How to Take Care of String of Hearts? Every essential question answered

Introduction

Say hello to the String of hearts plant! No, it’s not a title of a movie or novel but a houseplant native to South Africa that literally looks like a ‘string of hearts.’ It’s a succulent vine holding beautiful heart-shaped leaves that are greenish with a touch of purple color sometimes.

Just as we understand humans to maintain a relationship, we need to understand the chemistry and biological characteristics of the String of hearts to provide a suitable environment to live in. So, let’s dive into some proven methods to take care of this succulent.

The String of hearts plant requires bright filtered light, well-drained moist soil, which is watered once the topmost surface of the soil is dry. It prefers temperatures between 65-85°F (18-29°C), while humidity should be about 40%. It needs semi-regular pruning and infrequent fertilization.

String of Hearts 101

It simply looks mesmerizing, resting in vases and shelves at our homes. However, looking after a string of hearts is not that simple. See, the String of hearts is a delicate plant that needs proper care. Some may find it demanding to grow and take care of the heart of strings, but what these ‘some people’ neglect is that heart of strings is not just any plant.

Here is a brief overview of the String of hearts plant:

Specie Name	Ceropegia woodii
Common Names	String of heart, chain of heart, rosary vine, collar of hearts
Native Area	South Africa, Zimbabwe and Swaziland
Plant Type	Succulent and vine
Blooming Season	Late Summer-Autumn
Sun Condition	Enjoys bright light but avoid direct light
Max Height	10cm

Caring for the String of hearts plant

The String of hearts, also known as Ceropegia woodii is a fast-growing trailing succulent. Its robust growth and tolerant nature make it a fantastic choice to add as indoor décor. So, if you are looking for an easy-to-care and gorgeous ornamental succulent, then you are studying the right plant.

Here are the needs of the String of Hearts plant outlined for you:

• Ideal soil: Well-drained soil with sand, perlite, or any other material that adds grittiness to the mix. A blend of cactus soil mix and succulent soil mixes work particularly well for it.
• Drainage Needs: It requires excellent drainage to prosper.
• Water Requirements: Opt for the soak and dry method. Water the plant only when the soil seems to be completely dry as the String of hearts plant is drought resistant.
• Sunlight Requirements: Prefers bright indirect sunlight. Provide it with filtered sunlight or place it near a sunny windowsill, and it should be good to go.
• Hardiness zones: USDA Zones 9 to 12
• Temperature: 65°F to 85°F (18°C to 29°C)
• Humidity: 40 percent (average levels of humidity)
• Ideal pH: 6.5 to 7
• Frost-Resistance: Poor
• Fertilizer: Infrequently fertilize it in the growing season between May and August. Otherwise, refrain from feeding it anything.
• Pruning: No need to prune unless for aesthetic reasons.
• Propagation: Occurs through cuttings, leaves, and tubers.
• Repotting: Should only be repotted once every two years to aid better growth.
• Toxicity: Is not toxic to any known animals or humans.

I have aligned all the tips you would need to follow to take good care of the String of hearts plant.

Light conditions

This plant enjoys bright light but doesn’t like direct sunlight. The best option would be to expose it to filtered light. If you notice large spaces between leaves, then readjust the lighting conditions.

Warning

Large quantities of direct sunlight will scorch the leaves. If you want to save your plant from getting sunburned, you must keep it away from aggressive light during the day! Otherwise, be prepared to see your plant suffer.

Temperature:

The String of hearts enjoys warmer conditions and should ideally be exposed to temperature levels between 65°F to 85°F (18°C to 29°C). That is why they will grow well in regions between USDA Zones 9 to 12.

Only choose to get this succulent if the climate you expose it to will be suitable! Otherwise, you risk killing a plant for no good reason.

Watering:

You should check the soil before watering the plant. If the topmost soil is dry, then you can proceed to water your plant. The soil should be slightly moist in summers and fall. The plant is dormant during winter and fall so that it will consume lesser water. You can adjust the amount of water you give to the plant according to the season.

Warning

Overwatering the String of hearts plant is a terrible idea. Not only can it cause root rot, but it can also make the leaves excessively soggy!

Fertilizer:

The best thing you can do is use a fertilizer specifically made for succulents. For best results, you should feed the plant during its active period between May and August. The plant needs no fertilizer during its dormant period so don’t waste resources to feed it during that time!

Pro-tip

Use a fertilizer with a low quantity of nitrogen to see the String of Hearts plant flourish!

Repotting:

The String of hearts benefits from repotting and if you own a small desktop plant, try repotting it every 12-18 months. For a larger plant, try repotting it every 18-24 months. They have sensitive vines so be careful when you transfer it to another pot. The best time to repot String of hearts is during summer. During the summers, the plant is growing and can adapt itself to a new enclosure easily!

Propagating my String of heart

The String of hearts plant is known for its robust growth and can get tangled quite easily. Therefore, you need to propagate the plant to give it the desired direction. I will suggest four common ways of propagating the plant effectively!

1. Water propagation:

In this method, you take few cuttings from your plant and submerge them in water. Then you ensure that the cutting you are placing within the water doesn’t have any leaves. Similarly, the part above should have some leaves. The larger the cutting used to propagate the plant, the more likely it is to flourish.

2. Soil propagation:

This method is almost the same as the water method. Except, now you place the cuttings in soil. To increase the chances of each cutting’s growth, you can dip them in TakeRoot Rooting Hormone which is available on Amazon.

3. Regrowth in the same vessel:

For this method, you take the lower part of your vine and place it above the pot forming a circle. Then, you can gently dip the lower parts of the plant in the pot or pin them using a clip, etc. You need to ensure the plant gets bright light and the soil is moist to enhance the chances of good growth.

Tuber Propagation:

For this method, you will need to get a maximum-sized tuber. After that, you simply leave this on the vines and push it in the soil to grow roots. You can cut the vine from the mother roots as soon as it grows roots.

Some Helpful products:

I have arranged a list of products that can help you in propagating and taking care of your String of heart plant.

Conclusion

The String of Hearts plant is a low-maintenance succulent that needs filtered light, a slightly moist, well-draining soil that is watered once the topmost soil has dried. It can thrive if given exposure to ideal conditions like temperatures between 65 and 85°F (18-29°C) and average humidity of 40%. It doesn’t really need fertilization and hardly requires pruning.

If you’re new to all of this and feel overwhelmed, I think you should read more about the topic. I recommend this comprehensive guide that will tell how to grow succulents.

Posted in: Indoor Succulents Gardening Tips String of Hearts Plant Safe Succulents Pet-Friendly Succulents Trailing Succulents Apocynaceae