How to Grow and Care for String of Hearts

The String of Hearts is a trailing succulent plant native to southern Africa. It has heart-shaped leaves in green, silver, and cream that grow on long, purple-toned stems. Thanks to its attractive foliage and growth habit, the String of Hearts has become popular among plant collectors. It can reach 2 to 3 inches in height with stems growing 3 to 9 feet long. With its potential length, the string of hearts can be used as a hanging plant as well. If you want to learn more about how to grow and care for String of Hearts, first you should look at an overview of the String of Hearts.

Botanical Name	Ceropegia woodii
Common Names	Rosary Vine Chinese Lantern String Of Hearts Chain Of Hearts
Plant Type	Vine Succulent
Soil Type	Well-drained
Sun Exposure	Partial
Bloom Time	Summer Fall
Flower Color	Red White
Mature Size	1-2 in. tall 1.5 in. wide

The String of Hearts succulent thrives in bright, indirect light. It is well-suited to shelving or hanging planters that allow its trailing stems and leaves to cascade over the sides. By providing ample light without direct sun exposure and choosing an appropriate container that showcases its trailing growth habit, you can create an eye-catching display with the String of Hearts plant.

There are 5 common types of the String of Hearts. Look at an overview of these types below:

• Orange River: This type of the String of Hearts is really easy to recognize with its green leaves and orange tint.
• Heartless: You may know Heartless as another name, such as Mini Star, or Durban. Its leaves are bright green with pink undersides.
• Silver Glory: Their apple-shaped leaves have dark green lines on them.
• Ceropegia linearis: It’s unique among other types of the String of Hearts with its needle-like foliage.
• Ceropegia woodii variegata: Their green leaves are marked with various colors, such as cream, silver, and pink.

Outdoors

The String of Hearts can be grown outdoors year-round in warm climates, thriving as a ground cover or cascading over walls and rock gardens. It is suitable for USDA zones 10 [1] and up, or where temperatures remain above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. In cooler regions, the String of Hearts is best grown as a container plant that can be moved indoors during cold weather. By choosing the appropriate growing conditions for your local climate or utilizing a movable container, you can enjoy the String of Hearts as either a permanent outdoor planting or a houseplant that spends the warm months outside.

Indoors

When growing String of Hearts indoors, it is important to place it in a spot that gets 3 to 4 hours of bright, indirect sunlight each day, with some shade in the afternoon. To prevent sunburn, acclimate the plant gradually to stronger light when transitioning it from indoors to outdoors during the summer. Too much sunlight can cause browning or crispy leaves, dry leaf edges, and stunted growth, while lack of exposure can lead to discoloration or overwatering.

Light and Temperature

If you want your String of Hearts to grow well indoors, place it near the brightest window possible, such as a South or West-facing window [2]. Keep the temperature at 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and 60 degrees Fahrenheit during wintertime. If grown outdoors, the plant should be placed in a bright, shaded area. To check if the plant is getting enough light, look for signs such as pale leaves with less marbling and wider spacing than normal, in which case the plant should be moved to a brighter spot.

Soil

String of Hearts plants do best in well-drained potting mixes designed for cacti. Using too much fertility can make the plants look straggly, so if you are using an ordinary potting mix, add pumice or perlite [3] to ensure sufficient drainage.

Water

The String of Hearts is drought-tolerant, but it does require more frequent watering than many other succulent species. However excessively watering can cause swollen foliage, leaf drop, and a messy growth habit. Allow the soil to dry between waterings, and then provide a deep watering. To prevent death, ensure excellent drainage and do not leave the plant standing in water.

Fertilizer

Your String of Hearts plant will benefit from regular feeding with a fertilizer specifically designed for succulents. Follow the product label instructions for the right amount to use. Be aware that too much nitrogen can cause the plants to become overly soft.

String of Hearts can be propagated using one of three main methods:

Water propagation

This propagation method is popular and easy to do. Prepare a vase, scissors, and some water, then cut off the vine pieces you want to root and put them in the vase. Place the vase in a warm area with sufficient light to promote root growth.

Soil propagation

To propagate using this method, cut off the vines, then remove the leaves on the side that will be planted and stick the vines into the soil. Make sure the nodes are covered in the soil to promote root growth. Place the vines in a light, aerated area with slightly moist soil (water once a week) to encourage root growth.

Tuber propagation

To propagate using the tuber technique, look for the biggest tuber possible - a fingernail-sized model is ideal. Press the tuber into the soil and leave it on the vine to grow roots. Once it has grown roots, cut the vine out of the main plant.

How often do you water String of Hearts?

As mentioned before, the String of Hearts needs more water than other plants. You should water them once a week or when you see the soil is completely dry.

How do you keep a String of Hearts happy?

A String of Hearts will be happy only when they are watered consistently. However, if you overwater them, these plant leaves can turn yellow and their roots also rot.

How much sun does String of Hearts need?

The String of Hearts needs a partial sun exploration. Do not place this plant under direct sunlight because its leaves may be scorched.

Do strings of hearts like to climb or hang?

Yes. The String of Hearts likes to hang and will grow best when hanging.

Do you water a string of hearts from the top or bottom?

You should best water a string of hearts from the bottom. This is because its root may rot when living in heavy, moist soil. The String of Hearts plant is a popular houseplant thanks to its decorative leaves and flowers, and it is also easy to care for. We hope that this blog has provided an introduction to the plant and some helpful care tips for self-planting it.

The String of Hearts plant is a popular houseplant thanks to its decorative leaves and flowers, and it is also easy to care for. We hope that this blog has provided an introduction to the plant and some helpful care tips for self-planting it.

 

Sources The New York Garden works under restricted procurement guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies and studies conducted by academic organizations. Tertiary references should be avoided. For more information on how we ensure our material is correct and up to date, please visit our editorial policy.

1. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map - USDA
2. Interior Plants and Light - Colorado State University
3. AP-42, CH 11.30: Perlite Processing - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency