Stephania erecta Care Tips and Propagation - With 16 months Updates!

If you love long periods of updates, this episode is not one to miss as it spans over 16 months period of time (Even longer than my ZZ episode!). The Stephania erecta is an elusive species from Thailand region, and is considered common plant there. Their care is not the easiest and is often misunderstood (even by me, so please comment down below if you have had better success with them). In this episode, I show you my plant journey, showing you the ups and downs (and dormancy periods) of this plant!
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[@Pottedplantsandcookingpots]

This plant is such a survivor. It deserves a medal for not giving up.

[@onlyplants]

Haha yes. Although I have rotted its sibling the Stephania suberosa. Wonder if thats just a harder plant

[@rachael618]

When I saw them at the plant markets in Bangkok, they were usually sitting on river stones in a shallow dish of water, more like an aquatic plant. Some of them were growing in tiny fountains. The codex was just above the waterline with the roots submerged. I just ordered 3 and I'm going to try each in a different set up.

[@onlyplants]

Nice! If you have some findings please update me

[@carissaseguin2283]

I really like these videos that show the progress over time! The good & the bad!!

[@onlyplants]

Hehe thank you. Its one way to document the care and behavior of plants especially in different environments

[@SterkRacing]

This plant is not easy to kill! I've "killed" mine about a dozen times so far and it's always come back. Just needs very very consistent watering.

[@onlyplants]

Yes daily watering in my case, but in a succulent cacti mix that dries fast

[@zenthumb]

Your zoom on passerby are so funny. It shows how very particular you are with the details. LOL

[@onlyplants]

lol I could either try to mask/hide them, or highlight them 😅

[@sarahe.d.jackson1995]

I rooted my large Stephania Erecta about 6-8 months ago, when I was starting to take my plant hobby more seriously. I treat it like a succulent, and it seems to do fine watering-wise. My vines got out of control so I trimmed them down to a more proportional height.. I'm getting less leggy etiolated growth now and the leaves have started to mature. It's one of my favorite plants! I just wish I knew when I trimmed it that propagated vines could form caudexs!

[@onlyplants]

😀😀

[@Naeou]

this was such an emotional roller coaster omg 🥹🥹

[@onlyplants]

Haha maybe thats what the name of this plant should be. The emotional roller coaster plant.

[@nicolecmke]

I appreciate this video so much! I appreciate it firstly because of the long-term follow-up. It's so helpful to see the real-life ups and downs of growing plants. Secondly because I have a caudex plant that hasn't been thriving. Now I see it's because I've been underwatering it out of fear of overwatering it and rotting the caudex, but small leaves come and go, so I know it's alive. It was also refreshing to see the insignificant root system. So now I see that mine is normal and I need to give her more water. I always feel like I'm doing it wrong, when the fact is that I'm just experiencing something normal. Thanks for that!

[@onlyplants]

Thank you for taking the time to write in ❤️

[@pea_hola5436]

I just got one last week and I'm so glad you made this video.

[@onlyplants]

😀😀

[@AnimalsBeFree22]

**Not in a creepy way** I adore you! I just stumbled on your videos when I was searching for how to propagate Stephania Erecta from seeds and how to harvest. You were the only one with a video with the information I wanted. I also really appreciate you mentioning that this plant isn't for beginners and how it's sad to see a slow growing plant taken away from its much needed environment just to die. Couldn't agree more! Your passion for plants is amazing, and your knowledge has been super helpful! Thanks for all that you do, friend!

[@AnimalsBeFree22]

Also, question if you don't mind! I got my caudex in around February and I don't see any seeds on mine. It has tiny flowers. Do you think it just needs to mature more?

[@onlyplants]

Thank youu 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@onlyplants]

The stephania has a gender… if you only had one plant its most likely only male or female… to pollinate them you have to rub the male flower against the female when they are blooming at the same time. Hope this helps

[@merrijordan749]

Great info, I just purchased my Stephania erecta, no instructions on how to plant. So thank you so much. 😊🤗

[@onlyplants]

😀😀

[@Susbaguetteman]

If you have ever grown them from seeds the bulb actually grows underground not like what they sell you in the nurseries. The main reason why people do so is to show off the bulb size

[@onlyplants]

Interestingg

[@AlanaeImontae]

I just saw that in a timelapse! It didn’t show through the dirt but I wondered where the bulb was so I was assuming the bulb IS the root😂😂

[@jardimonirico]

What a journey, Sean!! A true Phoenix coming from the ashes again and again! hahahah Thanks for sharing your learning process.

[@lorraineyanez4301]

Ok I m not just saying this last weekend I was looking into cudex plants ,then you showcase them. It's been happening for a while. Same mind I guess. Your looking more peaceful I hope that means you had time to recharge. I m always excited to see what you have to show/teach us.

