String of hearts (rosary vine) care

Light

String of hearts thrives in bright indirect light — the conditions just back from a sunny window, with plenty of ambient brightness but rarely any direct rays on the leaves themselves. Bright indirect light with some direct morning sun; pale-leaf etiolation in low light. If you are not sure whether your spot is bright enough, a free phone lux-meter app at midday is the quickest way to check; aim for 800-1,500 lux.

Watering

Water string of hearts when soil is dry, every 10-14 days. The actual day count varies with pot size, light level, and the season — the finger test (or, better, lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a calendar. Empty any drainage saucer after watering so the pot is never sitting in water. Succulent leaves and tubers store water; rot is fatal.

Soil and pot

String of hearts grows best in free-draining succulent mix. Cactus mix with extra perlite; shallow pots suit the surface-rooting tubers. 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 hearts sits happiest at around 40-60% humidity and 18-27°C (65-80°F). Tolerates dry household 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 hearts 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 hearts in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Sparse leggy strands — Insufficient light; move to brighter indirect light.
• Mushy leaves at the crown — Overwatering; cut affected strands and reduce frequency.
• Faded markings — Too little light reduces silver mottling.
• Spider mites — Stippling in dry rooms; rinse and raise humidity.

Propagation

Lay strands on moist mix and pin at nodes; roots form in 2-4 weeks. Tubers can be detached and planted. 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 hearts is pet-safe. Ceropegia woodii is not listed by the ASPCA. Considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. 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 hearts deep-dive guides

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

• String of hearts watering schedule
• String of hearts light requirements
• Best soil mix for string of hearts
• String of hearts fertilizing guide
• When to repot string of hearts
• How to propagate string of hearts
• String of hearts growth rate & size
• String of hearts cold hardiness
• String of hearts temperature & humidity
• Is string of hearts toxic to cats & dogs?
• Getting string of hearts to bloom

Related guides

String of hearts is also known as rosary vine, sweetheart vine, and chain of hearts.

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• All 200 plant care guides in the Growli library