Stephanotis floribunda

Stephanotis floribunda (Stephanotis floribunda Brongn.) – a species of evergreen semi-shrub vines of the genus Stephanotis in the Apocynaceae family. It was first described in 1837 by the French botanist Adolphe Théodore Brongniart in his work «Annales des Sciences Naturelles; Botanique, sér. 2 7: 30.».

Native to the island of Madagascar, it grows in humid forests, climbing over trunks and branches of trees.

An evergreen, twining, sparsely branched vine up to 6 m in height. Leaves are leathery, oval or nearly elliptic, glossy, opposite, dark green, 7-9 cm long and 4-5 cm wide, entire, rounded at the base and tapering to a point at the tip.

Inflorescences are fragrant, appearing in the leaf axils, gathered in umbel-like clusters of 4-6. Blooms abundantly from spring through autumn (June to September).

Fruits are large elliptic pods that split open at maturity. Seeds resemble dandelion seeds.

Hardiness zone: 11 (5°C)

Light: preferably kept on an east or west-facing window; hot midday sun can scorch the leaves. It also requires a long photoperiod, so in the autumn-winter period additional lighting should be provided during dark hours. Stephanotis must not be moved or turned during bud formation or flowering.

Temperature: in summer indoor temperatures should not rise above +22°C; in winter the optimal temperature is +12-14°C. With such winter conditions Stephanotis will bloom more abundantly and for a longer period.

Watering: use only settled water at room temperature. In summer water abundantly, every 2 days; in winter – once a week. Humidity: requires increased humidity indoors, so in spring and summer mist daily or wipe leaves with a damp sponge. Avoid getting water on flowers or buds when misting, as this can cause them to rot. In winter when heating is on, place the pot on a tray with wet pebbles or moss.

Care: it is recommended to alternately apply mineral and organic fertilizers twice a month from March to August. Start feeding at the first signs of active growth and only if the plant has not been repotted for a long time. When feeding, it is preferable to use a potassium fertilizer rather than a nitrogen one, especially before or at the start of flowering. No feeding is done in autumn and winter.

Pruning: Stephanotis blooms on new shoots, so perform moderate pruning in early spring before active growth; in summer pinch shoots to extend flowering. While plants are young and flexible it is recommended to tie them to a support, as older plants become woody and are harder to direct. A special arch for houseplants is recommended as a support.

Repotting: young Stephanotis are repotted every 2-3 years at the end of winter; for older plants it is recommended to renew the top layer of the soil mix. Since the plant prefers a heavy soil, prepare a special potting mix for repotting: peat, humus, sand, clay and leaf soil in the ratio 3:3:2:1:1. Soil pH should be 5.5-6.5. Choose a roomy pot and place a substantial layer of drainage at the bottom.

Propagation: Stephanotis is best propagated by apical cuttings several nodes long – such material is obtained during spring pruning. Rooting takes quite a long time – a month or one and a half. Before planting, treat the lower ends of the cuttings with a rooting stimulant (for example Kornevin), then insert them halfway into a container with a mixture of peat and sand. A greenhouse cover should be placed over the container and kept in a place protected from direct sunlight. The optimal temperature for rooting is 27-30°C; it is also desirable to use bottom heating for the greenhouse. Daily airing of the greenhouse is mandatory. After rooting, plant several cuttings into a container with nutrient loose soil and shape them as they grow. When shoots reach 0.5 m, cut back one third of their length to encourage branching. Stephanotis can also be propagated from seed, but this is a rather long and difficult process.

Pests: aphids (treat with Akarin, Actellic or Fitoverm), scale insects (treat with Akarin, Actellic or Fitoverm), spider mite (treat with Kleshchevit), mealybugs (spray with 2% emulsions of Phosphamide).

Diseases: powdery mildew (use Khom 4 ml per 1 liter of water). Leaves of Stephanotis may yellow due to improper care, transplanting, or nutrient deficiency. Leaves drop with insufficient light.

Uses: in Ukraine it is grown as a houseplant. Ideal for framing large window flower displays. Flowers are used to adorn wedding dresses and bridal bouquets.