Repotting guide

When & how to repot String of Fishhooks (Curio radicans 'Fishhook')

Also called Fishhook Senecio.

More about string of fishhooks

About String of Fishhooks

Curio radicans 'Fishhook' · also called Fishhook Senecio · houseplant

String of Fishhooks is a trailing succulent, Curio radicans, with curved blue-green leaves shaped like tiny hooks along long, fast-growing stems. Tougher and more forgiving than string of pearls, it stores water in its leaves and produces small white, cinnamon-scented flowers. Give it bright light, gritty soil, and infrequent deep watering.

Mature size: Trailing stems reach 0.6-1.5 m; leaves about 2-3 cm long.

Watch for — Leggy stretched growth: Too little light spaces out the leaves. Move to a brighter spot and trim long stems to encourage fullness.

How to tell string of fishhooks needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For string of fishhooks, 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 fishhooks

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. String of Fishhooks's growth habit — vigorous trailing succulent with long stems of upward-curving hook-shaped leaves; cascades readily and is faster and sturdier than string of pearls. — sets the pace. String of Fishhooks is a trailing succulent, Curio radicans, with curved blue-green leaves shaped like tiny hooks along long, fast-growing stems. Tougher and more forgiving than string of pearls, it stores water in its leaves and produces small white, cinnamon-scented flowers. Give it bright light, gritty soil, and infrequent deep watering.

What size pot to step string of fishhooks 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 Fishhooks 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 fishhooks

Spring or summer, while string of fishhooks 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 fishhooks

Repot dry. Do not water string of fishhooks 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 string of fishhooks 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 fishhooks 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 fishhooks

String of Fishhooks wants gritty, fast-draining cactus and succulent mix. Cactus compost amended with perlite or pumice gives the sharp drainage these roots need. Always use a pot with drainage holes. 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 fishhooks — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot string of fishhooks?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for string of fishhooks. Repot string of fishhooks 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 string of fishhooks need?

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

Should you water string of fishhooks after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot string of fishhooks 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 fishhooks after repotting?

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