String of Dolphins Care Guide

Family: Asteraceae

Genus: Senecio

Botanical Name: Senecio peregrinus

Difficulty: generally low-maintenance

Light

Your string of dolphins thrive in full to partial sunlight. They can adapt to medium light, but you will need to rotate them more often in these light conditions. They will be the happiest if they’re able to get 6 hours of sunlight every day.

Water

They are fairly drought tolerant and bounce back from underwatering pretty quickly. Their leaves hold a lot of water, so let the soil get completely dry between each watering. They will need watering more frequently in the growing months and will need less once fall and winter hit.

Climate

String of dolphins are not drama queens when it comes to temperature and humidity. They actually prefer cooler temperatures than most succulents. In fact, they will be fine in temperatures as low as 40°F! We have good news for those of you who are scared of them because of their relationship to string of pearls: you don’t have to worry about keeping these guys away from drafts or AC!

Soil

Keep your string of dolphins in an airy, well-draining cactus and succulent mix. You don’t need to worry about a fertilizing schedule with string of dolphins. You should be careful when fertilizing them because they could lose their cute shape if over-fertilized. Stick to lighter feedings in the early spring if you want to encourage healthy growth and blooms.

Pests and Diseases

Like most succulents, string of dolphins can become infested with mealybugs and fungus gnats. As log as you’re careful to avoid overwatering and keep them away from other plants that are infested with them, you shouldn’t have problems with those guys!

Tips

• Your string of dolphins will go crazy under a grow light.

• Don’t mist your dolphins—they don’t need it!

• Keep your dolphins a little root bound to encourage flowering.

• They love to be in smaller containers.

Signs your string of dolphins isn’t happy

• Shriveled dolphins: under watered

• Flat leaves: not enough bright light

• Stems growing upwards: reaching for the light source and they’re okay!

• Turning red purple: too much sun or heat

How to propagate

Always make sure to use a sterile, sharp knife or scissors when propagating. Go all the way down to the bottom of the stem for your cutting. When propagating string of dolphins, allow them to callous for a week or so before placing them in soil and allow the soil to get completely dry before watering them.

Fun Facts

• They can produce cute little white flowers.

• They look like dolphins leaping through the air.

• They’re a cross pollination of string of pearls and a candle plant.

Hardiness Zones

Before you move your plant outside, be sure to check the hardiness zone to save yourself some grief and the loss of a beloved plant.

Hardiness zones for string of dolphins are: 9b-11b

If you live in Tennessee, here’s a hardiness map to help you decide if your plant can survive outside!