Repotting guide

When & how to repot String of Tears (Curio herreianus)

Also called string of tears, string of watermelons, gooseberry plant.

More about string of tears

About String of Tears

Curio herreianus · also called string of tears, string of watermelons · houseplant

String of tears is a trailing succulent (formerly Senecio herreianus) whose plump, tear- or watermelon-shaped beads are striped with darker translucent lines that act as light windows. Closely related to string of pearls, it wants bright light, very sparing water, and gritty soil. It cascades attractively from a hanging pot but resents wet feet.

Mature size: Stems trail to 60-90 cm (2-3 ft) indoors; individual beads about 1 cm across.

Watch for — Shrivelled, deflated beads: Usually underwatering or, paradoxically, root rot from overwatering. Check the roots: firm roots mean give water; mushy roots mean dry out and re-root healthy stems.

How to tell string of tears needs repotting

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

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. String of Tears's growth habit — trailing, vigorous succulent vine with bead-like leaves on stems that cascade over the pot edge. — sets the pace. String of tears is a trailing succulent (formerly Senecio herreianus) whose plump, tear- or watermelon-shaped beads are striped with darker translucent lines that act as light windows. Closely related to string of pearls, it wants bright light, very sparing water, and gritty soil. It cascades attractively from a hanging pot but resents wet feet.

What size pot to step string of tears 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 Tears 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 tears

Spring or summer, while string of tears 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 tears

Repot dry. Do not water string of tears 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 fast-draining cactus or succulent mix with added grit 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 tears 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 tears 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 tears

String of Tears wants fast-draining cactus or succulent mix with added grit. Use a succulent/cactus mix amended with extra perlite or pumice for sharp drainage. The shallow roots rot in dense, moisture-retentive soil. A terracotta pot with drainage helps the mix dry evenly. 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 tears — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot string of tears?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for string of tears. Repot string of tears every 2–3 years into a snug pot of fast-draining cactus or succulent mix with added grit, 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 tears need?

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

Should you water string of tears after repotting?

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

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