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Plant care

String of dolphins (dolphin plant) care

Senecio peregrinus

Also called dolphin plant, flying dolphins.

RHS H1cUSDA 10-11Toxic to petsIndoor 30-60 cm trailing

Watering rhythm

10-14days

When soil is dry, every 10-14 days

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Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Free-draining succulent mix

Humidity

30-50%

Temp

18-26°C

Pet safety

Toxic to pets

Mature size

30-60 cm trailing

Care at a glance

Light

Bright but filtered. String of dolphins burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Bright indirect light with hours of direct morning sun; low light flattens the dolphin shape. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering string of dolphins: when soil is dry, every 10-14 days. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Succulent leaves store water; rot from overwatering is the main failure.

Soil and pot

String of dolphins grows best in free-draining succulent mix. Cactus mix with 30% extra perlite. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

String of dolphins sits happiest at around 30-50% humidity and 18-26°C (65-80°F). Prefers dry air. If you keep the room above 18 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed string of dolphins sparingly. Quarter-strength succulent feed monthly in spring and summer. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on string of dolphins in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Loss of dolphin shape — Insufficient light or overwatering; bright light preserves the leaf shape.
  • Mushy stems — Overwatering; reduce frequency and improve drainage.
  • Shrivelled leaves — Underwatered for too long.
  • Mealybugs — Dab with alcohol-soaked cotton bud.

Propagation

Stem cuttings root in dry succulent mix in 2-3 weeks. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

String of dolphins is toxic to pets. ASPCA lists Senecio species as toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. Ingestion causes vomiting and GI upset. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

String of dolphins care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Senecio peregrinus?

Senecio peregrinus is most commonly called String of dolphins, but it is also known as dolphin plant, flying dolphins. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for String of dolphins apply identically to anything sold as dolphin plant.

How much light does string of dolphins need?

String of dolphins grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Bright indirect light with hours of direct morning sun; low light flattens the dolphin shape.

How often should I water string of dolphins?

Water string of dolphins when soil is dry, every 10-14 days. Succulent leaves store water; rot from overwatering is the main failure. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is string of dolphins toxic to cats and dogs?

String of dolphins is toxic to pets. ASPCA lists Senecio species as toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. Ingestion causes vomiting and GI upset.

What USDA hardiness zone does string of dolphins grow in?

String of dolphins is rated for USDA zone 10-11 (indoor in most US homes) and RHS hardiness H1c. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

String of dolphins deep-dive guides

Every aspect of string of dolphins care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

String of dolphins qualifies for 5 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

String of dolphins is also commonly called dolphin plant or flying dolphins.