The bridal veil plant, also called Stephanotis floribunda or Madagascar Jasmine, is a member of the milkweed or Apocynaceae family from Madagascar. The plant’s genus name, Stephanotis, refers to its tiny white three-pealed, earlike flowers that naturally appear at the tip of the plant’s shoots and its joints. Moreover, the bridal veil plant is most often grown in hanging baskets, indoors or outside. Below, we explore how to take care of a bridal veil plant.
Does The Bridal Veil Plant Have Any Other Names?
The specific epithet, floribunda, means having many flowers, while the genus name, Stephanotis, is a Greek word meaning crown and ear. The bridal veil plant also has other common terms that include:
- Bridal Bouquet
- Madagascar Jasmine.
- Wax Flower
- Hawaiian Wedding Flower.
- Tahitian Bridal Veil Plant
Different Types of Bridal Veil Plants
The Madagascar Jasmine is usually sold under different varieties of genus and species names. It is known as Tahitian bridal veil, dotted bridal veil, Tradescantia multiflora, or Tripogandra multiflora. Furthermore, there are also very similar species, such as Gibasis geniculata, which is often confused with pellucida, but they are not related.
Main Uses of Bridal Veil Plants
The bridal veil plant can be used for numerous purposes that include:
- As a houseplant, it makes a delightful conversation piece.
- The plants’ pretty, fragrant white flowers are often used in wreaths, bridal bouquets, etc.
- The plant makes fantastic hanging baskets to move in during winter and out during summer in USDA plant hardiness zones cooler than Zone 10.
- As a filler flower, the bridal veil’s flowers contribute a significant amount of fragrance to bridal wreaths and bridal bouquets without occupying too much space.
How to Prune Bridal Veil Plants
When pruning your plant, it is advisable to use clean gardening shears to remove all dead or weak plant parts and to cut off unwanted long masses of branches to shape the plant. This is important since pruning your bridal veil plant encourages more blooms. You should ensure that the shears’ blades are cleaned before and after use by thoroughly wiping them with a cotton swab or a cotton ball immersed in 70 percent isopropyl alcohol.
Best Soil for Bridal Veil Plants
When planting your stephanotis vine, you should choose a large container and fill it with half potting soil and half leaf compost or mold. This organic matter is essential in providing your plant with the required nutrients and helps to acidify your soil between a pH of 5.5 to 6.5.
Just as with many tropical plants, the bridal veil plant thrives well with a cool root run and a light, airy, well-drained soil mixture that consists of:
- 1-part Vermiculite.
- 2 parts Peat Moss.
How Much Light Do Bridal Veil Plants Need?
The stephanotis vine appreciates diffused light. Therefore, during warm months, place your plant on a shaded porch, while in the colder months, place it in a room that receives bright, indirect light. Moreover, remember to avoid exposing your plant to direct sunlight as this could turn its foliage brown.
How Often to Water Bridal Veil Plants
When watering your bridal veil plant, it is advisable to use a container with adequate drainage and only water it not more than twice weekly during the growing season. This prevents rotting the roots since the plant does better with drier soil.
Ideal Temperature Conditions for Bridal Veil Plants
The Madagascar Jasmine successfully grows on bright spots with moderate heat of about 55-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, it is essential to monitor the temperature where the plant is placed closely, or instead, you can conveniently plant it indoors or outdoors on a garden trellis.
Humidity Conditions for Bridal Veil Plants
During winters, protect your plant from the cold by placing the pots near the window, where the temperature is relatively higher. In humid seasons, make sure to spray your bridal veils to mist them mildly.
Best Fertilizer for Bridal Veil Plants
It is advisable to feed your plant with a 5-10-5 liquid fertilizer after every fortnight. Carefully mix 1-part fertilizer to 4 parts water and keenly pour onto your moistened soil without wetting the plant’s foliage.
How to Propagate Bridal Veil Plants
The following are the easy-to-follow tips on how to propagate your bridal veil plant properly:
- During the spring, cut off half- mature stem tips with 3-4 joints from half-ripe wood.
- Carefully dip in a rooting hormone powder.
- Root in a soilless growing medium or peat and coarse sand.
- Maintain high humidity.
- Keep the temperatures high to about 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cover your stem cuttings with a plastic bag to preserve the moisture.
- Place your plant in a place with high humidity away from indirect light.
- Transplant only when the roots become established.
Note: Stephanotis can grow from seeds, but they are hard to come by, and the process is very slow.
Growth Rate of Bridal Veil Plants
The bridal veil plant grows typically more than 10 feet long.
Ideal Pot Size for Bridal Veil Plants
This rambling, vining plant is often a cluster of small plants such that a cascade of lower-dotted greenery is usually created by grouping ten or more of the plants’ easily-rooted cuttings in an 8-inch hanging basket.
Repotting Tips for Bridal Veil Plants
Similar to other tropical plants, the Stephanotis vines prefer light, airy, well-drained soil potting mediums.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Bridal Veil Plants Edible?
Bridal veil plants are non-toxic, but this doesn’t mean that you should eat them as ingestion could lead to allergic reactions or an upset stomach.
Are Bridal Veil Plants Toxic to Cats and Dogs?
The plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Is The Bridal Veil Plants Poisonous?
The plant is not poisonous to both humans and pets.
Do Bridal Veil Plants Prefer to Grow Indoors or Outside?
The plant is likely to produce good blooms if grown indoors during the warmest months of the year. Nonetheless, if the plant receives ample light, warmth, and humidity, it can bloom year-round.
If you would like to read about some more great indoor plants here are ones we recommend:
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Conclusion
The bridal veil plant is popularly known for its long, cascading stems and tiny white flowers that appear from spring to fall. Moreover, the plant can be grown in any container with sufficient drainage, but the plant is more attractive when planted in a hanging pot. The plant can also successfully grow outdoors as a perennial plant in USDA hardiness zone 9b and above.