Repotting guide

When & how to repot String of hearts (Ceropegia woodii)

Also called rosary vine, sweetheart vine, chain of hearts.

About String of hearts

Ceropegia woodii · also called rosary vine, sweetheart vine · houseplant

String of hearts is a delicate trailing succulent from southern Africa with heart-shaped silver-marbled leaves on thread-thin stems. Easy from cuttings and tolerant of dry conditions. Pet-safe and a popular shelf and macrame trailer.

Ceropegia woodii (Apocynaceae), native to southern Africa from Zimbabwe and Eswatini into eastern South Africa, a trailing succulent vine of rocky, well-drained ground.

A freely draining gritty mix with coarse sand or perlite is essential to protect the underground and stem tubers from rot.

Mature size: 1-3 m trailing

Sources: hort.extension.wisc.edu, pza.sanbi.org

How to tell string of hearts needs repotting

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

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. String of hearts's growth habit — trailing succulent vine — sets the pace. String of hearts is a delicate trailing succulent from southern Africa with heart-shaped silver-marbled leaves on thread-thin stems. Easy from cuttings and tolerant of dry conditions. Pet-safe and a popular shelf and macrame trailer.

What size pot to step string of hearts 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 hearts 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 hearts

Spring or summer, while string of hearts 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 hearts

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

String of hearts wants free-draining succulent mix. Cactus mix with extra perlite; shallow pots suit the surface-rooting tubers. 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 hearts — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot string of hearts?

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

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

Should you water string of hearts after repotting?

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

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