Stephanotis is part of the Apocynaceae family, it is endemic to Madagascar and presents itself in the form of a twisted liana that can exceed a length of 6 meters. The leaves are glossy, dark green in color, with an appearance that offers great ornamental value even when the plant is not in bloom.

The variegated form represents a recently appeared mutation, quite rare for the moment. When available, it can be ordered here: Stephanotis floribunda variegata

Stephanotis floribunda 'Variegata'

Location: Strong partially filtered light - in the hot season it is recommended to avoid exposure to strong sun, to avoid burns. Growing in good light favors the flowering and harmonious development of the plant. Exposing a plant in a small pot to direct sunlight must be compensated by more frequent watering, because the pot heats up and the substrate tends to dry out too quickly.

It is essential that in the cold season the plants are protected from sources of heat (e.g. radiator) or sources of cold (e.g. a window that is opened often, cold air currents).

The temperature . Stephanotis is a tropical plant, and in Europe it will be grown exclusively as an indoor plant. In the warm season it can be grown on a shaded terrace. Although it survives outside up to 4°C, at this temperature the plant suffers significant damage.

In indoor conditions, the optimal culture temperature is in the range of 16-31°C. When the temperature drops below 16°C, the plant goes dormant and it is possible to lose a significant volume of leaves.

High temperatures will be compensated with the help of humidity - if the ambient temperature is high (above 26°C), you can help the plant by spraying the foliage.

In winter, watering will be rare - water with a reduced volume of water, only when the substrate is completely dry. The moisture that stagnates in the substrate, in the context in which the plant is not growing (which means that it does not consume nutrients and water), can lead to irreparable damage to the plant.

Fertilization will begin in March, when the plant begins active growth and will be done every 1-2 weeks, and in October it will be reduced or even stopped. The fact that it is a vigorous/fast growing plant indicates the need for a higher N fertilizer. A quality generic fertilizer for flowering plants can be used successfully.

The flowering of Stephanotis specimens usually takes place in the warm season, between April and October. Flower clusters appear exclusively on new growth.

Stephanotis flowers have a great ornamental value, which is why they are used all over the world for floral arrangements specific to events - wreaths, bows, corsages, compositions in bouquets and arrangements, etc.

The flowers shake prematurely when the plant experiences large temperature differences, strong air currents or is overwatered, giving a clear signal about environmental or care problems.

Flowering is also possible in the cold season, as long as the plant has temperatures above 22°C and good light. The lack of light can be compensated with special grow lights.

The fruit appears when the pollinators have access to the plant. For this reason, in the case of indoor growth, it is a rather rare phenomenon, which can happen accidentally. However, the flowers can be pollinated manually, with the help of a thin brush.

Stephanotis floribunda fruit

Stephanotis fruits have the appearance of an unripe mango, and inside there are seeds. The plant is considered easy to propagate from seeds and the ripening time of the fruit in order to harvest the seeds is approx. 6 months. Stephanotis fruits are not edible.

Toxicity - Stephanotis is not toxic and has no negative effects on humans and animals, being considered a " Pet friendly " plant.

Pruning will be done exclusively when the plant is at rest and has the purpose of reducing the size or rejuvenation. Parts affected by diseases and pests can be removed in any season, in this case the goal is to control and limit diseases. After cutting, the plant generates new, productive growths under proper care conditions.

Repotting - moving the plant will be done when the initial pot becomes unfit (root bound). This phenomenon can be easily detected, especially when the roots come out massively through the drainage holes of the pot. The new vessel will have a diameter of approx. 2 cm wider - do not use too large culture containers .

Moving (replanting) the newly purchased specimens will be done only after acclimatization of the plant in the new environment (3-4 weeks) and only when the plant is actively growing.

The general guide for replanting is available here: Replantare - Repotting. When and how to do it

The ideal substrate offers a medium water retention - it can be a quality generic soil (peat mixture) improved with an aeration and drainage material (perlite, vermiculite, pumice stone, clay balls, bark, etc.).

Harmful. Among the possible pests are aphids, turtle lice, woolly lice, thrips and mites (the red spider, being the most common and aggressive). A full range of insecticides/acaricides can be found here: Plant treatments

There are also biological or homemade treatments, but their effectiveness is debatable or scientifically unproven.

A periodic check of the plants will do wonders - examine the leaves regularly and immediately apply the necessary phytosanitary treatment in case pests appear. The earlier they are identified, the greater the chances of getting rid of them, without permanent/significant damage to the plants. In the early stages, they can be removed by manual picking or by cleaning the leaves with a jet of water - but this is a temporary solution, until the appropriate phytosanitary treatment is applied.

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