This wonderful guide on turtle vine care will help you to grow and care for your turtle vine plant. Get to know sunlight, watering, fertilizers requirements and propagation method of turtle vine.
If you are thinking for planting something in hanging pot then turtle vine can be a good choice.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Turtle Vine or Callisia is a wonderful evergreen perennial houseplant that you can grow for its bush foliage. Worldwide gardeners also know this plant as Bolivian Jew, Basket plant or Creeping Inch-plant.
Turtle vine can grow up to 4 inches tall and can spread up to 4 feet. This beautiful plant also produces small fragrant white flowers during late spring to early summer.
Growing and caring for turtle vine is easy but a little care is needed to keep this plant healthy. And let’s learn those beneficial points to keep your turtle vine plant in good condition.
Turtle Vine Care Guide
Turtle Vine plant is an indoor plant that can grow well low light to partial shade sunlight. However, you will also need to take care of potting mix, drainage, moisture, sunlight, fertilizers to keep this plant healthy.
Let’s now know about them one by one.
Growing Season
You can easily grow turtle vine in plant hardiness zones 8a to 12a. Generally you can grow them in tropical to sub-tropical climate. This amazing house plant can not survive in temperature below 5 degrees Celsius.
Therefore prefer to grow turtle vine in warm climate.
Potting Mix
Turtle Vine can grow well in moist, well drained, and slightly acidic sandy loam soil. Soil having pH range between 5.0 to 6.0 is ideal. If you do not have ideal soil then you can prepare ideal potting mix.
Prepare potting mix with 30% garden soil + 30% cocopeat + 20% river sand + 20% any organic compost. You can use vermicompost for this purpose.
Selection Of Pot
To care for turtle vines, you can select any small to medium sized pot with 2 to 4 drainage holes at the pot. You can also grow them in hanging pots. Gardeners love growing turtle vine in hanging pots.
Propagation
Propagating turtle vine from cuttings is very easy. You can start propagating them during early spring to summer season. Take 2 to 3 inches long cutting below the leaf node with the help of a cutting knife or scissor.
Plant the bottom 1 inch part of cuttings in the same potting mix. Apply water in the pot after plantation and keep the pot under semi shade. Keep the soil medium moist but do not over water.
After one or two week you will start noticing new growth in the plant. Over watering or bad drainage cause death of new seedlings.
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Sunlight
Bright indirect light is the secret to have bushy turtle vine plant. However you can also keep them indoor under low light condition. But you will need to provide indirect morning sunlight to keep this plant healthy.
You can also use grow light to grow this plant. I personally prefer to keep this plant under partial shade sunlight for 4 to 5 hours daily.
Keeping this plant under direct sunlight can lead to sun scorch and can even kill this plant.
Watering
Both over watering and under watering can damage and kill turtle vine. Over watering can lead to yellowing of leaves. And under watering can cause yellowing to browning and drying of leaves.
Keep the soil moist but do not over water. I prefer moderate watering to keep this plant healthy. During hot summer days mist the plant to maintain adequate moisture. Too low moisture can cause browning of leaf tips.
Fertilizers
Turtle Vine is not a heavy feeder hence minimal amount of fertilizers can give wonderful results. Avoid adding fertilizers during winters as plant goes under dormancy.
Start fertilizing from spring to fall season. You can use any bulky organic manure once after every 30 days. I apply a handful of vermicompost once after every 30 days.
Pests & Diseases
Pests such as mealy bugs, aphids, spider-mites, scales, snails can cause damage to this plant. You can spray diluted neem oil to control these diseases. If you notice eaten leaves then there must be snails.
You can control snails by spraying diluted salt water on snails. It will help in keeping them away from your plant.
Diseases such as root rot, powdery mildew, etc. harm this plant. Avoid over watering to prevent root rot disease. Do not wet the leaves while watering your plant regularly. Prune out dead and diseased part to keep turtle vine healthy.
FAQ
why is my turtle vine dying?
There could be various reasons responsible for this condition such as inappropriate sunlight, watering, soil, climate, or pest and diseases. Provide indirect sunlight, moderate watering, and keep checking for diseases to prevent turtle vine from dying.
Does turtle vine need sunlight?
Yes, turtle vine plant thrives well under bright indirect sunlight.
why is my turtle vine turning brown?
Underwatering or very less water can probably cause leaves to brown in this plant. Apply water around the base of the plant periodically to avoid browning of leaves.
How to propagate turtle vine?
Plant 2 to 3 inches long cutting of turtle vines in well drained potting mix to propagate them.
Is turtle vine a succulent?
Yes turtle vines are creeping succulent plants.
Author’s Note
I guess you are now clear on turtle vine care guide. If you have any ideas, suggestions, or queries then do comment below. You can also connect with Agriculture Review on Facebook, Instagram, and Koo.
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