How to Grow and Care for Cyanotis kewensis Teddy Bear Vine
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Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) performs best in bright, indirect light with some morning sunshine, average warmth, moderate humidity and moderately moist, rich, well-drained, succulents soils and monthly feeding in the growing season.
Cyanotis kewensis is one of the popular succulent plants and bears oval-shaped, hairy (velvet-like) leaves with purple undersides and is ideal for a hanging basket or a groundcover.
Botanical name: Cyanotis kewensis
synonym Cyanotis beddomei
Family: Commelinaceae
Common name: Teddy Bear Vine, Teddy Bear Plant
Origin
Cyanotis kewensis also called Cyanotis beddomei is native to South Africa.
Size
Teddy Bear Plant is a slow growing plant whose stems cascade downwards and are about 1-2 feet long which makes it ideal for a hanging basket, a plant shelf or a tabletop. It is among the best hanging succulents for indoors.
Flower
Teddy Bear Vine flowers are about 1 inch mauve colored, blue-violet or pinkish-purple.
Toxicity
Cyanotis kewensis is non-toxic to humans and pets according to Succulents Addiction. Teddy Bear Vine is not toxic to cats. The plants are some of the pet-safe plants for the home and office space.
Similar Plants
Teddy Bear Vine Plant 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) 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.
Where to Buy
Would you like to add Teddy Bear Vine to your collection? They are available online on Etsy (Link to Etsy).
Teddy Bear Plant Indoor Care
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) requires bright indirect light with 4-6 hours of morning sunshine, average warmth of 15-270C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, rich, succulents soils and monthly feeding during the growing season.
Cyanotis beddomei requires pruning to to encourage a compact growth and to rejuvenate growth. Repotting is only necessary when it becomes root-bound. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to provide them.
Watering
Water your Teddy Bear Vine liberally during the growing season and allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist.
Decrease watering in cold season to keep the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely to prevent wilting and leaf drop.
Make sure that the soil is free-draining and the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting of the vine.
Light Requirements
Teddy Bear Vine Plant grows best in bright indirect light. Four to Six hours of morning sunshine is beneficial to enhance the leaf color.
If the light is not adequate the plant exhibits leggy growth (long weak stems with widely spaced small leaves). Where the natural lighting is not adequate, you may grow Teddy Bear Plant under a grow light to supplement it. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
Regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth as well as prevent legginess.
Temperature and Humidity
Cyanotis kewensis requires an average warmth within the range of 15-270C and a minimum of 130C to thrive. Keep it away from cold drafts to avoid leaf drop and reduced growth.
Teddy Bear Plant has no need for extra humidity. Moderate room humidity of 50-55% is adequate for this plant. However, where the temperatures are too high which can cause the air to become too dry, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a humidifier to up the humidity.
Potting Mix
Teddy Bear Vine soil should be 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 potting soil is ideal for this vine as it drains easily and does not hold excess moisture.
Fertilizer (Feeding)
Feed your Cyanotis kewensis every 4 weeks during the growing period with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer to promote a lush growth. Stop feeding in the cold season as growth is minimal and feeding at this time can lead to fertlizer burn and eventual death of the plant.
Pruning
Pruning Teddy Bear Vine is easy. To encourage a compact, bushy growth and to prevent it from becoming leggy, regularly pinch off the growing tips. The stems become leggy with age; cutback the stems to rejuvenate (encourage) new growth. Learn more on how to prune houseplants.
Repotting
Repot Teddy Bear Plant 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.
Use a terracotta pot as it is porous and allows water to drain faster. This prevents the soil from holding too much water and being soggy. Take a look at these terracotta pots with saucer on Amazon.
Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting and eventual death of the plant.
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.
Read more on how to propagate Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis Propagation).
Teddy Bear Plant Common Problems and Fixes
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) growing problems include browning, pests, diseases, plant dying, brown leaf tips, leggy growth, leaf spots, among others. Keep reading for more on these problems, their remedies and solutions.
Plant turning brown
Teddy Bear Vine may turn brown due to a number of reasons which include improper watering, pest infestation, root-rot, extremely high temperatures, too little light, improper feeding among others.
Read more on 9 Reasons Why Teddy Bear Vine is Turning Brown (with solutions).
Plant dying
Teddy Bear Plant is dying from wrong growing conditions like incorrect watering, improper feeding, little light, wrong temperatures, poor quality soil, root-rot, pest infestations among others.
