Stephanotis belongs to the Apocynaceae family, is native to Madagascar, and appears as a twisted vine that can exceed 6 meters in length. The leaves are glossy, dark green, offering great decorative value even when the plant is not in bloom.
The variegated form is a recently appeared mutation, currently quite rare. When available, it can be ordered here: Stephanotis floribunda variegata
Stephanotis floribunda 'Variegata'
Placement: Bright, partially filtered light – during the warm season it is recommended to avoid strong direct sunlight to prevent burns. Growing in good light encourages flowering and harmonious development of the plant. Exposure of a plant in a small pot to direct sun must be compensated by more frequent watering, as the pot heats up and the soil tends to dry out too quickly.
It is essential that in the cold season plants are kept away from heat sources (e.g., radiator) or cold sources (e.g., a frequently opened window, cold drafts).
Temperature. Stephanotis is a tropical plant and in Europe it will be grown exclusively as a houseplant. In the warm season, it can be grown on a shaded terrace. Although it can withstand outdoor temperatures down to 4°C, at this temperature the plant suffers significant damage.
Indoors, the optimal growing temperature ranges between 16-31°C. When the temperature drops below 16°C, the plant enters dormancy and may lose a significant amount of leaves.
High temperatures are balanced by humidity – if the ambient temperature is high (above 26°C), you can help the plant by misting the foliage.
In winter, watering should be reduced – water with a small amount only when the soil is completely dry. Stagnant moisture in the soil, when the plant is not growing (meaning it is not consuming nutrients and water), can lead to irreversible damage to the plant.
Fertilizing starts in March, when the plant enters active growth, and is done every 1-2 weeks; in October it is reduced or even stopped. Being a vigorous/fast-growing plant indicates the need for a fertilizer with higher nitrogen content. A good quality general fertilizer for flowering plants can be used successfully.
Flowering of Stephanotis specimens usually occurs in the warm season, from April to October. Flower clusters appear exclusively on new growth.
Stephanotis flowers have great decorative value, which is why they are used worldwide for floral arrangements specific to events – garlands, rosettes, corsages, compositions in bouquets and arrangements, etc.
Flowers fall prematurely when the plant experiences large temperature differences, strong air currents, or overwatering, clearly signaling environmental or care problems.
Flowering is also possible in the cold season, as long as the plant experiences temperatures above 22°C and good light. Lack of light can be compensated with special grow lights.
Fruit appears when pollinators have access to the plant. For this reason, when grown indoors, it is a rather rare phenomenon that can happen accidentally. Flowers can also be pollinated manually using a fine brush.
Fruit of Stephanotis floribunda
Stephanotis fruits look like unripe mangoes, and inside there are seeds. The plant is considered easy to propagate from seeds, and the fruit maturation time for seed harvesting is about 6 months. Stephanotis fruits are not edible.
Toxicity – Stephanotis is not toxic and has no negative effects on humans or animals, being considered a "Pet friendly" plant.
Pruning should be done only when the plant is dormant and aims to reduce size or rejuvenate. Parts affected by diseases and pests can be removed in any season, with the goal of controlling and limiting diseases. After cutting, the plant produces new, productive growth under proper care conditions.
Repotting – the plant should be moved when the original pot becomes too small (root bound). This is easily noticed especially when roots come out massively through the drainage holes of the pot. The new pot should be about 2 cm wider in diameter – do not use pots that are too large.
Moving (replanting) newly purchased specimens should be done only after the plant has acclimated to the new environment (3-4 weeks) and only when the plant is in active growth.
The general guide for repotting is available here: Repotting – When and How to Do It
The ideal soil offers medium water retention – it can be a quality general soil (peat mix) improved with an aeration and drainage material (perlite, vermiculite, pumice, clay balls, bark, etc.).
Pests. Possible pests include aphids, scale insects, mealybugs, thrips, and mites (red spider mite 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 questionable or not scientifically proven.
Regular checking of plants works wonders – regularly examine the leaves and immediately apply the necessary plant protection treatment if pests appear. The earlier they are identified, the greater the chances of getting rid of them without permanent/significant damage to the plants. In early stages, they can be removed by handpicking or by washing the leaves with a water jet – but this is a temporary solution until the appropriate plant protection treatment is applied.
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