Fertilising guide
How to fertilise String of Raindrops (Curio citriformis (syn. Senecio citriformis))— schedule & NPK
Also called String of Raindrops, String of Tears, Tear-drop Senecio, Lemon Bean Bush.
More about string of raindrops
About String of Raindrops
Curio citriformis (syn. Senecio citriformis) · also called String of Raindrops, String of Tears · houseplant
String of raindrops is a trailing African succulent (Curio citriformis, formerly Senecio citriformis) grown for its plump, blue-green teardrop leaves that spill over a pot like falling rain. Its one defining need is sharp drainage: it stores water in those leaves and rots quickly in soggy compost, so let the mix dry out fully between drinks.
Growth habit: A fast-growing, trailing succulent with slender stems that creep and cascade, studded with small, glaucous blue-green teardrop leaves. Ideal for hanging pots, high shelves or wall planters where the stems can spill downward. In late summer to early winter it can produce small, daisy-like pale-yellow to white flowers with a faint cinnamon-like scent.
Watch for — Leggy, sparse stems: Stretched stems with widely spaced, paler leaves indicate too little light. Move it somewhere brighter (indirect) and pinch back long stems to encourage fuller, more compact growth.
What fertiliser string of raindrops actually wants — and why
String of Raindrops is a light-feeding succulent — a gentle, low-nitrogen feed a few times in growth keeps it plump without forcing the weak, stretched growth over-feeding causes.
A cactus and succulent formula or a diluted balanced feed with modest, even numbers. Avoid high-nitrogen plant foods — they make a succulent etiolate and grow soft, fracture-prone tissue.
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 string of raindrops: 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 string of raindrops, 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 string of raindrops:
Feed sparingly: a balanced houseplant or cactus feed diluted to half strength, around once a month through spring and summer only. It is a light feeder and over-fertilising produces weak, leggy growth. Stop feeding entirely in autumn and winter while growth slows. Keep that to once a month between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September) and stop entirely once growth slows for winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when string of raindrops 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 string of raindrops
Quarter to half strength at most for string of raindrops. Succulents take up very little, and a strong dose burns the fine roots before the plant can use it.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water string of raindrops first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the string of raindrops watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding string of raindrops
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for string of raindrops:
- Stretched, leggy, pale growth with widely spaced leaves.
- A white salt crust on the soil or around the pot rim.
- Brown, crisped leaf tips and edges.
- Soft, mushy tissue at the base — over-feeding plus damp soil rots it.
Signs you are under-feeding string of raindrops
- Uncommon — succulents tolerate lean conditions well.
- Very slow growth and dull, faded colour over a long period.
- Older leaves shed faster than new ones replace them in a tired old mix.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full string of raindrops care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Feed lightly enough and you rarely need to flush, but once a year run plain water through the pot of string of raindrops until it drains clear, and refresh the gritty mix every 2-3 years.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for string of raindrops
Organic options
A heavily diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed once or twice in summer. UK: a drop of Westland seaweed feed; US: quarter-strength Espoma Cactus! or Dr. Earth liquid. Fresh free-draining mix matters more than any feed.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A dedicated cactus/succulent liquid at quarter to half strength — UK: Baby Bio Cacti & Succulent Drip Feeders or Westland; US: Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food or Schultz Cactus Plus.
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 string of raindrops — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does string of raindrops need?
A cactus and succulent formula or a diluted balanced feed with modest, even numbers. Avoid high-nitrogen plant foods — they make a succulent etiolate and grow soft, fracture-prone tissue. String of Raindrops is a light-feeding succulent — a gentle, low-nitrogen feed a few times in growth keeps it plump without forcing the weak, stretched growth over-feeding causes.
How often should I feed string of raindrops?
Feed sparingly: a balanced houseplant or cactus feed diluted to half strength, around once a month through spring and summer only. It is a light feeder and over-fertilising produces weak, leggy growth. Stop feeding entirely in autumn and winter while growth slows. Feed sparingly: a balanced houseplant or cactus feed diluted to half strength, around once a month through spring and summer only. It is a light feeder and over-fertilising produces weak, leggy growth. Stop feeding entirely in autumn and winter while growth slows. Keep that to once a month between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September) and stop entirely once growth slows for winter.
What strength of feed for string of raindrops?
Quarter to half strength at most for string of raindrops. Succulents take up very little, and a strong dose burns the fine roots before the plant can use it.
What does over-feeding string of raindrops look like?
Stretched, leggy, pale growth with widely spaced leaves. A white salt crust on the soil or around the pot rim. Brown, crisped leaf tips and edges. Soft, mushy tissue at the base — over-feeding plus damp soil rots it. Feeding string of raindrops like a leafy houseplant is the classic error — it produces a flush of pale, stretched, floppy growth that never firms up and is prone to rot at the base.
Should I flush the soil of string of raindrops?
Feed lightly enough and you rarely need to flush, but once a year run plain water through the pot of string of raindrops until it drains clear, and refresh the gritty mix every 2-3 years.
Keep reading
- String of Raindrops care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water string of raindrops — 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 271 fertilising guides in the Growli library