String of Heart, also called Ceropegia woodii is a beautiful trailing succulent that will add beauty to your living space. For some, they could be difficult to maintain However, once you’ve got familiar with them, String of Hearts Succulent is among the most resilient house plants. There is a basics to take good maintenance of String of Hearts in this article.
The String of Hearts is a beautiful and gorgeous hanging plant that is native in South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. Because of its dark green with silver-colored markings that vary in color or with pink, cream and green heart-shaped with patterned leaves, this stunning succulent has captured the hearts of a lot of collectors. It is able to grow up to 3 inches tall and features purple-toned stems which can extend from 3-to-9 feet Make sure to place it in a high spot so that you are amazed by how stunning it is, particularly when it begins to cascade out of the pot, like an emerald waterfall.
Growing String of Hearts Outdoors
It is a great choice for the String of Hearts can be established outside as a lush ground cover within rock garden, as a way of falling down walls in the summer, or even all year long, provided that you reside inside USDA zones 10 or up or in a climate that is always maintained at 60 degrees or more. In other cases, it is better to plant this succulent in an outdoor container or a pot where it is easy to bring inside as soon as temperatures begin to fall to protect it.
As with all succulent, too much light can cause the leaves on String of Hearts to scorch (browning or dry leaves, dry edges of the leaf or slow growth) and insufficient exposure however it can lead to issues such as discoloration or excessive watering. If you intend to plant it outdoors ensure that you place it in a location in which it can receive at least 3-4 hours of direct, bright light and shade during the afternoon. Remember to slowly adapt it to a brighter light before moving the plant from indoors to outside during summer, to avoid burning sun.
Essential Care Guidelines
1. Light Requirements and Temperature Conditions
It is known as the String of Hearts plant likes sunlight and heat, however it doesn’t like direct sunlight. If you are planning to cultivate this String of Hearts as an indoor houseplant, you should make sure you place it in the most bright window you can (South or West-facing windows are highly suggested), and keep the temperature between 80 and 85 degrees in winter, and at 60 degrees. If it is grown outside, the plant must be located in a light and shaded location.
If you’re uncertain if you’re String of Hearts is getting all the sunlight it requires, one easy way to find out is to look at the leaves. If you notice that the leaves are beginning to turn less vibrant (with lesser marbling) and simultaneously being more spaced apart than they usually is, then it’s time to move the plant to an area that is brighter to meet the plant’s lighting needs.
Furthermore it is also important to rotate your plant often as possible. It will guarantee that every side that make up the String of Hearts will get the same amount of sun and will be uniformly colored.
2. Watering Needs
Because that the Chain of Hearts has a succulent-like look, root rot is a common occurrence particularly if it is left in moist soil for a long time. It can, however, be avoided by giving the succulent a bath of water each week or at times when the top 2 or 3 inches of soil are totally dry during the growing season, which occurs in the spring and summer. In the winter and autumn months however the succulent goes into dormancy, so the amount of water you give it should be cut back to once a week for 3-4 weeks, or whenever the soil is dry throughout the pot.
Another method to ensure you’re sure that the String of Hearts only gets the proper amount of water that it needs to flourish and feel happy is to water its beginning. For this, you just need submerge 1/4th of the pot into an empty container for around 10 minutes. Make sure you allow the water to dry before placing the plant back into its container to avoid root decay.
Another method to tell if it’s the right time to provide you Chain of Hearts a good soak is by examining the leaves. If they’re firm to the feel, then your succulent isn’t required to be kept hydrated for long. However, if your leaves are soft when you gently squeeze them, and are able to bend easily and bend, it’s time to give it a good irrigation.
3. Humidity Requirements
Though String of Hearts can be an annual succulent that can be kept in areas with less humidity, which many plants can’t handle as well, it’s preferable to put them in a place in areas where they can get 40 – 50 percent of humidity..
4. Fertilization Guidelines
String of Hearts only need occasional fertilizers and half-diluted fertilizers. They should be fed only once per month during their growing period from May to August. They do not require fertilizers during the winter period of dormancy. period.
Repotting Tips
The String of Heart plants are prolific and can benefit from being replaced every few years. Although they can live pot-bound, title=”how-to-repot-your-hanging-succulent-without-killing-it? “>repot them when roots poke out of drainage holes. The best time for repotting is during the summer the time of their active growth to limit the risks.
However, because the delicate vines are prone to break, care should be taken. Also, ensure that the new pot is fitted with drainage channels and is porous. A terracotta pot will work well since it lets moisture go away.
How to Identify If Your String of Hearts is Underwatered or Overwatered
If the overwatering occurs the leaves of Your String of Hearts will most likely shed or change to brown, yellow or black. And at the same time, they will feel soft and mushy.
If you notice these warning signs, don’t proceed from watering immediately and let the soil dry completely. Additionally, since overwatering implies that the soil has already started to lose its quality, it’s best in replacing it by putting down a brand new and clean one that is well-drained and has enough pores to prevent the growth of root decay.