[@onlyplants]

Thank you 😀😀

[@sierra734]

I just got my baby today and it’s freezing outside but I brought her right in she has 2 stems with leaves coming out of dormancy I planted her and put near humidifier and grow lites I would like to document my journey since not much is know thanks 🙏

[@onlyplants]

So apparently they do like to be in direct light. Do acclimatize them slowly 😀

[@katrinav.8503]

I’ll tell you a story: I couldn’t come by Stefania, but I got Fockea Edulis instead. It was sitting in the double pot, so I don’t have to worry about getting access water out. And to raise it up, so I don’t forget it’s somewhere on the shelf behind other plants. It had about 7cm air space between upper pot and actual pot and eventually the roots grew really well into bottom pot. Finding extra water After 1.5 years I decided to repot it, I and not only found that the plant was living in 2 pots, but also Alocasia dragon scale was growing in the upper pot😅. Probably I put a bulb there and forgot.

[@onlyplants]

Wooh I googled Fockea edulis, what a naughty name for a naughty plant lol. Love it

[@katrinav.8503]

@@onlyplants never thought about that way😂😂stephania erecta sounds also a bit naughty to me😁

[@oliverpiong6558]

This vid couldn’t have came at a better time😩 mine is struggling so bad

[@onlyplants]

😀

[@Hadinata1994]

What is it on the last part? Did you throw those plants away?😢

[@onlyplants]

Thats tonights video. It will explain it much better 😀

[@Mazequax]

The roller coaster life of a Stephania 😂

[@onlyplants]

😅😅

[@samanthajay4981]

What a fun plant! Now I need one 🙈🌱

[@onlyplants]

😀😀

[@charmingneilly]

Hi Sean, hello from Cambodia. I have one for about a year and glad to say it thrives under my neglect. Like you said, I couldn't find much resources online on how to take care of it and at one point consider throwing it away. When I first got it, it l had just one elongated stem with some leaves at the end. I kept it indoor where it got medium indirect light and it didn't grow at all. So, I moved it to a semi outdoor place with lots of morning sun, great air circulation and it thrived and even flowered. I water it when I feel like it lol. I guess once every two weeks. It then suffered from spidermite. So, I chopped all the stem off, and it kept growing more stems after that. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, the plant was also doing well being outside on a north facing balcony. Then, I found out it got spider mites again! So, I chopped all the stems off too. Now, it gives me like 7 new shoots! Happy to share the plant's photo with you if you dm me on IG at saak_dam Take care and I'm happy to see your house is all fixed up now.

[@onlyplants]

Whoaaa interesting… didnt know they are spider mites prone. You should get some alocasias so the spidermites can move there instead haha

[@Draculiana]

I just repotted my Stephania Erecta and i found 2 smaller "potatoes" growing from the caudex. When i repotted it last year they were not there. I didn't remove it from the soil in the winter, i just removed the yellow leaves and stem and stopped watering until i saw new growth (it was in a chunky aroid mix, near a window) No idea what to do now, remove the babies? If anyone knows please let me know 🙂

[@onlyplants]

My intuition might be to cut them away, wait 2 days to pot it up so the wound can dry. It should turn into smaller plants. This is peculiar and Im as curious as you to see what can happen!

[@naleeyang5926]

I have 2 Stephania for about 2 years and both do not have much of a root system.

[@onlyplants]

Good to know Im not the only one with little roots😀

[@claraavin3261]

I would not be able to afford such a plant. Thanks for the video.

[@sherryporsch9349]

You can find them in US for 20 bucks or less not sure where you are?

[@Tizzyful55]

This looks like it was still shot in his dad's house :) maybe before all the stress? Thanks for posting this Sean! I've been struggling with this plant. This is wonderful! I haven't finished watching it yet but i'm sure i'll learn a LOT! 😊

[@onlyplants]

Yeah this was filmed a very long time ago 😀

[@claraavin3261]

@@sherryporsch9349Thanks, I will look for it.

[@bevyau]

beautiful bunch of mini tiki umbrellas! hope to see your stephania erecta blossom soon (then we will get to see if its male or female!) 💚

[@onlyplants]

Whoaaa thats cool I had no idea they had assigned genders! Ill keep an eye out. It did put out tiny yellow flowers at some point but I failed to document it

[@joannanovara815]

They like bright light and humidity. Mine has been a struggle. Keeps throwing a vine and then teeny flowers but no roots. Any time it starts to grow small leaves they drop😔

[@onlyplants]

Whatt a mystery! Sometimes plants flower when they are under duress

[@awake8794]

My Adenium Obesum kept doing that for almost a year. I asked and people said it needed to be fertilized.......I don't know why I didn't even think of that. Lol.... so I fertilized it, and sure enough this time it kept its leaves. I don't know anything about Stephania Erecta, but might be the same thing. Both are caudex plants.

