turn yellow and begin to die back on the edges. If you are in an area with high humidity or rain, ruby necklace plant will need less water than in an arid climate.
The ruby necklace plant needs to be watered enough so that the soil is moist but not wet and soggy. The roots should never be allowed to dry out or they will decay!
A good indicator of whether your ruby necklaces are getting enough moisture is that the leaves will turn a dark, vibrant ruby color.
Temperature
Keep ruby necklace plant in a room that’s bright, but not too hot. It can take anywhere from 16-27 degrees Celsius (60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit) without sunlight for the ruby necklace plant to thrive and with some direct sun it can grow even higher. The coolest part of this range is best as ruby necklaces don’t like the heat.
Temperature is one thing ruby necklaces can’t stand, so it’s worth setting up a heater for them during winter and an air conditioner in summer to keep things cool enough that ruby necklace plants won’t wilt or dry out. Ruby necklace plants are also sensitive to drafts. If there’s any way to create a buffer zone around ruby necklace plant by putting it on the floor and using something like curtains to shield it from drafts, this is your best bet.
Humidity
Ruby necklace plants are really sensitive to humidity levels. If the ruby necklace plant is in a constantly dry environment, it will eventually give up trying to grow and simply die. This can be prevented by adding water or misting the leaves of ruby necklaces with water on occasion and having good air circulation (even if this just means opening your window).
Fertiliser
The ruby necklace plant is a fast-growing vine that needs regular fertilisation. The best time to give it fertiliser is in the winter months when there are no leaves on the vines and they’re not busy growing. This will ensure you don’t burn any of your ruby necklaces plants from too much nitrogen or potassium while they are busy growing.
If you fertilise your ruby necklace plant during the spring or summer months, make sure to apply a light amount that won’t burn any of your ruby necklaces plants while they’re in active growth. Fertiliser should be applied around every six weeks for ruby necklace plants and once a year for ruby necklace seedlings.
A ruby necklaces plant should be given an equal amount of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus fertiliser in each application (i.e.: a teaspoon of each). The most common fertilizer for ruby necklace plants is fish emulsion as it’s rich on all three nutrients needed. You can also use a powdered ruby necklace plant food, or any other brand of compost which contains all three nutrients.
Toxicity
Ruby necklace plant toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. Although some plants may be poisonous to pets in moderation, this caution applies more so if ruby necklace plant contains a neurotoxin called spilanthol. This can cause respiratory arrest in humans as well. It’s recommended that ruby necklaces are not handled by small children or pregnant women.
Pruning
The ruby necklace plant is a vine. It needs to be pruned and trained onto something like a trellis or fence, so it can climb up the structure as it grows. Pruning should also be done in order to keep the ruby necklace plant at a manageable size for your home. In some cases, you may want to prune the ruby necklace plant in order to keep it smaller.
Ruby Necklace Plant can be pruned with scissors or a sharp blade, but this should only be done in late winter when they are dormant and you will not lose any flowers. Avoid cutting off more than one-third of the ruby necklace plant at a time. Cut off any damaged or diseased stems, cut back on long branches by cutting them to just above where they fork from another branch, and trim away dead leaves
Propagation and Growth
The ruby necklace is a type of invasive plant that can be propagated in either the sun or shade. It most likely does not need any special care for propagation, but if you want to propagate ruby necklace from seeds then it will require some work and time. If you are planting ruby necklace as an ornamental plant, it may be beneficial to know how to propagate ruby necklace in order for you to maintain the plant over time.
Place ruby necklace seeds on moist soil and keep it at room temperature until they start sprouting. Once they have started, transfer them into a pot with wet soil that has been mixed with some peat moss or perlite granules (or any other type of potting soil).
Once ruby necklace plants have sprouted, move them to a window with indirect sunlight and once they are established you can take them outside.
If ruby necklace seeds do not grow, try soaking the seeds in water for 24 hours before planting. This will help remove any bacteria or fungus that may be on the ruby necklace seed. Ruby necklaces will typically only produce flowers for a few weeks before they die, but during this time you can collect ruby necklace seeds to try again next year!
Repotting
Ruby Necklace Plants need to be repotted every year or two. This is because ruby necklace plants grow quickly and require a lot of water; they are also heavy, so when their roots start expanding too much, the pot can’t handle them anymore. Repotting isn’t hard though: just dig out the ruby necklace plant, shake off the soil and roots from its pot, then put the ruby necklace plant in a new one.
You’ll know when ruby necklace plants need to be repotted because the leaves will start getting yellow or brown patches on them. Those are signs that roots have grown up too high and there isn’t enough water for ruby necklace plant. You can also tell the ruby necklace plant needs to be repotted because the leaves start curling up and getting all brown, or because it starts turning yellow.
Plant Disease
It is very common for ruby necklace plant to get a disease called leaf scorch. Leaf Scorch occurs when the ruby necklace plant loses too much water due to drought or being watered incorrectly. The leaves of ruby necklace plants will turn brown and dry out, eventually dying off altogether. If this happens it’s important not to give ruby necklace plant any water.
If you’ve been watering ruby necklace plants at all, don’t give them more water because it will just cause leaf scorch again and then the leaves will die off even faster than they would if not watered in this case.
