String of Things Collection Care Guide

Featuring String of Dolphins, String of Tears & String of Bananas

There’s something special about trailing succulents. Instead of growing up, they spill over the edges of pots and hanging baskets, becoming more beautiful with every inch of new growth.

Your String of Things collection features three unique trailing succulents with nearly identical care needs, making them perfect to grow together. While each has its own distinct leaf shape and personality, they all thrive with bright light, well-draining soil, and a little patience.

Meet Your Plants

String of Dolphins

Scientific Name: Curio × peregrinus

String of Dolphins gets its name from its fun leaves, which resemble tiny dolphins leaping through the water. It’s a cultivated hybrid created from String of Bananas and String of Pearls.

As it matures, long trailing vines can reach several feet in length, making it a perfect choice for shelves and hanging planters.

Native Background: Cultivated hybrid derived from South African species

Growth Habit: Trailing succulent

Fun Fact: Young plants may have leaves that don’t look exactly like dolphins. As the plant matures and receives plenty of bright light, the dolphin shape becomes much more pronounced.

String of Tears

Scientific Name: Curio citriformis

String of Tears has trailing vines covered in teardrop-shaped leaves. Native to Namibia, it naturally grows across rocky hillsides, where stems root as they spread.

Its slightly blue-green leaves give it a beautiful color than many other trailing succulents, making it a beautiful addition to any collection.

Native Range: Namibia, Southern Africa

Growth Habit: Trailing succulent

Fun Fact: Each leaf has a translucent “window” that helps sunlight reach deeper into the leaf for photosynthesis while conserving water.

String of Bananas

Scientific Name: Curio radicans

String of Bananas is one of the fastest-growing trailing succulents. It has curved, banana-shaped leaves that grow along cascading stems that trail over time.

It’s often recommended for beginners because of its fast growth and its more forgiving .

Native Range: South Africa

Growth Habit: Trailing succulent

Fun Fact: Give it bright light and proper care and String of Bananas can have vines several feet long and is one of the easiest trailing succulents to propagate.

Caring for Your String of Things

Light

Bright light is essential for healthy, compact growth. Place your plants in your brightest window where they’ll receive several hours of bright light each day. Gentle morning or late afternoon sun is beneficial, but introduce direct sun gradually to prevent sunburn.

If the vines become stretched with large gaps between leaves, your plants need more light.

Water

Water deeply until water drains from the bottom of the pot, then let the soil to dry completely before watering again. 

Your soil should dry out within a few days. If it stays wet longer, add more grit to improve your drainage and airflow. Strings should never sit in soggy soil, as too long in wet soil can lead to root rot.

Instead of watering on a schedule, watch your plants. Slightly soft or lightly wrinkled leaves are a better sign that it’s time to water than the calendar.

When in doubt, wait another few days. Especially with string succulents.

Soil

Use a fast-draining cactus or succulent mix. If you grow indoors or tend to overwater, add extra perlite or pumice to your soil. This gets water to drain more quickly and the soil to dry faster between waterings.

Temperature

These trailing succulents thrive between 60°F and 80°F.

Protect them from frost and avoid temperatures below 40°F.

Fertilizer

Feed during spring and summer with a balanced succulent or cactus fertilizer diluted to 1/4 strength. No fertilizing during winter dormancy.

Blooming

With enough light all three plants grow small white flowers with a cinnamon like fragrance. 

Pet Safety

These plants may cause mild to moderate stomach upset if ingested. We recommend keeping them out of reach of curious pets.

Humidity

Average household humidity is ideal. Good airflow is more important than high humidity. Avoid keeping the soil consistently damp in humid environments.

Propagation

Propagated through stem cuttings. Just lay or plant a healthy cutting on well-draining soil, and it will root over time.

Troubleshooting

Mushy or translucent leaves
Usually caused by overwatering or soil that stays wet too long.

Wrinkled or deflated leaves
Your plant is thirsty and ready for a deep watering.

Long gaps between leaves
Your plant needs more light.

Yellowing leaves
Often caused by excess water around the roots or poor drainage.

Slow or sparse growth
Usually gets better with brighter light.

Why We Picked This Collection

We love trailing succulents because they’re constantly changing. Every new vine adds more character, and before long, you’ll have a beautiful plant with tons of vines trailing in every direction.

This collection highlights three of our favorite trailing varieties, each with its own unique leaf shape but all sharing the same beautiful trailing growth. Whether you’re new to succulents or adding to an already established collection, these plants are rewarding to grow and even more fun to propagate. 🪴

Thank You for Growing with Us

Snap a pic, tag @Succly, and show us where your String of Things lives. Bonus points if one is in bloom! 🌼