Read more on 10 Reasons Why Teddy Bear Vine is Dying and How to Revive It.
Pests
The common pests in Teddy Bear Vine are aphids and spider mites. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other plants and treat it with a horticultural oil as per the manufacturer's recommendations.
Diseases
Teddy Bear Vine Plant is quite disease tolerant. However, it is prone to root-rot which is prevalent in soggy and overwatered soil especially in the cold season. Lessen watering in the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist. In addition, ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy.
Leggy growth
Teddy Bear Vine leggy growth (long weak stems with widely spaced undersize leaves) are due to four possible reasons. One possible reason for leggy growth 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 Plant is too little light. Move it to a brighter spots where it can receive bright indirect light or instal grow light to supplement the natural light. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
The third possible reason for leggy growth inCyanotis kewensis is underwatering which results in too little moisture in the root zone. Thoroughly water the plant immediately and it should recover.
Thereafter, water the vine liberally during the growing season and allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Cut down on watering in cold season to keep the soil slightly moist but do not 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 the 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.
Limp (droopy) stems, yellow and spotted leaves
Teddy Bear Vine 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 the plant thoroughly and it should recover. Thereafter, water it liberally during the growing season and allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Water less in cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist but never allow the soil to dry out completely. Learn more on how to water houseplants the right way.
Brown, shrivelled leaf tips
Teddy Bear Plant 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. To increase humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do you to care of a Teddy Bear Vine?
- Place your Teddy Bear Vine infront of a brightly-lit window where it will receive bright, indirect light with some morning sunshine.
- Give your Teddy Bear Vine average warmth of 15-270C and keep it away from cold drafts.
- Grow the plant in neutral to acidic, rich, moderately moist, succulents soil and keep the soil slightly moist in the cold season.
- Feed your Teddy Bear Vine monthly with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer during the growing season but do feed in the cold season.
- Maintain a moderate room humidity of 50-55% as the plant has no need for extra humidity.
- Repot your Teddy Bear Vine during the growing season only when it is pot-bound.
- Regularly remove dead foliage to maintain the plant neat and also discourage pest and disease infestations.
- Regularly pinch off the growing tips to encourage a bushy, compact growth.
- Cutback the straggly stems to rejuvenate growth and control growth of your Teddy Bear Vine.
- Regularly inspect your plant for any pests and diseases and take timely control measures.
2. How often do you water a Teddy Bear Vine?
Teddy Bear Vine requires moderately moist soil during the growing season and slightly moist soil in the cold season. To achieve these, liberally water the plant during the growing season until water drains through the drainage hole while allowing the top 2-3 inch of soil to dry out between waterings. Significantly reduce watering in the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely to avoid leaf drop.
3. How do you prune a Teddy Bear Vine?
Remove dead leaves to keep the plant tidy as well as discourage pests and diseases. To encourage a compact, bushy growth, regularly pinch off the growing tips. With age, the stems become leggy; cut them back at the beginning of the growing season to rejuvenate new growth and to encourage a lush growth.
4. How do you repot a Teddy Bear Vine?
- Repot Teddy Bear Vine only when it becomes pot-bound. Thoroughly water the plant and carefully slip it out of its pot.
- Remove most of the old soil from the roots, carefully disentangle the roots and cut away old and dead roots with a sterilized pair of scissors.
- Select a terracotta pot one size larger than the current one and fill it half way with cactus and succulents soil.
- Position the Teddy Bear Vine in the center of the pot and fill the pot and lightly press down the soil.
- Wet the soil thoroughly and replace the plant to its growing spot.
5. Why is my Teddy Bear Vine dying?
Your Teddy Bear Vine is dying due to poor growing conditions like incorrect watering, improper feeding, too little light, cold drafts, poor quality soil, root-rot, pest infestations among others.
6. What is the other name for Teddy Bear vine?
Teddy Bear vine is known by the botanical names Cyanotis kewensis and Cyanotis beddomei.
7. Is Teddy Bear Vine toxic to animals?
Teddy Bear Vine is non-toxic to humans and pets as indicated by Succulents Addiction. It is safe to grow in the home.
8. What is the size of a Teddy Bear Vine?
Teddy Bear Vine is a slow growing plant whose stems can grow to about 1-2 ft long. The stems cascade downwards making it ideal for a hanging basket, a plant shelf or a tabletop.
9. Can you propagate Teddy Bear Vines in water?
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis) is propagated at the beginning of the growing season by plant division or from stem cuttings which can be rooted either in water or in soil.
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