Million hearts (Dischidia ruscifolia) care

Vines & trailers · straightforward to keep

Last updated 26 October 2026

Million hearts (Dischidia ruscifolia) wants bright indirect light. Water it weekly. Water when the mix is almost dry, thoroughly, and let it drain. The leaves are succulent, and it rots far faster than it dries out. Pot it in very free-draining — orchid bark, perlite and a little compost. A balanced feed at half strength every second or third watering in spring and summer, and repot every 2 years. Humidity: above 50%. Not on the ASPCA's list of toxic or non-toxic plants, so we don't call it pet-safe: not being listed is not the same as being tested.

Million hearts: thin, trailing stems lined with pairs of tiny, fleshy, heart-shaped leaves. An epiphyte related to the hoyas, it wants the same treatment — an airy mix, bright indirect light, and drying out between waterings.

Quick facts

Water: Water weekly. Water when the mix is almost dry, thoroughly, and let it drain. The leaves are succulent, and it rots far faster than it dries out.
Light: Bright indirect light.
Humidity: Above 50%.
Soil: Very free-draining — orchid bark, perlite and a little compost.
Feeding: A balanced feed at half strength every second or third watering in spring and summer.
Repotting: Repot every 2 years.
Toxic to pets: Not on the ASPCA's list of toxic or non-toxic plants, so we don't call it pet-safe: not being listed is not the same as being tested. Keep it out of reach of a pet that chews.
Difficulty: Straightforward.
Mature size: Trailing stems to 1 m.
Native to: The Philippines.

Watering a Million hearts

Water weekly. Water when the mix is almost dry, thoroughly, and let it drain. The leaves are succulent, and it rots far faster than it dries out.

That cadence is the one PlantParlour sets for this species when you name it, and it is deliberately on the cautious side — a plant that asks a day early is safer than one that asks a day late. Log each watering and the reminder moves with the plant rather than with the calendar.

Light

Bright indirect light. Like hoyas, dischidias grow on tree bark in the wild, and direct sun scorches the small leaves.

Humidity and temperature

Above 50%. Central heating in winter is what turns a comfortable room into a dry one, and it is the usual reason an established plant suddenly browns at the edges or picks up spider mites.

Soil and potting

Hoyas are epiphytes that root into bark and moss. A chunky mix of bark and perlite with a little compost is right; ordinary potting soil holds far too much water.

Feeding

A balanced feed at half strength every second or third watering in spring and summer. Stop feeding in autumn and start again when you see new growth in spring — feeding a plant that isn't growing just builds up salts in the pot.

Repotting

Repot every 2 years. Rarely. Hoyas flower best tightly potbound, and repotting a plant that is about to bloom usually costs you the flowers. Every three or four years is plenty.

Common problems

Shrivelled leaves
Under-watering — or roots that have rotted and can't drink.

Fix: Check the roots: water if they are firm, cut away the soft ones if not.
Leaves yellowing and dropping
Overwatering, or cold.

Fix: Let the mix dry further between waterings and keep it above 15 °C.

Yellow leaves: how to read it on any plant

Propagation

Stem cuttings root readily in damp sphagnum moss.

A cutting taken in PlantParlour keeps its link to the plant it came from, so a propagation years later still traces back to the mother plant — which is the point if you ever sell or trade it.

Toxicity and safety

Not on the ASPCA's list of toxic or non-toxic plants, so we don't call it pet-safe: not being listed is not the same as being tested. Keep it out of reach of a pet that chews.

If your pet has eaten a plant, call your vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435, or the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661. Both are open around the clock and may charge a consultation fee. Take the plant or its label with you.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. We don't test plants: what we say about toxicity follows the ASPCA's published plant list as it stood on 26 October 2026, and that list can change. "Non-toxic" means not poisonous — a pet that eats enough of any plant can still vomit, and fertiliser, pesticide or leaf shine on a plant can harm it. It also only helps if the plant is what you think it is. It covers cats and dogs only; ask your vet about rabbits, birds, reptiles or anything else, and a doctor about children. Read our terms.

Every houseplant in the library the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs

Questions people ask

How often should you water a Million hearts?

Water weekly as a starting point — that is the cadence PlantParlour sets for Dischidia ruscifolia. Water when the mix is almost dry, thoroughly, and let it drain. The leaves are succulent, and it rots far faster than it dries out. Light, pot size and the time of year all move that number, so treat it as a reminder to go and check rather than a rule.

How much light does a Million hearts need?

Bright indirect light. Like hoyas, dischidias grow on tree bark in the wild, and direct sun scorches the small leaves.

Is Million hearts toxic to cats and dogs?

Not on the ASPCA's list of toxic or non-toxic plants, so we don't call it pet-safe: not being listed is not the same as being tested. Keep it out of reach of a pet that chews. If a pet has eaten part of a plant, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 straight away.

How do you propagate a Million hearts?