Water-deficient String of Hearts, in contrast it will display signs of the leaves curving up. They might appear less slender because there’s not any water remaining from its reservoir. If this occurs you should provide the plant with a thorough soak with water (again by letting the soil dry between waterings), and move it to a shaded area. This should give you to allow your String of Hearts to recover within 2 or 3 sessions of watering.
How to Make Your String of Hearts Plant Fuller
One method to create you String of Hearts look fuller and more bushy is by trimming. Although this isn’t required unless the stems of the succulent are becoming sluggish and the leaves are beginning to lose their vibrant hue.
The process of pruning String of Hearts is simple. The only thing you have to do is cut a few branches from the parent plant with an abrasive, clean knife or scissors. Cut it underneath each node that run along alongside the stem (take the length you like), allowing it to develop roots first in water before placing the cut pieces back into the soil to create a larger String of Hearts.
How to Boost the Number of String of Hearts Plants
String of Hearts is relatively easy to propagate. There are three primary ways to propagate them as explained in the following:
1. Water Propagation Technique
This method of propagation is very popular because it’s easy to perform. All you need is prepare an appropriate vase, scissors and a little water. Cut the pieces of vine you wish to root, then place them into the vase and let the roots develop. Make sure to put your vase inside a place with sufficient light so that the root grows faster.
The amount of time required for roots to develop is contingent on temperature and light, under the right conditions roots will emerge within a few days.
2. Soil Propagation Technique
To implement this method To carry out this method, you must remove the vines from the garden and then take the leaves from the side you intend to plant and then place the vines in the soil. In this process it is important to make sure your nodes are completely covered by the soil, so that the roots can develop. Be sure that the vines are in a light, aerated area, with the soil kept damp (water every other week) so that the roots can develop.
For more information make sure you download our free PDF to find out what issues you could face when growing succulents.
3. Tuber Propagation Technique
To use the tuber propagation method it is necessary to locate the largest tuber you can. A fingernail-sized model could be a suitable option. You can keep it on your vine, and then press it in the ground until it begins to develop roots. After it is established, you can remove the plant from its mother plant.
Another method is to cut the tubeer of the vine from the parent plant. Put the tuber in pots filled with soil, and cover the tube with the soil mix. Keep it in a light area and water it every week and after a couple of weeks the tuber should be growing.
4. The Butterfly Technique
“Butterfly Method” The “Butterfly Method” in String of Hearts propagation uses cut-offs that are much smaller that are less than the standard three-inch to six-inch cut. This method requires that cuttings must be only 1/2 inch in length and should have leaves each side that of the. Many gardeners prefer this method of propagation. Butterfly Method for propagation because it is more likely of establishing vines on both sides that cut.
Frequent Issues
As an succulent plant, it is String of Hearts has adapted to survive dry conditions by storing water within its stems and leaves. It requires little maintenance and is able to thrive in all indoor settings. But, that doesn’t suggest the String of Hearts is trouble-free. curly or wrinkled leaves is among these succulents’ most prevalent issues, and usually can be a sign of a variety of root causes. There are a few possible causes for leaves curling:
- Overwatering and underwatering: Insufficient watering is the most frequent cause of curly leaves in succulents. If leaves appear shriveled or wrinkled and curling this means that the plant is in need of more water. . It might sound odd however, too much water can result in the leaf from String of Hearts to curl and wrinkle. The reason for this is because overwatering can cause soil to become saturated which can deprive roots of oxygen they require. This could lead to root suffocation, leading to inadequate nutrient intake and stress on the plant. Furthermore, excess moisture in soil could cause roots to become suffocated which prevents them from taking in water effectively. In the end, the leaves could curl in an expression of stress.
- insufficient light:String of Hearts demands sufficient light to perform photosynthesis and to maintain it’s overall wellness. If it is not getting enough light its capacity to create energy is affected and can cause curling of the leaves.
- Low humidity String of Hearts succulents thrive in moderate to high humidity conditions (40-50% humidity) If the air gets excessively dry, the plants could suffer from moisture loss leading to curled leaves.
- Transfer shock is also an explanation for the curly leaves within String of Hearts. When a plant transplanted into a new pot, or place, its roots could be damaged or damaged, which affects its capacity to absorb nutrients and water. This can cause short-term leaf curling while the plant adapts to its new surroundings.
- Diseases and pests could affect the ability of plants to regulate water intake and transpiration. In excess, the feeding of pests or damage caused by disease could cause water loss off the plant’s leaves. The imbalance in water could cause wilting and curling of the leaves when the plant attempts to save water.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are strings of hearts difficult to expand?
Though String of Hearts plants don’t require much attention and can withstand neglect easily but it is particular about what it requires and therefore it’s a mid-range in terms of care difficulty degree. - Why is my string hearts disappearing leaves?
When your String of Hearts’ leaves begin to turn yellow before falling off, the primary reason is excessive watering. Roots of the plant are delicate and small, so too high levels of moisture in soil can cause root rot, which means that the vines and leaves gradually die before being able to fall off the plant. - How can you create a heart string more bushy?
The best way to increase the size of your string of hearts more full is to place them in a spot with ample indirect lighting. It’s recommended to trim the vines regularly to increase branching and growth.
