Because string of dolphin leaves can store water for a long time, they are regarded as drought-tolerant plants and do not require routine watering. To prevent root rot, let the soil completely dry between waterings. Then, water well.
How frequently should I water my dolphin string?
For optimal results, water the dolphins around once per week. But when they are dormant, a string of dolphins uses a lot less water (as low as one watering per month). Although this gorgeous succulent doesn’t require frequent waterings to stay healthy, they do assist preserve the curve of the leaves. Lack of water causes a string of dolphin leaves to pucker and distort.
- When your string of dolphins is actively expanding, water it once every week.
- When your dolphin string goes into dormancy, cut watering down to once a month.
- Once the top 2 inches (5 cm) of soil feel dry to the touch, the string of dolphins needs to be watered.
Testing the soil’s dryness is the best way to determine when to water a string of dolphins. It is time to water when the top 12 inches (2.55 cm) of the soil are dry. The simplest approach to determine this is to stick your finger into the ground and feel for dryness. A moisture metre can also be used if you wish to keep your hands sanitised. To determine when to irrigate your dry soil, use this moisture metre.
Are dolphin strings challenging to maintain?
One of the most straightforward succulents to grow is the string of dolphins. Making fresh dolphin plants to give to friends is simple as they are among the most easily multiplied plants.
Do dolphins in a group require direct sunlight?
1. Lighting needs
The String of Dolphins is susceptible to sunburn when exposed to too much sunlight, just as the String of Pearls. Don’t expose them to direct sunlight when it’s too hot since succulents hate heat. Put them in a shaded area where they will receive all-day indirect or filtered sunlight if you wish to put them outside with your other plant collections. They are also not cold-hardy because they are frequently grown in zone 10.
String of Dolphins should be placed in a shady area where they will receive filtered or indirect light all day.
But if you’re growing them indoors, you should put them in a south-facing window where they can receive at least 6 hours of morning sunlight every day. If necessary during the winter, you might also place them beneath a T-5 fluorescent or LED grow light.
I need to save my dolphin strings.
Succulent hanging houseplants called “string of dolphin plants” are low maintenance. You shouldn’t have many growing issues as long as the plants receive adequate sunlight and aren’t sitting in soggy soil. However, some maintenance problems can result in withering growth or brown or yellow leaves.
Why is my string of dolphins flat?
If the plant receives excessive moisture, the little dolphin-shaped leaves may begin to flatten. Wait to irrigate the soil until it is completely dry before doing so. The dolphin leaves should regain their bent shape and resemble tiny dolphins leaping out of the ocean.
Why is my string of dolphins turning yellow?
Overexposure to the sun usually causes dolphin plant leaves to turn yellow. The curving green leaves may become pale green or yellow due to leaf bleaching caused by prolonged exposure to strong sunshine. Remove your plant from the sun to help it recover.
Why does string of dolphins turn brown?
Underwatering or overwatering may be the cause of the brown string of dolphin leaves. Check the soil’s dryness and modify your watering strategy as necessary.
If the plant is excessively thirsty or receives too much sunlight, the leaf tips may become brown.
Why is my dolphin plant dying?
The most frequent causes of a dolphin death string are overwatering or extreme underwatering.
Withholding watering till the soil dries out will help a string of dolphin succulent plant that is near death due to overwatering.
Sprinkle some water on the potting soil to help it come back to life if the dirt is dry and the dolphin leaves appear withered.
Is a dolphin string a houseplant?
This cute succulent will make you feel like you’re on the beach all day since, as its name suggests, its leaves look like a group of leaping dolphins! The string of dolphins (Senecio peregrinus), a trailing succulent in the Asteraceae family, is a hybrid of the string of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) and candle plant (Senecio articulatus).
The recognisable dolphin-shaped leaves and protracted hanging tendrils that distinguish String of Dolphins. Although these plants can blossom, their fragile blooms are generally unnoticeable, and their intriguing foliage is grown more so than their flowers. Depending on the appearance you’re trying for, you can train them to grow upwards on a trellis or moss pole, where they look fantastic in hanging baskets and vertical gardens.
The majority of the time, string of dolphins are cultivated indoors as houseplants, yet they can also be planted outside. They are not frost-tolerant succulents, though, and need warm weather all year round to survive outside.
How quickly do dolphin strings grow?
