Why people love it
Wax plant is a vine with thick, slightly succulent leaves that store water. When it’s happy, it produces round clusters of star-shaped flowers that look like they’re made of wax or porcelain. Many have a sweet scent, strongest in the evening. Trail it from a hanging pot or train it up a hoop.
A succulent-like vine
In the wild, wax plant is an epiphyte: it climbs trees and grows on bark. That shapes its care:
- Airy soil. Its roots need air, so use a chunky mix and a pot with a drainage hole.
- Let it dry partway. It’s thirstier than a desert succulent, but its thick leaves still store water. Water when the top half of the soil is dry.
- A snug pot. It’s happy a little root-bound, and often flowers better that way.
Getting it to flower
- Give it bright light. This makes the biggest difference.
- Leave the old flower spurs. Flowers grow from short, leafless stems called spurs. The same spur flowers again year after year, so don’t cut it off after the flowers fade.
- Be patient. Young plants can take a few years to flower.
Taking cuttings
Cut a piece of stem with at least one node, the joint where a leaf grows. Roots grow from the node. Root it in water or in damp, airy mix, and keep it warm and bright.
Watch out for
- Yellow, soft leaves usually mean too much water.
- Wrinkled leaves mean it’s thirsty. They usually plump up again a day or two after watering.
- Sticky drops under the flowers are nectar, not a pest. Wipe them off surfaces underneath.
Fun fact: The flowers really do look waxy. That shine is where the name “wax plant” comes from.
