Are you a proud plant parent?
It can be frustrating when your plants die or struggle to look healthy. Sometimes it makes you question your abilities as a plant parent. A string of turtles might be the solution.
These are some of the friendliest beginner plants you can find. They’ll be fine even if you forget to water them. String of turtles prefers to dry out before you water it next.
As long as you keep it away from sudden cold or high heat, it can grow and live its best life. There are, of course, tips and tricks to care for it and get it to propagate even more. Below we’ve prepared a list of the five things you need to know to make sure your string of turtles thrives in your home.
1. Watering and Pruning
One thing that you have to know about this beautiful plant is that it’s very forgiving. Growing it to its full glory is difficult to fail in, as long as you don’t overwater it. If you’re unsure of the intervals of how many days before you water, all you have to do is check its soil.
It generally likes its soil to be medium dry, so it’s safe to say that “forgetting” to water it once in a while is fine. This lets it get along well with other drought-resistant plants. If you’re looking to repot it into a new container, make sure it has drainage holes, though.
Otherwise, this can cause your plant to die. When it comes to further maintenance, string of turtles also requires careful pruning. You can do it once you notice it thriving and is getting longer than its pot.
A caution, though, only prune in spring, summer, fall, and never winter. String of turtles, like most plants, also goes into winter dormancy. Pruning its flowers also works for others, but many don’t like how it looks.
It has spikes or “horns” that shoot up. This is why most people cut them out for aesthetics. They also take away its energy, which is important for the String of Turtles propagation.
2. Lighting
Another essential element for your string of turtles care is lighting. It prefers bright and indirect sunlight and doesn’t like the scorching sun. Placing it by a south or north window sill would do well.
However, one thing to note is that it goes dormant in the winter. Consider a grow light if you’re caring for it in a zone where days grow shorter. During this dormant period, its growth and needs get cut in half.
So unless you’re in the tropics or have an indoor greenhouse set-up, cut your watering and care in half as well during winter.
3. Container and Support
Though it may be tempting to get a cute pot for your String of Turtles, it’s important to check it first. Every guide on how to propagate String of Turtles needs to consider the container. This lovely semi-succulent grows at a slow pace.
In about 3-5 years, it’ll reach a max of 4 inches, so it’s best to get it a small pot first. Repotting them is advisable at least every year. A good tip to avoid disturbing its roots too often is to keep it in a smaller, separate planter.
You can then place this inside a nicer pot. If you feel like switching pots from time to time, take the planter and transfer it to a new pot. This would reduce the stress on the plant while updating your container.
Remember to always check for drainage holes, as all plants should have a pot that drains well. Note that despite having a viny appearance, they don’t climb. Although you can train them to climb, you’ll need support and soft ties not to damage them.
4. Soil and Fertilizer
Propagating String of Turtles requires minimal but delicate effort. That said, it’s important for it to be healthy and thriving first before you do so. To achieve this, you need to use fertilizer according to its growing season.
You should feed your String of Turtles twice a month from spring to the beginning of autumn. Use a good quality house-plant fertilizer and dilute it to 50%. For late autumn and the winter season, cut your feeding to once a month only.
Since it prefers drier soil, find a soil that’s two parts peat moss, one part perlite, sand, and organic soil. If you’re trying to root its cuttings, you can try to do so in water. Though doing it with potting mix or some root stimulator works too.
5. Temperature and Humidity
The String of Turtles is a beginner-friendly plant. One thing that gets overlooked when caring for it is its ideal temperature and humidity. When it comes to how to care for string of turtles plants, they do best in slightly cooler temperatures.
The 68-75 degree Fahrenheit range works best. They’re pretty robust plants if you care for them but keep them away from cold drafts and very cold outdoor air.
That said, they love humidity and can survive with normal humidity for the most part. However, they will thrive with any extra you can provide. Putting it in the bathroom is a great idea since regular humidity from the shower will feel like nirvana for it.
The kitchen is also a good bet. If you can’t provide extra humidity, there are a few tricks you can try. One of them is using a plant mister, but you can try building a micro-climate with a group of other similar plants.
Misting with a spritzer, putting it near a water bowl or a humidifier can also help.
Caring for String of Turtles
String of Turtles are some of the most beginner-friendly plants you can have. They are robust and can survive a fair bit of neglect, but they require a moderate amount of attention to thrive. You need to avoid overwatering them and identify their optimal growing seasons.
At howtogro.com, we know everything you need to know about caring for all manner of plants, crops, and flowers. Check out our blog to find out more.
If you enjoy this plant, you might also consider String of Hearts or String of Pearls.