Repotting guide

When & how to repot String of Teardrops (Senecio citriformis)

Also called String of Teardrops, String of Tears, String of Lemons.

More about string of teardrops

About String of Teardrops

Senecio citriformis · also called String of Teardrops, String of Tears · houseplant

A South African trailing succulent bearing small, teardrop-shaped, glaucous leaves on slender cascading stems up to 3 ft long. Best grown in a hanging basket with bright indirect light and very infrequent watering. Toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. Dormant in summer; actively grows in autumn and winter.

Mature size: Stems trailing 60–90 cm (24–36 in); plant spread 30–45 cm (12–18 in) in a hanging basket

Watch for — Root rot from overwatering: The most frequent cause of plant death. Stems turn mushy and leaves drop. Allow soil to dry completely between waterings and ensure the pot has excellent drainage.

How to tell string of teardrops needs repotting

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

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. String of Teardrops's growth habit — trailing, mat-forming perennial succulent with slender cascading stems arising from a fleshy rootstock — sets the pace. A South African trailing succulent bearing small, teardrop-shaped, glaucous leaves on slender cascading stems up to 3 ft long. Best grown in a hanging basket with bright indirect light and very infrequent watering. Toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. Dormant in summer; actively grows in autumn and winter.

What size pot to step string of teardrops 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 Teardrops 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 teardrops

Spring or summer, while string of teardrops 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 teardrops

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

String of Teardrops wants gritty cactus and succulent mix. Use a commercial cactus mix amended with 30–50% perlite or coarse pumice. Fast drainage is essential; the mix must not retain moisture around the fleshy roots. Repot into terracotta or unglazed ceramic to encourage evaporation. 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 teardrops — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot string of teardrops?

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

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

Should you water string of teardrops after repotting?

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

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