The Best Indoor Vines

Philodendron

• Native to tropical rain forests, there are four main species of philodendrons that flourish under low-light conditions. They attach themselves via aerial roots which emerge from the stem. Heart-leaf philodendron has olive-green, perfectly heart-shaped leaves on thin stems and is grown on totems and in hanging baskets. Fiddle-leaf philodendron is usually grown on a totem. Its olive green, fiddle-shaped leaves grow up to a foot long on thick stems. Micans philodendron also has heart-shaped leaves, with velvety uppers and dark copper-colored undersides. It does not tolerate as much environmental stress as heart-leaf philodendron. Monstera deliciosa, or swiss cheese plant, is a thick-stemmed climbing philodendron usually grown on a strong, tall totem. It has distinctive, large, deeply-lobed leaves with holes running along the inside stem.

Pothos

• What most indoor gardeners know as pothos has been moved from the Pothos genus to the Epipremnum genus. There are two dominant varieties of this vining plant: golden pothos, with green and golden leaves, and silver pothos, with green and white leaves. Pothos is often grown on totems, and climbs via aerial roots. The more room you give the roots, the larger the leaves will become. It needs soil rich in organic matter and should be kept moist, but not wet. It requires diffused light, and will stretch if the light is too low. A low-nitrogen fertilizer is preferable to keep leaves from reverting back to solid green.

Grape Ivy

• Cissus rhombifolia, or grape ivy, climbs by way of tendrils, making it a good choice for indoor trellises or vine-covered walls. Its compound leaves contain three leaflets on soft brown, furry stems that can grow several feet long. Grape ivy needs to dry out slightly between waterings. Pinching the tips will produce denser foliage. Plant grape ivy in a well-draining potting soil and apply a balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer applied once a month.

Hoya

• Hoya, or wax plant, is a slow-growing evergreen vine with woody stems. Its green or variegated leaves are thick and fleshy and grow from 2 to 4 inches long. Hoya produces lovely clusters of waxy, subtly fragrant flowers with a five-pointed pink star in the center. You should never prune off old flowers spurs, since this is where new blooms emerge. The wax plant needs bright, indirect light and tolerates a variety of soils, but is susceptible to nematodes. It has a high drought tolerance, but low salt tolerance, so do not overfertilize. A balanced soluble fertilizer at one-half strength applied once a month is sufficient.