Fertilising guide
How to fertilise String of pickles (Othonna capensis 'Little Pickles' (syn. Crassothonna capensis))— schedule & NPK
Also called ruby necklace, string of rubies, little pickles, string of pickles.
More about string of pickles
About String of pickles
Othonna capensis 'Little Pickles' (syn. Crassothonna capensis) · also called ruby necklace, string of rubies · houseplant
String of pickles (Othonna capensis 'Little Pickles') is a trailing South African succulent with bean-shaped leaves on purple stems that flush ruby-red in strong light, plus small yellow daisy flowers. It needs bright light, gritty soil, and sparse soak-and-dry watering. Not on the ASPCA list, so treat as mildly toxic and verify with a vet.
Growth habit: Trailing/creeping evergreen succulent
What fertiliser string of pickles actually wants — and why
String of pickles 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 pickles: 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 pickles, 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 pickles:
Light feeder. Apply a diluted (half- to quarter-strength) cactus or balanced fertiliser once a month during active growth in the cooler months; do not feed during summer dormancy or when growth has stalled. 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 pickles 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 pickles
Quarter to half strength at most for string of pickles. 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 pickles 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 pickles watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding string of pickles
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for string of pickles:
- 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 pickles
- 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 pickles 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 pickles until it drains clear, and refresh the gritty mix every 2-3 years.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for string of pickles
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 pickles — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does string of pickles 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 pickles 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 pickles?
Light feeder. Apply a diluted (half- to quarter-strength) cactus or balanced fertiliser once a month during active growth in the cooler months; do not feed during summer dormancy or when growth has stalled. Light feeder. Apply a diluted (half- to quarter-strength) cactus or balanced fertiliser once a month during active growth in the cooler months; do not feed during summer dormancy or when growth has stalled. 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 pickles?
Quarter to half strength at most for string of pickles. 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 pickles 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 pickles 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 pickles?
Feed lightly enough and you rarely need to flush, but once a year run plain water through the pot of string of pickles until it drains clear, and refresh the gritty mix every 2-3 years.
Keep reading
- String of pickles care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water string of pickles — 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 609 fertilising guides in the Growli library