String Of Dolphins Plant Care

The string of dolphins, you must agree, looks adorable, right? While its name sounds like it’s some form of a mammal, this species is a 100% rare plant.

Why? The plant, when it vines, looks like a dolphin necklace. The best part is the succulent grows well in a hanging basket, and you will think there are numerous leaping dolphins in the air. Cut hey!

What is a String of Dolphins?

The Dolphin succulent is adorable to give your home a beachy vibe and is true to its name. The dolphin plant has pods that look like jumping dolphins. A fact is that the string of dolphins is a hybrid between the candle plant (Senecio articulatus) and the string of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus.)

The string of dolphins’ scientific name is Senecio peregrinus, trailing succulents belonging to the Asteraceae family. While these plants can bloom, the flowers are inconspicuous and mostly grown for the attractive foliage.

You can place them in a hanging basket or a vertical garden or use a trellis to train your plants to grow upwards. Another great option is using a moss pole, which depends on your desired look.

Another important note is that the string of dolphins is mainly grown as indoor plants, but you can grow them outdoors. The succulent plant is not frost tolerant and will need a warm spot year-round to survive.

Another crucial note is that this plant is toxic to pets and best kept away from them out of reach.

Plant Care Basics

string of dolphins care card

Soil Needs to Grow Senecio peregrinus

Have you had any succulents or cacti in your plant collection? If yes, you can use the same potting mix you used on them. Since this plant is succulent, it requires a well-draining soil mix.

We know that succulents are characterized by having the ability to store more water than other plant species, so investing in cactus soil is the best thing you can do.

You can also DIY your soil mix by combining potting soil and perlite Perlitetio of 1:2. Perlite Perlitemprove soil drainage. Just don’t forget to sterilize the potting soil to destroy disease-causing organisms.

Another essential thing is to ensure you provide your Dolphin with a pot with enough drainage holes.

String of Dolphins Water

Good news! This portion is the easiest task you’ll ever have regarding Dolphins’ care. As much as real dolphins love water, this succulent does not like overwatering. On your end, I know you’re celebrating. There’s no need to water this one daily.

What it requires is less water, according to the West Virginia University. It can even survive drought conditions without getting stressed. Remember to allow the soil to dry before watering again. And never let it stand in pooling water. Otherwise, be ready to face the pains of root rot.

So, check the pot to ensure the excess water drains freely from the drainage holes.

String of Dolphins Light

plant lighting requirement

Thankfully, these plants can both stand full sunlight and indirect light. That means you could grow it as an outdoor plant or indoors without getting in trouble.

As long as you keep exposed to sunlight only up to 6 hours daily, then you will have no problems. Of course, it’s a different story when the sunlight gives off scorching heat. It could harm those tiny dolphins.

So, you better get them into indirect sunlight if this is the case. Having bright, indirect light is better. While these are succulents like the cactus, they are not that hardy to stand in the sun all day. Thus, bright indirect light is better.

If kept indoors, a south-facing window is just the perfect spot to get morning sun with some shade in the afternoon.

Temperature

Are you living in an area with cooler temperatures? Worry not because this plant can withstand a colder environment better than the other indoor succulents.

It can tolerate as low as 4.5 °C (40 °F). However, anything that goes lower is considered detrimental. Like most succulents, keep in mind that this plant isn’t frost-hardy.

They’d still need protection from time to time. So, if you have your succulents outdoors, we recommend bringing them indoors for the winter.

Humidity

The String of Dolphins prefers a drier environment and does not require much air moisture. Less humidity is better, but the average level is also good.

Don’t place it near your tropical plants, which require high humidity. Your succulent wouldn’t appreciate it. Instead, group it with other succulents and cactus plants. And find a less humid location for them.

Don’t ever put them in the bathroom or a kitchen. As you know, the leaves hold water, and a drier spot will keep them happy.

Fertilizer

The answer is no. Fortunately, our String of Dolphins isn’t a heavy feeder. If you observe that the plant is healthy enough and flourishing, there’s no need to add fertilizer.

In my experience, I only add fertilizer to this succulent once or twice a year during spring. As you know, this plant is grown mainly for the foliage, not the flowers.

It’s also better to incorporate organic fertilizers into the soil. These materials are slow-release and will make a steady supply of nutrients for months. Plus, they’re safer to use rather than synthetic chemicals.

