How to Grow String of Nickels? Care Methods and Points to Note

String of Nickels is an ornamental plant with silvery-green, thick and fleshy leaves, so how do you grow String of Nickels?

1. Basic Characteristics of String of Nickels

String of Nickels is native to Australia and is also called Button Vine, Button Jade Vine and Million Hearts. It is a perennial herb belonging to the genus Dischidia in the family Apocynaceae. The leaves are bright green with a hint of silver-gray, thick and fleshy, and the plant has a trailing habit, able to climb or hang down to grow. In spring it produces yellow or white flowers.

The leaves of String of Nickels stay green all year round. It likes moisture and a semi-shaded environment, is relatively drought-tolerant and heat-tolerant, and its optimum growth temperature is 20°C to 30°C. The growing medium is generally made of materials with good aeration; a nutrient soil can be prepared by mixing tree fern fiber with an appropriate amount of perlite.

The leaves of String of Nickels are broadly ovate, about 0.7 to 1 cm wide, opposite, broadly elliptical or broadly ovate, with a abruptly pointed tip. Each leaf is almost the same size and shape, and the form closely resembles a “button”, making it very small and lovely.

2. How Do You Grow String of Nickels?

1. Choose a pot and soil with good aeration and drainage for growing; it is best to use nutrient soil;

2. String of Nickels is drought-tolerant; in the hot summer it can be watered once every 2 days, and in the rainy season it should be watered less;

3. During cultivation, the flowerpot can be hung up high, which is beneficial to the growth of String of Nickels.

String of Nickels is highly drought-tolerant, and the medium must not stay too wet for a long time, especially in the rainy season, otherwise the roots and stems may rot or the growth may weaken. Water according to the principle of watering thoroughly only after the soil has dried out. Its fertilizer requirement is not high; apply a dilute liquid fertilizer once a month, and the concentration must not be too high, otherwise fertilizer burn is likely to occur.

The suitable growth temperature for String of Nickels is about 20 to 30°C. If the temperature is below 10°C, it needs to be moved to a warmer place and the watering frequency reduced to avoid cold damage. After a 3-inch small pot has been grown for some time, it is recommended to repot it into a larger container.