How to Grow a String of Dolphins? A Detailed Care Guide
The String of Dolphins succulent (Senecio peregrinus) is a rare trailing succulent with unusual foliage that looks a little like a traditional Chinese gold ingot, making it a great potted plant for decorating a desk, a TV wall or an office desk. So how do you grow a String of Dolphins?
1. How to grow a String of Dolphins
1. Soil
As with most succulents, the soil needs to be loose and airy. You can mix leaf mold, peat soil and sand or gravel, and add a suitable amount of fertilizer. You can also use a mix of perlite and peat soil as the growing medium.
2. Light
The String of Dolphins originally grows in hot, humid places and does best in a warm environment. It was introduced and planted in southern China. This succulent is shade-tolerant, so it does not need that much light. But keeping it in a low-light environment for a long time will deform the plant and spoil its appearance. In summer, place it in a cool spot indoors; after winter sets in, put it somewhere with better sunlight, such as a balcony or a windowsill.
3. Temperature
The String of Dolphins grows best at temperatures between 10-25°C. Below 10 degrees it may freeze to death.
4. Watering
It grows quickly in spring and autumn, so it needs plenty of water then, and it should be planted in a fairly large container so that the pot does not end up being too small for the grown plant. Avoid watering on rainy days. Summer is a rather hard season for the String of Dolphins; it cannot stand high temperatures and in summer is prone to leaf wrinkling from lack of water, or even leaf drop in severe cases, so watering must be controlled. In winter, when temperatures are low, the String of Dolphins grows and respires very slowly, so watering should be reduced appropriately.
5. Fertilizing
Water it with clean water or a diluted fertilizer solution; do not apply raw or concentrated fertilizer, as the String of Dolphins cannot tolerate raw or strong fertilizer and it easily causes fertilizer burn. You can also use a small watering can to spray fertilizer solution onto the leaves. During the growing season, apply a top dressing once every half month.
6. Pruning
Pinch out the growing tips of newly grown String of Dolphins seedlings when they reach 10 cm tall, which ensures better growth. When pruning, judge by the plant's overall growth and simply cut back the long stems as appropriate.