Repotting guide

When & how to repot Curio peregrinus (Curio peregrinus)

Also called String of Dolphins, Flying Dolphins.

More about curio peregrinus

About Curio peregrinus

Curio peregrinus · also called String of Dolphins, Flying Dolphins · houseplant

Curio peregrinus, formerly Senecio peregrinus, is a trailing succulent whose curved, dolphin-shaped leaves give it its name. A presumed hybrid of String of Pearls and Hot Dog Cactus, it cascades from hanging pots, wants bright light and gritty, fast-draining soil, and stores water in its plump foliage.

Mature size: Trailing stems reach 30-90 cm (1-3 ft); individual dolphin leaves are about 1-2 cm long.

Watch for — Shrivelled, deflated dolphins: Under-watering or roots that have dried out too long. Give a thorough soak and the leaves should plump back up within a day or two.

How to tell curio peregrinus needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For curio peregrinus, 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 curio peregrinus

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Curio peregrinus's growth habit — trailing, semi-succulent perennial; thin stems hang and lengthen over time, lined with the distinctive curved dolphin-shaped leaves. best displayed cascading from a hanging pot or high shelf. — sets the pace. Curio peregrinus, formerly Senecio peregrinus, is a trailing succulent whose curved, dolphin-shaped leaves give it its name. A presumed hybrid of String of Pearls and Hot Dog Cactus, it cascades from hanging pots, wants bright light and gritty, fast-draining soil, and stores water in its plump foliage.

What size pot to step curio peregrinus up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Curio peregrinus 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 curio peregrinus

Spring or summer, while curio peregrinus 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 curio peregrinus

Repot dry. Do not water curio peregrinus 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 gritty, fast-draining cactus and 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 curio peregrinus 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 curio peregrinus 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 curio peregrinus

Curio peregrinus wants gritty, fast-draining cactus and succulent mix. Use a dedicated cactus/succulent compost or amend standard mix with plenty of perlite, pumice or coarse sand so water runs through quickly. A shallow pot with drainage holes suits the fine roots and reduces the risk of staying wet. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting curio peregrinus — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot curio peregrinus?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for curio peregrinus. Repot curio peregrinus every 2–3 years into a snug pot of gritty, fast-draining cactus and 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 curio peregrinus need?

When is the best time of year to repot curio peregrinus?

Should you water curio peregrinus after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot curio peregrinus 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 curio peregrinus after repotting?

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