Choosing a Grow Light for Cissus: Grape Ivy plus Kangaroo Vine
A grow light for cissus fills the gap when a window gives too little light for grape ivy or kangaroo vine. Both vines take a range of light, so a lamp only needs to lift a dim room into the medium band.
The short answer
University of Missouri Extension notes cissus prefer medium light, with kangaroo vine handling lower light. Medium light plants like 250 to 1,000 footcandles plus 500 to 1,000 from artificial light. Set plant tips 6 to 12 inches from the lamp. University of Maryland Extension advises no more than 16 hours a day.
How much light does grape ivy need?
NC State Extension notes grape ivy likes bright indirect light but tolerates a variety of light levels. Allow drying between waterings. It notes leaves can drop when the soil is too wet or too dry. Kangaroo vine takes bright to low light, from diffused sun to part shade.
University of Maryland Extension sorts light into bands. Low is 25 to 100 footcandles, medium 100 to 500 plus high 500 to 1,000.
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cissus light | Medium | Missouri |
| Medium band, artificial | 500 to 1,000 fc | Missouri |
| Lamp distance | 6 to 12 inches from tips | Missouri |
| Daily light | No more than 16 hours | Maryland |
| Grape ivy low limit | Not below 50 degrees F | NC State |
Source: University of Missouri Extension plus University of Maryland Extension.
Where should a lamp go for a hanging cissus?
University of Missouri Extension advises plant tips 6 to 12 inches from the light source. It notes fluorescent tubes give the most light at the center of the tube, so hang the vine under the middle. NC State notes kangaroo vine browns in drafts, so set the plant away from vents.
Why are my cissus vines thin?
University of Maryland Extension notes plants in too little light grow leggy plus lean toward the source. NC State advises pinching kangaroo vine to make it bushier. Grape ivy can be pruned any time, it notes.
How to: step by step
- Check light where the vine hangs.
- Pick an LED or fluorescent lamp.
- Set the lamp 6 to 12 inches from the tips.
- Center the vine under a tube light.
- Run the lamp no more than 16 hours a day.
- Pinch long stems to make it bushier.
Troubleshooting
Bare stems: too little light. Maryland notes low light makes plants leggy.
Leaves dropping: soil too wet or too dry. NC State advises letting it dry between waterings.
Brown leaves on kangaroo vine: drafts. NC State notes it browns in drafts.
For lighting see grow lights for cannabis plus led light distance cannabis. Read grow light timers plus cannabis seeds. Kind Seed Co also stocks cannabis seeds.
Sources
- Cissus alata (grape ivy), NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Cissus antarctica (kangaroo vine), NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Lighting for indoor plants, University of Maryland Extension
- Lighting indoor houseplants (G6515), University of Missouri Extension
FAQ
What kind of lamp suits cissus?
University of Missouri Extension notes fluorescent tubes give the most light at the center of the tube. Aim for the 500 to 1,000 footcandles it gives for medium light plants under artificial light.
How many hours of light does cissus need?
University of Maryland Extension advises giving indoor plants no more than 16 hours of light a day. A timer can switch the lamp off at the same hour each day.
Does kangaroo vine need less light than grape ivy?
University of Missouri Extension notes cissus prefer medium light, while kangaroo vine tolerates lower light. NC State Extension notes kangaroo vine takes bright to low light, while grape ivy likes bright indirect light but tolerates a range.
When can cissus be pruned?
NC State Extension notes grape ivy can be pruned any time. It advises pinching kangaroo vine to make the plant bushier. Pinching also helps vines that have stretched thin in low light, as University of Maryland Extension describes.
What temperature suits cissus?
NC State Extension notes grape ivy should not sit below 50 degrees F. It gives 61 to 75 degrees F for kangaroo vine during growth, plus notes kangaroo vine browns in drafts, so set plants away from vents plus doors.
