The Wacky Tapeworm Plant: A Weird and Wonderful Addition to Your Garden
What is a Tapeworm Plant?
Get ready to be amazed by the tapeworm plant (Homalocladium platycladum), also known as the ribbon bush. This strange and fascinating plant is a member of the knotweed family, which includes rhubarb and buckwheat.
Unlike most plants, the tapeworm plant has flat, segmented stems that look just like tapeworms. These stems grow upward from the base, forming a shrub that can reach heights of 4 to 8 feet. The older stems become more rounded, while the younger stems have small leaves.
In late fall and winter, the tapeworm plant produces small greenish-white flowers that are followed by tiny red fruit. The fruit is edible but not very tasty.
How to Grow a Tapeworm Plant
Growing a tapeworm plant is surprisingly easy. It can be planted in full sun or shade, but it prefers some protection from the hot sun. It is also drought tolerant, but for best results, keep it moist.
In warm climates, the tapeworm plant can be grown outdoors. In cooler climates, it should be potted so that it can be moved indoors when temperatures drop. The plant is hardy down to around 25 degrees Fahrenheit, but cold temperatures for any length of time may kill off the stems. However, the plant will re-sprout at its base.
The tapeworm plant is a low-maintenance specimen plant. It is both cold and drought tolerant, and it can even be pruned back to control its height.
Propagating Tapeworm Plants
Propagating tapeworm plants is easy. You can either use seeds or cuttings.
To propagate from seed, sow the seeds in a good-quality potting mix. Keep the seeds moist and at a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In 14 to 21 days, you will have your own tapeworm plants.
To propagate from cuttings, take a cutting from a healthy stem. Remove the leaves from the bottom of the cutting and plant it in a pot filled with potting mix. Keep the cutting moist and at a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In a few weeks, the cutting will root and you will have a new tapeworm plant.
Long-Tail Keywords:
- How to grow a tapeworm plant in a pot: Tapeworm plants can be grown in pots in cooler climates. Simply choose a pot that is large enough to accommodate the plant’s roots and provide good drainage.
- Is the tapeworm plant poisonous to humans: No, the tapeworm plant is not poisonous to humans. However, the fruit is not very tasty and should not be eaten in large quantities.
- How to make tapeworm plant cuttings: To make tapeworm plant cuttings, take a cutting from a healthy stem. Remove the leaves from the bottom of the cutting and plant it in a pot filled with potting mix. Keep the cutting moist and at a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Growing tapeworm plants in cold climates: Tapeworm plants can be grown in cold climates if they are potted and brought indoors when temperatures drop below 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Growing tapeworm plants in full sun: Tapeworm plants can be grown in full sun, but they prefer some protection from the hot sun.
- How to harvest tapeworm plant fruit: The tapeworm plant produces small red fruit in late fall and winter. The fruit is edible but not very tasty.
- What does a tapeworm plant look like: The tapeworm plant has flat, segmented stems that look just like tapeworms. These stems grow upward from the base, forming a shrub that can reach heights of 4 to 8 feet.
- Is the tapeworm plant edible: Yes, the tapeworm plant is edible. However, the fruit is not very tasty and should not be eaten in large quantities.
- How to propagate tapeworm plants from seed: To propagate tapeworm plants from seed, sow the seeds in a good-quality potting mix. Keep the seeds moist and at a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In 14 to 21 days, you will have your own tapeworm plants.
- Growing tapeworm plants indoors: Tapeworm plants can be grown indoors in pots. Simply choose a pot that is large enough to accommodate the plant’s roots and provide good drainage.
