Repotting guide

When & how to repot String of Buttons (Crassula perforata)

Also called String of Buttons, Necklace Vine, Pagoda Plant, Stacked Crassula.

More about string of buttons

About String of Buttons

Crassula perforata · also called String of Buttons, Necklace Vine · houseplant

String of buttons is an easy, fast-growing South African succulent whose triangular leaves stack in pairs along square stems, trailing with age. Give it bright direct light, gritty fast-draining soil, and water only when bone dry. Not pet-safe: as a Crassula (jade relative) it is best treated as mildly toxic.

Mature size: About 30-60 cm (1-2 ft) tall and spreading 60-90 cm (2-3 ft) wide; individual trailing stems can hang well over 30 cm.

Watch for — Etiolation (stretching/legginess): The most common issue indoors. Too little light makes stems elongate with large gaps between leaf pairs and washed-out colour. Move to the brightest possible window; behead and re-root the stretched top to restart a compact plant.

How to tell string of buttons needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For string of buttons, watch for these signs:

Roots growing out of the drainage holes, or the rootball lifting the plant proud of the rim.
Soil that has shrunk away from the pot sides and no longer holds water.
The pot is unstable because the plant has grown top-heavy.
Old, compacted, broken-down mix that stays wet too long — for a succulent that is a rot risk, so refresh it even if the pot size is fine.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot string of buttons

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. String of Buttons's growth habit — stems start upright then sprawl and trail with age, with squarish opposite leaves stacked in tidy pairs around the stem (the "stacked" look). fast-growing and freely branching, producing many offsets. excellent for hanging baskets, shallow bowls, and rockeries. — sets the pace. String of buttons is an easy, fast-growing South African succulent whose triangular leaves stack in pairs along square stems, trailing with age. Give it bright direct light, gritty fast-draining soil, and water only when bone dry. Not pet-safe: as a Crassula (jade relative) it is best treated as mildly toxic.

What size pot to step string of buttons up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. String of Buttons stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot string of buttons

Spring or summer, while string of buttons is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting string of buttons

Repot dry. Do not water string of buttons for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty fast-draining cactus/succulent mix ready.
Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
Pot into dry mix. Set string of buttons at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep string of buttons completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for string of buttons

String of Buttons wants fast-draining cactus/succulent mix. Use a gritty, sharply-draining medium, e.g. cactus potting mix or roughly 50:50 standard potting soil and perlite (coarse sand or pumice also work). A pot with drainage holes is essential; standing water quickly causes root rot and fungal disease. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting string of buttons — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot string of buttons?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for string of buttons. Repot string of buttons every 2–3 years into a snug pot of fast-draining cactus/succulent mix, ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does string of buttons need?

When is the best time of year to repot string of buttons?

Should you water string of buttons after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot string of buttons into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise string of buttons after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting string of buttons. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.