So, if you want to, you can always start making worm casting, and we have a detailed article available on how to do this: Worm Casting: How to make and use.

Propagating Senecio Genus

Propagation of the dolphin necklace plant is easy. Here are some simple steps to take for stem cuttings to propagate in water or soil:

  1. All you need is healthy stem cuttings from the parent plant. Take cuttings with at least two to three nodes found along the stem. You see the nodes where the leaves emerge, where new roots will grow.

  2. To propagate in water, please remove the bottom leaves, submerge the cutting with the nodes below the water surface, and wait for the roots to develop, freshening the water weekly.

  3. Lay the cutting on the soil for soil cuttings and keep it moist.

  4. You should notice roots developing in a couple of weeks, and you can then transfer the water cutting to the soil. Also, keep them out of direct sun and place them in a warm, shaded spot.

USDA Growing Zone

usda map guide for growing string of dolphins

To be sure, please check for the USDA Hardiness Zone. Growing these Senecio plants is perfectly safe if you reside in areas with growth zones 9b to 11b. The climatic conditions in these zones are favorable for their growth.

Potting String of Dolphins

There is no need to bother about regular repotting of your Dolphin. It’s one species that prefers to be a little root round. Ironically, this condition would encourage your Senecio to bloom and produce those white and dainty puffballs.

You can leave your Dolphin for almost three years without repotting. But once the soil gets depleted, there’s a sure need to replace it and repot the Senecio to a larger pot. The best time to do this is to wait until it comes out of winter dormancy and do it in spring.

Still, if the soil needs replenishing, you can use the same pot, but ensure to sterilize it first and freshen up the soil.

Pruning

Yes, you should! This succulent has trailing stems. Normally, the jumping dolphins dangle out of their pot. In this case, there’s a need to prune some stems to keep them to the desired size. Pruning would also help thicken your String of Dolphins. It would be best if you also pinched off dead and yellow leaves.

String Succulent Varieties

I bet it’s not the first time you’ve heard of plants with the “String” name attached to them. Different plants look similar to your String of Dolphins (Senecio peregrinus). We have already mentioned that Senecio articulates candle plants, but now we will introduce you to others.

String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)

string of pearls plant

This one shares the same genus with the String of Dolphins. It’s also a trailing succulent that looks like hanging beads of green color. It looks like a rosary and is a perfect ornament when placed in hanging baskets.

String of Turtles (Peperomia prostrata)

string of turtles plant

Another member of the cute string plants is the String of Turtles. If the String of Dolphins has dolphin-shaped foliage, this one has the looks of a turtle’s shell. Although both are succulents, they belong to completely different families.

String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii)

string of hearts plant

The String of Hearts is called such because the leaves in themselves are heart-shaped. They’re dainty and cute. They look extremely adorable especially when hung. The trailing hearts are even variegated.

Common Diseases & Pests

Aside from common houseplant pests like mealybugs, aphids, and spider mites, there are no other serious threats to consider for your String of Dolphins.

You can handle them the same way you do in treating infested houseplants. As for disease, the only problem you’ll most likely encounter is root rot.

No worries if you’re extra careful using well-draining soil and pots with enough drainage holes.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can place the pot in a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade to prevent the foliage from getting sunburned.

It is a sought-after rare succulent with cascading stems and plum leaves. The leaves resemble dolphins that jump and are a great conversation starter.

Yellow leaves can result from over or underwatering your plants. If you find the soil to dry, give your succulents water, but if it is too wet, we recommend removing your plant to check the roots for rot. It is essential to provide them with well-draining soil and water when the top few inches of the soil are dry.

Your succulent will grow best in warm climates with a temperature as low as 4.5 °C (40 °F) but not lower.

Sadly, while the dolphin succulents have fabulous foliage, it is toxic to pets. So keep them away from your furry friends by placing them in a pot in hanging baskets.

When your dolphins have root rot, it is best to inspect the roots. There is no specific time like waiting for winter to pass or spring to arrive. Remove it from the pot, and if the root looks black, brown, and mushy, we recommend you take a cutting to propagate your plant.

Whether you want to buy, sell, or simply reach out to other plant enthusiasts, Plantly is the right place to be!
 

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