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
Common name: Teddy Bear Vine
Teddy Bear Vine Description
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) 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.
Teddy Bear Vine Size
It is a slow growing plant whose stems cascade downwards and are about 1-2 ft long which makes it is ideal for a hanging basket.
Teddy Bear Vine Flower
The flowers are about 1 in. mauve colored, blue-violet or pinkish-purple.
Teddy Bear Vine Origin
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) is native to South Africa.
Teddy Bear Vine Similar Plants
Teddy Bear Vine is closely related to Pussy Ears Vine. The foliage in Cyanotis kewensis (Teddy Bear Vine) bears rusty brown hairs while Cyanotis somaliensis, (Pussy Ears Vine) 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.
Buy beautiful and healthy Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) from Etsy.
Photo Credit: World of Succulents
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) Care Indoors
Teddy Bear Vine Light Requirements
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) grows best in bright, indirect light. Some morning sunshine is beneficial for Teddy Bear Vine to enhance the leaf color. It can also grow under a grow light.
Inadequate light for Teddy Bear Vine results in a leggy plant (long weak stems with widely spaced small leaves). Regularly turn the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
How to water Teddy Bear Vine
Water Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) 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 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 to prevent the soil from getting soggy. Read more on how to water houseplants.
Temperature for Teddy Bear Vine
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) requires an average warmth with a minimum of 130C inorder to thrive. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Humidity for Teddy Bear Vine
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) has no need for high humidity. Moderate air humidity is adequate for this plant.
However, when the temperatures are too high which can cause the air to be too dry, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a humidifier to raise humidity for your Teddy Bear Vine. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Fertilizer (Feeding) Teddy Bear Vine
Feed Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) every 4 weeks during the growing period with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer.
Withhold feeding for your Teddy Bear Vine during the cold season as growth is minimal and feeding at this time can lead to fertlizer burn and eventual death of the plant. Read more on how to feed houseplants.
How to prune Teddy Bear Vine
Pruning Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) is easy. To encourage a compact, bushy growth and to prevent Teddy Bear Vine from becoming leggy, regularly pinch off the growing tips.
The stems become leggy with age; cutback the stems to rejuvenate (encourage) new growth of your Teddy Bear Vine. Read more on how to prune houseplants.
How to repot Teddy Bear Vine
Repot Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) at the beginning of growing season when the plant becomes root-bound. A pot one size larger than the current one is adequate to avoid overpotting the plant.
Ensure the pot for your Teddy Bear Vine has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting and eventual death of the plant.
Soil for Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis)
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) grows best in loose and free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. The soil should be loose enough to allow water to drain out fast enough to avoid soggy soil which can cause rotting.
Cactus and Succulents soil is ideal for Teddy Bear Vine as it drains easily and does not hold excess moisture. Buy quality Cactus and Succulents Soil for your Teddy Bear Vine from Etsy.
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) Propagation
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) propagation can be done at the beginning of the growing season in two ways; by plant division or from stem cuttings.
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) Problems Indoors
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) problems indoors are brought about by cultural faults in watering, lighting, humidity and feeding. Continue reading for the remedies and solutions.
Teddy Bear vine brown, shrivelled leaf tips
Teddy Bear vine (Cyanotis kewensis) brown, shrivelled leaf tips are caused by too dry air (low humidity) especially when the temperatures are too high. High temperature will cause the air to be too dry which is not good for Teddy Bear Vine.
To raise humidity for the plant, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a humidifier. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Teddy Bear Vine limp (droopy) stems, yellow and spotted leaves
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) limp (droopy) stems, yellow and spotted leaves are caused by underwatering. Underwatering results in too little moisture in the root zone which means that there is little water for the plant to take up to the leaves. Therefore, the leaves and stems lose their turgidity (firmness) and they droop (limp).
Immediately water your Teddy Bear Vine thoroughly and it should recover. Thereafter, water the plant liberally during the growing season and allow the top 1-2 in. of soil to dry out between waterings. Reduce watering in cold season but never allow the soil to dry out completely.
Teddy Bear Vine leggy growth
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) leggy growth (long weak stems with widely spaced undersize leaves) are due to four possible reasons.
One possible reason for leggy growth in Teddy Bear Vine is age. As the plant ages, the stems become leggy. Cutback the stems to rejuvenate new growth.
The second possible reason for leggy growth in Teddy Bear Vine is too little light. Teddy Bear vine grows best in bright, indirect light with some sunshine to enhance leaf color.
Move your Teddy Bear Vine to a brighter spots where it will receive bright, indirect light or use a grow light.
The third possible reason for leggy growth in Teddy Bear Vine is underwatering which results in too little moisture in the root zone.
Thoroughly water your Teddy Bear Vine immediately and it should recover. Thereafter, water the plant liberally during the growing season and allow the top 1-2 in. of soil to dry out between waterings. Reduce watering in cold season but never allow the soil to dry out completely.
The fourth possible reason for leggy growth in Teddy Bear Vine is inadequate feeding (underfeeding) which means the plant is not getting adequate nutrients for growth. If the plant does not get enough nutrients it becomes stunted and produces small-sized leaves and weak stems.
Feed your Teddy Bear Vine with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 4 weeks during the growing season. However, withhold feeding in the cold season as growth is minimal at this time and feeding can lead to fertlizer burn.
Teddy Bear Vine Diseases
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) is quite disease tolerant. The most common disease in Teddy Bear Vine is root-rot disease which is caused by soggy soil and overwatering under low temperature during the cold season.
Therefore, reduce watering for your Teddy Bear Vine in the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist. Also, ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent the soil from getting soggy.
Teddy Bear Vine pests
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) pests are aphids and spider mites. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other houseplants and treat it appropriately for the pests.
Is Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) toxic?
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) is non-toxic to humans and pets. The plants are safe to grow indoors.