It is also very common for ruby necklaces to get leaf spot disease. Leaf Spot Disease is caused by an excess of iron in ruby necklace plant’s soil, watering ruby necklaces too much or not enough, or fertilizing ruby necklaces with a high amount of nitrogen-rich fertilizer (such as Miracle Grow). If you notice that your ruby necklace leaves turn brown and have big dark green spots on them, it’s a good idea to water ruby necklace plants less and use less nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
Ruby Necklace Plant Variegated or Standard?
Variegated ruby necklaces have a mix of green and white leaves. The stunning contrast is very eye-catching in the garden. Variegations deepen as leaves mature. These plants can grow up to 30 inches tall which makes them an excellent option for a focal point in the garden. Maintenance of ruby necklace plant variegated is simple, just water regularly and enjoy the show!
Common Issues with Ruby Necklace Plant
Here are some common problems ruby necklaces can have:
- The leaves of a ruby necklace will sometimes turn yellow or red before they fall off, but this is not as serious as it sounds because new shoots will appear and replace the leaves.
- The ruby necklace plant may look brown, and it will eventually fall off the vine. This is a sign that the ruby necklace has been overwatered or overfed with fertilizer
- Red spots on ruby necklaces are caused by insects such as mealybugs
Tips for Keeping Ruby Necklace Plant Happy
Caring for ruby necklace plants isn’t hard at all if you have some basic knowledge about them. They are easygoing plants that grow well indoors and outdoors with little care from you. Here are some tips on how to keep ruby necklaces happy:
- place in bright light but not direct sunlight
- water sparingly until ruby necklace plant is well established in its pot; then allow it to dry out between watering
- ruby necklaces don’t need as much fertilizer, so use half the recommended dose when fertilizing.
- prune regularly by cutting off stems that are older and growing toward the ground at the point where the stem changes from green to brown
- ruby necklace plant suffers in cool temperatures.
Ruby Necklace Plant Frequently Asked Questions
How do you care for a ruby Necklace plant?
As with any houseplant, ruby necklace prefers a sunny window and minimal direct exposure to drafts or dampness. It also likes watering about once every five days during the winter and twice per week or more in the summer.
Does ruby Necklace like full sun?
Ruby Necklace Plant prefers partial shade in hot, humid climates as it likes semi-shaded conditions with bright light exposure.
Is the ruby Necklace plant rare?
The ruby necklace plant is not an endangered species. The ruby necklace plant tends to grow in the wild on some islands–it’s also grown as a decorative houseplant elsewhere, and it can be found for sale at nurseries. But don’t mistake this low-maintenance succulent for something rare or hard to find: It’s available for purchase in many different forms, from ruby necklace plant seeds to ruby necklace plant starter plants.
Is ruby Necklace indoor plant?
Ruby necklace plant is an interesting houseplant that can grow inside.
Why is my ruby necklace plant green?
It’s common for ruby necklace plants to turn green as they grow. Your ruby necklace plant is not dead! It just needs more light, and you may need to water it a bit more too if the soil gets dry. Take your ruby necklace plant outside during daylight hours or place them near a window with plenty of sun coming in (but not so much that the ruby necklace plant will get scorched by the sun).
If you don’t want your ruby necklace plants to turn green, keep them in a cool place with less light. Ruby necklaces love the shade!
How do you propagate a ruby plant?
Step One:
First, you need to find a ruby necklace plant that has at least two vines. The longer the green vine is, the better because it means more energy can be transferred from one ruby necklace plant to another ruby necklace plant.
After picking your desired ruby necklaces plants (or if they are already attached to a ruby necklace plant), you need to cut the green vine and strip it of its leaves.
Then wrap this new ruby necklaces vine around another ruby necklace plant, so that they are sort of intertwined with each other. This will allow for more vines on your ruby necklace plants to feed off one another’s energy and grow faster!
Step Two:
There’s a good chance that your ruby necklace plant will have some green leaves still on it. This is because ruby necklaces plants are usually harvested when the vine has been trimmed down to about six inches and only two or three leaves remain so this process should be relatively quick (depending on how many ruby necklace vines are being propagated).
After trimming the ruby necklace plant, you should then remove all of the leaves from it. This will help keep your ruby necklace plants clean and is also an important step in helping them grow tall with minimal stress!
Step Three:
Finally, for additional care tips on ruby necklaces plants, we recommend watering them regularly and fertilizing ruby necklace plants every two weeks or so. This is because ruby necklaces vines are fast growers and they need a little bit of help in the form of fertilizer to keep up with their growth rate.
Step Four:
To conclude, ruby necklace plant care can be achieved by trimming off the ruby necklace plant’s leaves, fertilizing ruby necklaces plants every two weeks or so, and watering them regularly.
Why is my ruby necklace plant dying?
There are many reasons that ruby necklaces plants die, but the first thing you should look for is what type of soil your ruby necklace plant has been planted in. If this isn’t an appropriate mix (usually a combination of peat moss and perlite), then it’s likely your ruby necklace plant will begin to wilt until it eventually dies.
Conclusion
Ruby necklace plants are really easy to care for and love. They make a great gift! Give the ruby necklace plant some attention, water it regularly (once or twice a week), and watch your ruby necklace plant grow healthier by the day!
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