[@aidacarrasco6238]

Gracias por mostrar las plantas que no conocemos felicitaciones dónde conseguir esa planta

[@onlyplants]

Thank you. They are native to Thailand actually

[@cassandraCC]

Beautiful dainty creature! Why the heck are you throwing away plants at the end of the video?

[@onlyplants]

Hehe thats the next episode, which is just aired live 😀

[@jo-hl3yw]

Hey Sean! Would you happen to know why my bulb leaves aren’t flat? they sort of like are a little bit wavy, both my stephania and nova are that way. The leaves don’t drop nor yellow just … wavy 😂. Thank you in advance!

[@onlyplants]

wooh im not sure but i was just told by seller they love it very bright, she even said full sun although I would caution taking advice from plant sellers lol. Make sure its getting good light and water correctly (dont rot them). Also do fertilize them if you havent

[@bexmos5789]

Ive over watered mine started rotting at the side can I chop off the rot without killing caudex?

[@onlyplants]

I have a feeling you can as long as you let it dry out before planting

[@bexmos5789]

Its already planted &growing. Ive repotted it higher above mouldy bit &used fingers to rub away rotten bit. Taken a cutting incase it doesn't work

[@oorinxx]

What fertilizer do you use for it? And how wet does the soil get when u water it, because sometimes u say mist/spray, sometimes u water with other plants, sometimes drenched in rain. And do you have any low maintenance plant recommendation? Something thats not too big. I also live in indonesia ❤

[@onlyplants]

The lady that sells it uses the same water used to clean vegetables 😅 in Thailand they are quite common and weedy. I think they can take a wide variety of nutrients. i moved mine to a potting media and terracotta that can withstand daily watering. If you have yours indoors the care might be different entirely, I would let the soil dry out completely and then saturate it with water.

[@oorinxx]

@@onlyplantsthank you! I just got myself one from sh*pee lol😂 hopefully i can take care of it properly 😅 by the way does the size of the caudex matters?

[@AngusxDangus]

Lmao the onlyfans comment killed me. 😂

[@onlyplants]

😅😅

[@glyka18]

My plant has shrunk and I don't know if it's rotten or dried 😢 It's a bit soft but not squishy, and I'm not sure if it needs water or is overwatered

[@onlyplants]

That really depends on the care history and potting medium. Often times people underwater these and they can shrink… But at the same time they can rot so fast if you keep it wet. Only you know which end it is…

[@mnik8501]

Hi, I just got my bulb, what kind of soil you use for it? Does it need plant fertilizer? Thanks

[@onlyplants]

The kind of soil depends on your environment and how often you want to water it. I have mine living in terracotta and cactii mix but I water it heavily every day. And yes they do require nutrients, diluted but frequent

[@mnik8501]

Thank you so much!

[@constancelee9167]

Mine just die off after a year. I hope it grow back again🥲

[@onlyplants]

Oh if its dormant without the leaves, its most likely not dead yet

[@Thelostdino]

I just ordered one online :)

[@onlyplants]

Good luck 😀

[@cristinaesteve847]

Hello, nice video! I have just bought an Stephania Erectum and mine is crowded with stems. Can I cut allí of them but one or two? How do I pick which one I have to cut? Thanks!

[@onlyplants]

Wooh thats difficult to answer… but you can actually propagate the stem cuttings in water… its very slow process but its fun!

[@cristinaesteve847]

@@onlyplants thanks!!!

[@JohannesLee]

Hi from Shanghai ❤😊

[@onlyplants]

Omg lol heyyy

[@bonniesimons2147]

which side is up?

[@onlyplants]

The seller actually had to tell me which side is up… its impossible to tell otherwise. But I have a feeling this plant might still grow on you even if its upside down, just a feeling I have

[@nanaface19]

Mine is so shriveled up

[@onlyplants]

Mine is now too! Im inducing dormancy and will bring it back to life soon

[@OrendaDesignStudio]

Nice 😊.

[@onlyplants]

🙏🏽😀

[@gloriatribue7305]

At first glance I yhought it was a nasturtium

[@onlyplants]

Oh I just googled it and its cute!

[@1101naomi]

What are you throwing away plants???!!!

[@onlyplants]

Thats tonights episode 😀

[@kendravoracek3636]

💚🌿

[@gmatt2498]

You know sean that plant looks a lot like a peperomia plant kinda 😏🪴

[@onlyplants]

Whoaaa really? I havent seen a peperomia like it

[@thebluethegreen9476]

កុមារពេជ្រ

[@onlyplants]

😀