Callisia repens

Turtle Vine, Creeping Inch Plant, Creeping Basket Plant, Inch Plant, Bolivian Jew, Dwarf Wandering Jew, Chain Plant, Little Jewel, Tiny Buttons

Easy careTerrestrialMildly toxic5–15 cm

A compact creeper from tropical Mexico and South America, forming dense mats of small oval leaves on jointed, purple-flushed stems. In the wild it colonises forest floors and streambanks — conditions that give it a preference for steady warmth and moderate moisture, which both open and closed terrariums can provide. Each leaf is dark green above with a distinctly purple underside, creating a two-tone effect that shifts with the viewing angle. It spreads quickly by rooting at its stem nodes wherever they touch moist substrate, so plan for occasional trimming to keep it in check.

Build a terrarium with this plant
Turtle Vine image

Care

Prefers medium humidity, bright indirect light, with 10–30 °C, and reaches 15 cm at maturity.

Light

Bright indirect(preferred)Indirect lightDirect light

Humidity

Medium (40–60%)(preferred)High (60–80%)Low (30–40%)

Temperature

10°C25°C40°C
10°C – 30°C

Soil

Well draining(preferred)LoamySandy

Moisture

Moist(preferred)

Soil pH

5.5 – 6.5

Propagation

Take a 7–10 cm cutting and strip the lower leaves. Place in water until roots appear, then transfer to moist substrate — or push directly into damp potting mix. Nodes begin rooting within days; the cutting should be well-established within two to three weeks.

Native range

Native to Northern South America, Southeastern U.S.A., Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, Western South America, Brazil, and Southern South America.

Appearance

Growth habit

CreepingTrailing

Leaf shape

Oval

Leaf texture

WaxySucculent

Frequently asked

Can Turtle Vine grow in a closed terrarium?

Turtle Vine prefers medium (40–60%) humidity, which is below the level a closed terrarium typically maintains. It is better suited to an open terrarium or houseplant setup.

Does Turtle Vine need drainage?

Turtle Vine prefers a moist substrate. Drainage is helpful but not critical; consistent moisture matters more.

What humidity does Turtle Vine need?

Turtle Vine does best in medium (40–60%) humidity.

Is Turtle Vine pet-safe?

Turtle Vine is mildly toxic if ingested — keep out of reach of pets and children.

How tall does Turtle Vine grow?

Turtle Vine typically reaches 5–15 cm at maturity.

How do you propagate Turtle Vine?

Turtle Vine can be propagated by stem cuttings or division.

References

  1. 1

    Kew Plants of the World Online — Callisia repens

    https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:223420-2
  2. 2
  3. 3

    NC State Extension — Callisia repens

    https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/callisia-repens/
  4. 4

    Plantophiles — Callisia repens Care

    https://plantophiles.com/plant-care/callisia-repens/
  5. 5
  6. 6

    The Skilled Gardener — Callisia repens

    https://theskilledgardener.com/callisia-repens/