In ideal circumstances, the string of dolphins (senecio peregrinus) grows very quickly. In their first nine months of growth, these succulent plants can reach lengths of up to 20 inches (50 cm). This is an astonishing growth spike considering that the maximum length of a string of dolphins stem is usually 36 inches (90 cm). They are highly sought in vertical gardens because of this. Stem cuttings that can reproduce more leaf growth can help to accelerate this growth.
Are there many dolphin strings?
A unusual kind of trailing succulent called String of Dolphins (Senecio peregrinus) has the appearance of a pod of jumping dolphins. This unusual hybrid was created by mating Candle Plant and String of Pearls (S. rowleyanus) (Senecio articulatus). It might be challenging to locate and needs a little extra care, but the effort is definitely worth it. Find out how to grow a healthy Dolphin Succulent for yourself by reading on.
Why don’t the dolphins in my string resemble dolphins?
One of my favourite succulents is the Senecio peregrinus, sometimes known as the string of dolphins. I adore how the leaves, which are shaped like dolphins, appear to leap from the stems as though they are riding waves in the sea. They look beautiful together when I plant them with a string of fishhooks since it feels appropriate. I occasionally have an odd sense of humour.
They were also a part of my all-time favourite container garden that I had ever created. How do you feel about my imaginary garden? I refer to it as “Dolphins and Dragons.” Although it may use a little more sunlight, the succulent I planted in March 2019 at our first-ever Premier Succulents workshop is now delightfully filling out. (There was also a regrettable event involving a fallen pot soon after I got this garden home, which ripped off half the leaves on the aeonium and crushed the calico kitten crassula, but that’s a story for another day. Maybe.)
Senecio rowleyanus (string of pearls) and Senecio articulatus (candle plant), two additional senecio species, were crossed to create this hybrid, which prefers strong light and, appropriately, a little more water than most succulents. I’ve discovered that it’s essential to avoid letting the soil totally dry out in between waterings since otherwise, the dolphins tend to shrivel and die. Its appeal is increased in the spring when little flowers start to bloom.
Like its pearl parent, the string of dolphins contains “windows” that you can use to determine whether it is sufficiently hydrated. If your dolphins’ tops are tightly closed, you might need to add a bit more water. Your dolphins are fully hydrated if they are flattening out, thus you can probably reduce their water intake a little. The picture below shows a dejected, flattened dolphin. Some of the elder leaves look a little strange because that specific cutting struggled to get going, but that’s alright. Here, weird and unique are welcomed.
Simply pinch the stems and plant the cuttings directly into the soil to promote the growth of your dolphins. The original plant will branch where it was pinched, and they root easily, especially in the late summer and fall.
The tiny dolphins that are forming on the stems are, in all honesty, some of the most delightful and lovely propagation I’ve ever done. New leaves are usually fascinating, but here is a picture of some little dolphins. Decide for yourself.
The leaves can grow to be approximately 3/4″ long and 1/4″ wide as they get older, and, astonishingly, we’ve had some success rerooting individual leaves here in the greenhouse. We tested it since we are always up for an experiment and can’t help spreading if given the chance. We had believed that stem cuttings would be necessary; nevertheless, leaves also work and are just as effective. Old, thick leaves occasionally have the ability to reproduce, however it takes them a while to become a plant. Although there isn’t a 100% success rate, it is a great project for kids!
Set up your kids with an ice cube tray full of dirt and a few leaves from the base of your mature plant. Then, let them place the dolphins in the container with the part that was attached to the mother plant buried in the soil. To increase your chances of growing new plants, attempt to place two or three leaves in each part if you have enough. Set the tray in a bright, sunny area and softly mist it every few days, just enough to moisten the soil’s surface. It’s a pretty sluggish process this way, so be ready to see virtually nothing happen for months. You might also do a second pot or two of cuttings to demonstrate to the children the many techniques (some quicker than others!) to grow new plants. When your cuttings are large enough, you may transplant them into custom-painted pots and give them as gifts to your favourite teachers.
Consider placing cuttings from your string of dolphins into conch shells with echeveria and cotyledon pendens for simple, exquisite table decorations if your wedding has a beach theme. You can also use the same plants in small pots as shower gifts.
With this extraordinary succulent, the options are really limitless. It looks amazing in a hanging basket in a bright window and is guaranteed to catch everyone’s eye.
We would love to display your gorgeous dolphin collection, especially if you purchased it from us. Visit our Facebook page, upload some pictures, and brag about your plantlings. We’d also be interested in seeing any setups you’ve developed that use this amazing plant, such as dolphin propagation stations. We appreciate you sharing your thoughts and images in advance!
