How to grow and care for Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) Indoors

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Botanical name: Cyanotis kewensis
synonym Cyanotis beddomei
Family: Commelinaceae

Teddy Bear Vine is a creeping succulent vine ideal for a hanging basket or a groundcover. It bears oval-shaped leaves about 1 in. long which are hairy (velvet-like) with purple underside. It is a slow growing plant reaching a height of 6-8 in. The flowers are about 1 in. mauve colored, blue-violet or pinkish-purple. It is easy to grow and propagate. Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) is native to South Africa. The foliage in Cyanotis kewensis (Teddy Bear Vine) bears rusty brown hairs while Cyanotis somaliensis (Pussy Ears) which is native to Somalia, has larger leaves and the hairs are pale grey. At a glance Teddy Bear Vine resembles an Inch Plant save for its hairy foliage from which it has earned its common name.

How to Grow Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis)

Light for Teddy Bear Vine

Teddy Bear Vine grows best in bright indirect light. Some morning sunshine is beneficial to enhance the leaf color. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.

How to water Teddy Bear Vine

Water your Teddy Bear Vine liberally and allow the top 1-2 in. of soil to dry out between waterings. Reduce watering in cold weather as growth is minimal.

Avoid waterlogging (soggy soil) as it can lead to rotting of your Teddy Bear Vine. Ensure that the soil is free-draining and the pot has a drainage hole. Read more on how to water houseplants.

Temperature for Teddy Bear Vine

Average warmth with a minimum of 13⁰C is ideal for your Teddy Bear Vine. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.

Humidity for Teddy Bear Vine

Moderate air humidity is adequate for Teddy Bear Vine. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.

Fertilizer (Feeding) Teddy Bear Vine

Feed your Teddy Bear Vine every 4 weeks during the growing period on a weak balanced, water-soluble fertilizer. Withhold feeding during the cold season as growth is minimal. Read more on how to feed houseplants.

How to prune Teddy Bear Vine

To encourage a compact bushy growth and to prevent your Teddy Bear Vine from becoming leggy, regularly pinch off the growing tips. The stems become leggy with age; cutback the stems to rejuvenate new growth. Read more on how to prune houseplants.

How to repot Teddy Bear Vine

Repot your Teddy Bear Vine at the beginning of growing season when the plant becomes root-bound. Use rich, free-draining, sandy soil and a pot one size larger than the previous one. Ensure the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from becoming soggy as it can lead to rotting and eventual death of your Teddy Bear Vine.

How to Propagate Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis)

Teddy Bear Vine can be propagated by division or from stem cuttings at the beginning of the growing season.

How to propagate Teddy Bear Vine by Division

Take out your Teddy Bear Vine from its pot and carefully divide the plant into several sections. Ensure each section has adequate roots.

Pot up these sections in individual pots in moist free-draining soil. Ensure the pot has a drainage hole. Place the set up in a cool shaded place. Maintain the soil moist until the new Teddy Bear Vine is well established.

How to propagate Teddy Bear Vine from Stem Cuttings

Take a 3-4 in. stem cutting from a healthy Teddy Bear Vine. Ensure each cutting has at least 2-3 leaf nodes. Insert the cutting in moist, free-draining soil. Place the set up in a warm shaded place. Maintain the soil moist until the new plant is well established.

Common Problems in Growing Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis)

Why does my Teddy Bear vine have brown and shrivelled leaf tips?

Brown and shrivelled leaf tips in your Teddy Bear Vine are an indication of too dry air; place your Teddy Bear Vine on a wet pebble tray to raise humidity. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.

Why does my Teddy Bear Vine have limp stems and yellow, spotted leaves?

Limp stems and yellow, spotted leaves in your Teddy Bear Vine are caused by underwatering. Water Teddy Bear Vine liberally and allow the top 1-2 in. of soil to dry out between waterings but reduce watering in cold weather.

Why is my Teddy Bear Vine weak, has elongated stems and leaves are undersized?

Teddy Bear Vine's stems become leggy with age; cutback the stems to rejuvenate new growth. However, there are three more reasons for the bare spindly growth of your Teddy Bear Vine.

One reason is too little light; move your plant to a brighter spots where it receives bright filtered light.

The second reason is too little water; Water your Teddy Bear Vine liberally while allowing the top 1-2 in. of soil to dry out.

The third reason is inadequate feeding (underfeeding); Feed your Teddy Bear Vine with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 4 weeks during the growing season.

Which are the common plant diseases in Teddy Bear Vine?

Teddy Bear Vine is quite disease tolerant. The most common disease in Teddy Bear Vine is root-rot disease which is caused by overwatering under low temperature. Therefore, reduce watering in the cold season and ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining.