Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Curio Radicans (Curio radicans)— schedule & NPK
Also called string of bananas, necklace plant, banana strings.
More about curio radicans
About Curio Radicans
Curio radicans · also called string of bananas, necklace plant · houseplant
Curio radicans, the string of bananas (formerly Senecio radicans), is a vigorous South African trailing succulent with glossy, banana- or crescent-shaped leaves along fast-growing stems. Tougher and faster than its cousin string of pearls, it cascades dramatically from hanging baskets, thriving in bright light and lean, draining soil with infrequent watering. Easy to grow and very simple to propagate.
Growth habit: Fast-trailing, vigorous succulent with long stems of crescent leaves; roots freely at nodes and quickly fills and overflows a hanging basket.
Watch for — Mealybugs and aphids: Sap-feeders cluster at growing tips and leaf joints. Treat with isopropyl alcohol or insecticidal soap and isolate the plant.
What fertiliser curio radicans actually wants — and why
Curio Radicans is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for curio radicans: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed curio radicans, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For curio radicans:
Feed once a month in spring and summer with a dilute, low-nitrogen succulent fertiliser at half strength. Do not feed during the cooler, low-growth months. Treat that as once a month between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when curio radicans is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for curio radicans
Half strength is the safe default for curio radicans — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water curio radicans first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the curio radicans watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding curio radicans
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for curio radicans:
- Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering.
- A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim.
- Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops.
- Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered.
Signs you are under-feeding curio radicans
- Uniformly pale or yellow-green leaves, oldest first.
- Noticeably small new leaves and stalled growth in good light and season.
- A generally tired, lacklustre look despite correct watering and light.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full curio radicans care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of curio radicans with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for curio radicans
Organic options
A diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed, or fish emulsion if you can tolerate the smell indoors. UK: Westland or Baby Bio Organic, dilute seaweed; US: Espoma Indoor! or Neptune's Harvest fish & seaweed. Slow, gentle and hard to overdo.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A general-purpose houseplant liquid at half strength — UK: Baby Bio, Westland Houseplant Feed or Phostrogen; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Schultz. Convenient and fast-acting; the only risk is overdoing it.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising curio radicans — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does curio radicans need?
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula. Curio Radicans is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
How often should I feed curio radicans?
Feed once a month in spring and summer with a dilute, low-nitrogen succulent fertiliser at half strength. Do not feed during the cooler, low-growth months. Feed once a month in spring and summer with a dilute, low-nitrogen succulent fertiliser at half strength. Do not feed during the cooler, low-growth months. Treat that as once a month between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
What strength of feed for curio radicans?
Half strength is the safe default for curio radicans — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding curio radicans look like?
Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering. A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim. Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops. Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered. Feeding curio radicans year-round on a fixed schedule, including dark winter months, is the most common mistake — it cannot use the nutrients in low light and the surplus simply burns the roots and crusts the soil.
Should I flush the soil of curio radicans?
Flush the pot of curio radicans with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Keep reading
- Curio Radicans care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water curio radicans — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise snake plant
- How to fertilise dracaena
- How to fertilise peperomia
- All 3899 fertilising guides in the Growli library