Easy Succulent Safe for pets

String of Hearts

Ceropegia woodii

A trailing plant with thin purple stems bearing small heart-shaped leaves marbled with silver-green and dark green.

The essentials at a glance

Watering

Every 12 days
Light

Bright indirect light
Humidity

30–50 %
Temperature

10–28 °C

How to care for your String of Hearts

Everything you need to keep your String of Hearts healthy: watering, light, humidity, feeding, repotting and pruning.

Ceropegia woodii is a trailing succulent plant native to South Africa, famous for its charming small heart-shaped leaves. Its long, thread-like purple stems bear pairs of leaves marbled silver-green on top and purplish underneath. It develops a tuberous caudex that allows it to withstand long periods of drought. Easy to grow and propagate thanks to its aerial tubers, it is an ideal hanging plant that can reach several meters in length.

Watering your String of Hearts

Every 12 days

Water moderately when the substrate is thoroughly dry. The caudiciform tuber stores water, making it drought-resistant. Reduce in winter.

How to know it needs water

Substrate dry throughout
Leaves curling slightly or appearing thinner
The base tuber no longer firm to the touch

How much light a String of Hearts needs

Bright indirect light

Bright indirect light with a few hours of direct sun. The brighter the light, the more colorful and compact the foliage. Tolerates partial shade but will etiolate.

Direct sun tolerated: 2 to 4 h a day
Orientations that suit it: East, South-east, South, South-west, West, North-west

Humidity and misting

30–50 %

Low to moderate (30–50%). Tolerates dry indoor air very well. No misting needed. Prefers dry to moderate air.

Feeding and fertiliser

Every 30 days

Fertilize once a month from spring to autumn. No fertilization in winter.

Recommended feed: Liquid foliage plant fertilizer diluted to half strength. · 2-7-7

Repotting your String of Hearts

Every 24 months

Use a shallow pot with good drainage. Well-draining substrate (cactus mix and perlite). Place the tuber partially above the substrate surface. Small aerial tubers on the stems can be laid on the substrate to root.

When: Spring
Potting mix: Cactus and succulent mix
Mix in: perlite, pumice, coarse sand

The tell-tale signs

The tuber filling the pot
Roots very tightly packed
Stems going bare at the base despite good conditions

Pruning your String of Hearts

In spring or summer if stems become too long or bare. Cut stems to the desired length. Portions with nodes can be replanted for propagation. Small aerial tubers on the stems can also be planted.

Through the year

Watering is not set once and for all: it follows the light and the growth. Allow 22 days between waterings in the depth of winter, against 10 in the growing season.

18 J
16 F
12 M
11 A
10 M
10 J
10 J
11 A
12 S
14 O
18 N
22 D

Active growth · Days between waterings

Good to know

Ceropegia woodii develops a tuberous caudex at its base that serves as a water reserve, and also produces small aerial tubers on its stems that allow easy propagation.
Its tubular flowers are actual insect traps: small flies are lured inside by downward-pointing hairs, and are only released once covered in pollen.

Frequently asked questions about the String of Hearts

How do you care for a String of Hearts?

Water it every 12 days. Give it bright indirect light. Ideal humidity: 30–50 %. Ideal temperature: 10–28 °C. Water moderately when the substrate is thoroughly dry. The caudiciform tuber stores water, making it drought-resistant. Reduce in winter.

How often should you water a String of Hearts?

Every 12 days Water moderately when the substrate is thoroughly dry. The caudiciform tuber stores water, making it drought-resistant. Reduce in winter. How to know it needs water : Substrate dry throughout ; Leaves curling slightly or appearing thinner ; The base tuber no longer firm to the touch.

How much light does a String of Hearts need?

Bright indirect light Bright indirect light with a few hours of direct sun. The brighter the light, the more colorful and compact the foliage. Tolerates partial shade but will etiolate. 2 to 4 h a day

Is the String of Hearts toxic to cats and dogs?

No, the String of Hearts is not listed as toxic to cats and dogs. That is still no reason to let your pets chew on it.

Why are my String of Hearts leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing most often comes from too much water: the mix stays wet and the roots suffocate. Check that the pot drains, empty the saucer, and let the mix dry before watering again. Too little light or a cold draught cause the same symptom.

When should you repot a String of Hearts?

Repot every 24 months, ideally in spring. Use a shallow pot with good drainage. Well-draining substrate (cactus mix and perlite). Place the tuber partially above the substrate surface. Small aerial tubers on the stems can be laid on the substrate to root.