Dischidia care guide

Dischidia is a trailing plant with thick, round leaves on thin stems. It is a cousin of the hoya. In the wild, it grows on tree branches, not in soil. Some kinds grow hollow pouches where ants live. Indoors, it grows in moss or bark in a hanging pot, or mounted on a board.

Light

Give it bright indirect light. An east window is ideal. A few hours of soft morning sun is fine and can blush the leaves red or purple.

In low light, it grows thin with gaps between the leaves. Hot afternoon sun scorches the leaves.

Water

Dischidia roots need air. They rot in wet, packed soil.

Soak it when the moss or bark is almost dry. Set the pot or mount in a sink of room-temperature water for 10 minutes, then let it drain. In spring and summer, that is about once a week. In winter, every one to two weeks.

The leaves wrinkle a little when it needs water. They plump back up after a soak. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Never use regular potting soil. Grow it in sphagnum moss, a chunky orchid bark mix, or a mix of both. It also grows well mounted on a piece of cork or wood with a pad of moss.

Use a small pot with good drainage. Its roots are tiny. Repot every two years, or when the moss breaks down. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

It grows best at 50% humidity or higher. In dry air, the leaves shrivel and drop. A humidifier helps. So does a spot in a bright bathroom. Misting between soaks helps a little.

Keep it between 18 and 29°C (65 and 85°F), and above 13°C (55°F).

Feeding

Feed monthly in spring and summer with an orchid fertilizer at half strength. Skip feeding in fall and winter.

Pruning

Trim long stems to keep it tidy. Cut just past a leaf. The stems have a milky sap. Wash your hands after you cut it.

Propagation

Cut a stem 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) long. Lay it flat on moist sphagnum moss, or coil it on top of the moss in a pot. Roots grow from the joints where the leaves attach. Keep it warm and humid. A clear bag over the pot helps. Roots form in two to four weeks.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Wrinkled, soft leaves	Thirst, dry air, or roots rotted from too much water
Yellow leaves falling off	Too much water, or soil that stays wet
Thin stems, gaps between leaves	Not enough light
Red or purple leaves	Strong light. Fine if the leaves stay plump.
Leaves shrivel and drop	Dry air
White, cottony spots	Mealybugs

Pests

Mealybugs and aphids are the most common pests. Check the stem joints and the undersides of the leaves. Dab them with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab.

Pet safety

Dischidia is not on the ASPCA list of toxic or non-toxic plants. It is a close cousin of hoya, which the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs. The milky sap may upset a stomach. Hang it out of reach of pets.

Varieties

• String of nickels, Dischidia nummularia, has round, flat, silvery-green leaves like coins.
• Million hearts, Dischidia ruscifolia, has small, pointed, heart-shaped leaves in pairs.
• Watermelon dischidia, Dischidia ovata, has oval leaves with pale stripes like a watermelon rind.
• Ant plant, Dischidia major, grows hollow, puffed-up leaves that ants live in, in the wild.