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.
What is the name of the dolphin succulent?
Senecio peregrinus is one of the few plants that truly exudes charm and whimsy. The usual name for this gorgeous succulent is dolphin plant, and it fits it perfectly. How do dolphin plants work? These succulent plants grow leaves that resemble little jumping dolphins. Dolphin plants are easy to care for, have distinctive leaf structures, and bring a touch of maritime ambiance to any home. Discover how to cultivate a succulent dolphin and wow your visitors with one of the cutest plant species out there.
General Care for Senecio peregrinus “String of Dolphins
Akin to Senecio Peregrinus “As String of Dolphins develops, it either sprawls across the ground or emerges from a hanging basket. When given ample light, it thrives indoors. Each leaf is fashioned like a dolphin “window where light is absorbed.
Watering
Peregrine Senecio “The watering requirements for String of Dolphins are usual for succulents. You should utilize the “Use the “soak and dry” method, letting the soil to dry out in between waterings.
Where to Plant
String of Dolphins is not cold hardy, so it’s best to grow this succulent in a container that can be moved indoors if you live in a region that has temperatures below 30 F (-1.1 C). It grows nicely under grow lights as well as in bright indoor light.
Cuttings
Use a clean, sharp knife or pair of scissors to cultivate “String of Dolphins from cuttings. Take a stem from the main plant and place it on well-draining soil after letting it callus for a few days. When the soil is fully dry, add water.
Is it simple to cultivate a string of dolphins?
Senecio Peregrinus, or also known as String of Dolphin or Dolphin plant, is the kind of succulent that would make you fall in love instantly! Additionally, this succulent is comparatively simple to grow. Given how difficult it is to find their variation, you might want to take a little more time and care with it.
Fortunately, we’ve got you covered and have compiled a comprehensive guide to taking care of one.
Can I breed dolphins in a string?
Dolphins Proliferating in a String From stem cuttings planted in soil or water, a string of dolphins can be simply reproduced. For the greatest likelihood of success, take cuttings with at least two to three nodes along the stem. The new roots will sprout from the nodes, which are located where the leaves first appear on the stalks.
How quickly does a dolphin string develop?
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.
Is the dolphin plant toxic?
Cats, dogs, and people should not eat the toxic String of Dolphins Plant. Dolphin Plant may result in diarrhea, nausea, and/or vomiting.
How much sun does a string of dolphins need?
For this home plant, a sunny windowsill is ideal. The plant will also flourish in a west-facing window with daylight from midday to sunset. A south-facing window is great because it receives sun from morning till midday. If you don’t have a window that gets enough direct sunshine, you can also keep it under a grow lamp.
Should I bottom dive with my dolphin string?
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 fertilizer 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 fertilizer. This succulent only need watering once or twice a year, during the growing season. There are specialized fertilizers for succulents. Use half the suggested amount of your standard balanced houseplant fertilizer, such as 8:8:8 or 10:10:10. Again, a slow-release fertilizer would function if diluted only half as much as is advised. While fertilizing 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, fertilize after repotting if you are doing so in the spring.
Dolphins might perhaps live in a bathroom.
Bright light that is shielded from direct sunshine is ideal for string of dolphins growth. To receive enough light, hang the plant close to an east or west-facing window. Yellow, burned leaves can arise from growing in direct sunlight, such as at a south-facing window. Leggy growth and sparse foliage are further effects of growing in low light or shade.
Like other succulents, quick growth and lush, green foliage are encouraged by lots of sunlight. Dolphin necklace plants need a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day to thrive. When growing indoors, make an effort to place the plant in your home’s most well-lit area.
The persistent direct sunshine in a south-facing room might burn the plants. The hanging succulent should therefore be kept a few feet away from the window. Alternately, you can grow the dolphin plant behind a translucent curtain to achieve ideal lighting conditions.
Dolphin plants on a string are not low-light plants. As a result, you should avoid growing them in dimly lit spaces or in nooks that are shadowed. Additionally, dolphin plants are not the best plants for bathrooms because they don’t require much humidity. The hanging vines stretch toward the light because there isn’t enough light, giving the plant an untidy appearance.
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). This adorable succulent doesn’t need frequent waterings to stay healthy but these waterings help maintain the leaf shape. 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 meter can also be used if you wish to keep your hands sanitized. To determine when to irrigate your dry soil, use this moisture meter.
Why are all the leaves on my dolphin string flat?
One of my favorite 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 humor.
They were also a part of my all-time favorite 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 favorite 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!