Pay attention to a few Dichondra Silver Falls care basics and you’ll be rewarded with a great feature plant that’s perfect for creating a cascading effect in a rock garden, along the edge of a raised bed, or from atop high window boxes or tall containers. With its silver stems and small, fan-shaped leaves, elegant Silver Falls Dichondra combines beautifully with low-growing flowering plants like lobelia, dianthus, and dwarf ageratum. In warm climates—think zones 8 and up—you can expect Dichondra to perform like a tough perennial plant. Elsewhere, it works as an annual or an indoor houseplant. Let’s get to know more about this wonderful plant.

Meet Dichondra Silver Falls

Known as Silver Falls Dichondra or sometimes just Silver Dichondra, this plant’s official botanical name is Dichondra argentea. (In some circles, you may also hear Dichondra Silver Falls called by the common name “silver nickel vine” or even “ponysfoot.”) It comes from North and Central America—parts of Texas and Mexico to be exact—and, depending on the cultivar you choose, the pretty trailing plant may have a more grayish-green than silver color.

Want one of the silver varieties? Make sure to choose Dichondra argentea. For green types, try the related Dichondra repens ‘Emerald Falls.’

Where to grow this plant

Dichondra Silver Falls hates wet feet. In other words? These plants won’t tolerate prolonged periods in very wet soil. As such, the best Dichondra Silver Falls care starts with situating your plants in just the right spots—namely, those which provide excellent drainage. So, if you’ll be planting directly in the ground, that means you’d better have soil that’s mostly sandy loam, rather than heavy clay. And, if you’re growing Dichondra Silver Falls in a container, choose a light, well-draining potting soil for the job.

Silver Falls also thrives in warm climates. If you live in an area that gets light-to-heavy frosts, wait until late spring to put your plants outside. Ideally, your nighttime temperatures should be at least 50° F (10° C) and daytime temperatures should be about 70° F (21° C).

Dichondra Silver Falls care advice

Making sure you give your plants the right amount of light is critical to good Dichondra Silver Falls care. Although full sun is best for this wandering plant, it can tolerate some part shade. Growing Silver Falls as houseplants? Give them as much light as possible by placing them in or near a South-facing window if you can.

How often to water Dichondra Silver Falls

 Watering regularly is also essential for proper Dichondra Silver Falls care; however, these plants are actually quite drought-tolerant and don’t appreciate excess moisture. When it’s hot out, you may need to water every week or so. Still, to avoid overwatering—and to prevent associated diseases like powdery mildew—avoid applying water directly to plant foliage if possible. Instead, direct water to the base of the plant. It also helps to let these plants dry out between waterings.

Finally, if you’re growing Silver Falls in a container, simply place the container’s bottom in a shallow pan of water to allow plant roots to wick up needed moisture. (Just don’t leave it soaking for too long, since Silver Falls prefers to be on the drier side.)

Does Dichondra need to be fertilized?

Because this beauty isn’t a heavy feeder, fertilizing isn’t a Dichondra Silver Falls care imperative. As long as your soil is rich in organic matter, it should provide your Silver Falls with ample nutrients.

If you do wish to fertilize, try a slow-release, nitrogen-rich product like this organic bat guano.

Pruning and trimming tips

When it comes to good Dichondra Silver Falls care, there’s a time and place for trimming. Grown as a hanging plant, Silver Falls can dangle down 4 to 5 ft in all. You may opt to remove excess length if any unruly Dichondra stems have reached the ground

When grown as ground cover, Dichondra forms dense mats which really can sprawl. As a result, you might want to neaten things up with a quick trim along the edges of stairways or sidewalks.

And pruning damaged or yellowing leaves can help spur healthier, new growth. Always use clean, sharp snips to make your cuts and discard any potentially diseased plant material.

How to propagate Dichondra Silver Falls

Although live plants are available from nurseries, it’s often easy to find seed to start your own Dichondra plants. If you go this route, press seeds into the top of a pre-moistened garden bed or well-draining seed-starting mix. Periodically mist to keep soil moisture levels consistent until your seeds germinate. This will take about seven to 14 days.

You can also propagate Dichondra plants by layering healthy runners. To start, leave the runner attached to the parent plant and position the runner’s end atop a nearby container of moistened seed-starting mix. Gently pin in place, so the runner’s leaf nodes make good soil contact. Once new roots develop from these nodes, you can separate your new plant from its parent.

Additional tips for success

 Beyond the Dichondra Silver Falls care basics, here are a few extra tips to keep your plants in top shape:

• Insect checks—Flea beetles are among Dichondra’s most common pests. If need be, you can treat serious outbreaks with an organic insecticide like Neem oil.
• Cover-up—Adding organic mulch like shredded leaves will suppress weeds while you wait for Dichondra patches to fill in.
• Repotting—Moving a container-grown Dichondra to a larger pot? Use a little care when handling this plant’s delicate root-ball area, and situate it in the new planting hole at a depth which keeps the plant not too far above or below the surrounding soil line.

Happy trails

With its long runners of silvery leaves, Silver falls is an attractive trailing plant commonly used to create a flowing effect from the edges of pots both indoors and out. Once they’re established, Dichondra plants require little attention, and, fortunately, getting the hang of Dichondra Silver Falls care is as simple as providing good drainage and plenty of sunlight and allowing your plants to dry out between watering sessions.

Depending on your climate, you may need to grow your Dichondra Silver Falls plants in containers or as annuals in the outdoor garden bed, bringing them indoors for the cooler months.

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