Note and shameless plug:
This item has already been shared in parts on our Facebook page. I hope you like this revised and extended version! Check out our store if you don’t already have your own dolphin string! This cute little plant is available in a variety of sizes as well as our selection of trailing succulents. If you need a lot of dolphins or any other succulent for your wedding or other occasion, we can offer discounts for bulk orders! For further information, please send us a note!
What is causing my dolphin strings to shrivel?
If your String of Dolphins’ leaves are beginning to shrivel up or wilt, it’s possible that your Dolphin Plant isn’t getting enough water. If your plant has been receiving only minimal watering and the leaves start to wilt, there may be an underwatering issue that is readily fixed. Watering the plant’s leaves is an error that is frequently made. The roots should be the entry point for water. To stop the leaves from rotting, avoid coming into contact with water. Apply reasonable amounts of water directly to the soil using a pipette.
Do dolphins in a string enjoy humidity?
Consider the String of Dolphins if you want a playful, low-maintenance plant that makes you smile with delight.
The hybrid Senecio rowleyanus/Senecio articulatus plant known as the “String of Dolphins” produces kinetic celebrations of breaching dolphin leaves on long cascading branches. Imagine that!
This beauty may be grown both indoors and outdoors, as long as the water and light levels are balanced. Err on the side of underwatering, much like with its parent, the String of Pearls, and make sure it has good drainage. Over time, when the branch-like foliage continues to drape over the pot’s edge, you’ll be greeted with a curtain of dolphins.
There are several ways you might present this surprise. Let it dangle on a shelf in a well-lit area. If you have the room, let it stand proudly at the centre of a table where its foliage will spread outwards by hanging it there.
Attention: This plant could be toxic. Keep children and animals at a distance.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CARE To maintain the health and happiness of your String of Dolphins, follow these guidelines.
Water: As a succulent, this plant stores water in its “leaves.” Between waterings, allow the top layer of soil to dry out but not too much. Wintertime irrigation schedule reduction. Light: Prefers strong indirect light, but may tolerate a small amount of gentle direct sunlight. Does not enjoy high humidity levels. The humidity in a typical home is ideal for this plant. If the room has a shower, keep it out of the restroom. Feed your plants with diluted, well-balanced organic fertiliser every two weeks from spring through summer, and once a month from fall through winter.
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How do you bottom-water dolphin strings?
Senecio Peregrinum is a need for anyone who collects succulents. It may be difficult to locate and a little rare, but the hunt is well worthwhile. Although Dolphin Strings require a little more moisture and a little less direct sunlight than some other succulents, they are still fairly simple to grow.
String of Dolphins thrives best with benign neglect, like the majority of succulents. They really don’t require much attention. These plants are wonderful for novices or those who don’t have a lot of time to care over houseplants because they require extended lengths of time between waterings, a little amount of fertiliser every now and then, and a sunny setting.
Select a Pot With Drainage Holes
Prior to using a pot, check to see if it has drainage holes. Because the clay helps wick moisture away from the roots, we use terracotta pots. Use a medium-sized pot; a larger pot won’t let the soil to dry out as rapidly, which could cause the roots to rot.
Well-Draining Potting Mix
String of Dolphins should be planted in a well-draining cactus and succulent potting soil because this succulent requires good drainage. Alternately, you can create your own custom mixture of succulent soil by combining 3 parts potting soil, 2 parts coarse sand, and 1 part perlite.
Indirect Sun
Put your plant in bright, filtered light, but avoid direct sunlight. Lack of light will cause the leaves to lose their dolphin shape. The ideal location indoors is a north or east-facing window.
Deep But Infrequent Waterings
Between waterings, allow the soil to totally dry out. Bottom irrigation by soaking it in the sink or a bucket would be beneficial for a group of dolphins. Bring the plant to your kitchen sink and water it there by letting the water run through the pot and out the drainage hole. Repeat this twice. During the summer, water once a week; in the winter, once a month (give or take). Keep the water in the pot saucer moving.
Balanced Fertilizer
Senecio peregrinus is like the majority of succulents in that it requires little to no fertiliser. This succulent only need watering once or twice a year, during the growing season. There are specialised fertilisers for succulents. Use half the suggested amount of your standard balanced houseplant fertiliser, such as 8:8:8 or 10:10:10. Again, a slow-release fertiliser would function if diluted only half as much as is advised. While fertilising the soil, be careful not to get any on the plant itself.
Avoid overeating. The leaves could lose their dolphin shape if you do. Additionally, fertilise after repotting if you are doing so in the spring.