Repotting guide

When & how to repot Curio Radicans (Curio radicans)

Also called string of bananas, necklace plant, banana strings.

More about curio radicans

About Curio Radicans

Curio radicans · also called string of bananas, necklace plant · houseplant

Curio radicans, the string of bananas (formerly Senecio radicans), is a vigorous South African trailing succulent with glossy, banana- or crescent-shaped leaves along fast-growing stems. Tougher and faster than its cousin string of pearls, it cascades dramatically from hanging baskets, thriving in bright light and lean, draining soil with infrequent watering. Easy to grow and very simple to propagate.

Mature size: Stems trail to 90 cm or more; spreads readily where nodes touch soil.

Watch for — Root rot from overwatering: Yellowing, mushy leaves and collapsing strands follow too-frequent watering. Let soil dry fully and use a sharply draining mix and pot.

How to tell curio radicans needs repotting

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

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Curio Radicans's growth habit — fast-trailing, vigorous succulent with long stems of crescent leaves; roots freely at nodes and quickly fills and overflows a hanging basket. — sets the pace. Curio radicans, the string of bananas (formerly Senecio radicans), is a vigorous South African trailing succulent with glossy, banana- or crescent-shaped leaves along fast-growing stems. Tougher and faster than its cousin string of pearls, it cascades dramatically from hanging baskets, thriving in bright light and lean, draining soil with infrequent watering. Easy to grow and very simple to propagate.

What size pot to step curio radicans up to

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

Spring or summer, while curio radicans 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 radicans

Repot dry. Do not water curio radicans 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 free-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 curio radicans 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 radicans 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 radicans

Curio Radicans wants free-draining cactus/succulent mix. A cactus blend with added perlite or pumice gives the sharp drainage it needs. Shallow, fast-drying pots suit the shallow rooting habit best. 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 radicans — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot curio radicans?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for curio radicans. Repot curio radicans every 2–3 years into a snug pot of free-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 curio radicans need?

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

Should you water curio radicans after repotting?

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

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