Plant care
String of dolphinstemperature & humidity
Senecio peregrinus
Ideal temperature for string of dolphins
String of dolphins is happiest between 18-26°C (65-80°F). That is comfortably within normal household range, so the risk is rarely the average room temperature — it is the extremes: a leaf pressed against freezing winter glass, the hot dry updraft above a radiator, or the cold blast from an air-conditioning vent or a frequently-opened winter door. Below about 18°C growth stalls, and a cold snap a few degrees under that will cause chilling damage — soft, blackened, or translucent patches on the leaves within a day or two. Move string of dolphins away from those micro-hazards before worrying about the thermostat.
Cold tolerance & winter care
String of dolphins is frost-tender (USDA 10-11 (indoor in most US homes), RHS H1c). It cannot survive a frost, so in most of the US and UK it lives indoors year-round or summers outside and comes back in well before the first autumn frost — once nights drop toward 10-12°C is the cue, not the first frost warning. Acclimate it over a week when moving between indoors and out so the leaves do not shock.
Humidity for string of dolphins
String of dolphins sits happiest at around 30-50% relative humidity. Prefers dry air. The usual low-humidity tell is crisp brown leaf tips and edges while the soil moisture is fine — a sign the air, not the watering, is the problem. If you need to raise it, the reliable methods are grouping plants together, standing the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (the pot above the waterline, never in it), or running a small humidifier in winter when indoor heating dries the air most. Misting is the least effective — it raises humidity for minutes, not hours.
String of dolphins temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for string of dolphins?
String of dolphins grows best between 18-26°C (65-80°F). Keep it out of cold draughts, off freezing windowsills in winter, and away from the hot dry air directly above radiators — the extremes matter far more than the average room temperature.
How cold can string of dolphins tolerate?
String of dolphins starts to suffer below roughly 18°C. It is frost-tender and will be damaged or killed by a frost, so bring it indoors once nights fall toward 10-12°C.
What humidity does string of dolphins need?
String of dolphins prefers about 30-50% relative humidity. Prefers dry air.
How do I raise humidity for string of dolphins?
Group it with other plants, stand the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (kept above the waterline), or run a small humidifier in winter. Misting only helps for a few minutes, so it is the weakest option for a plant that genuinely needs more humidity.
Can string of dolphins live outside?
String of dolphins is rated for USDA zone 10-11 (indoor in most US homes) and RHS hardiness H1c. Outside that range it must come indoors before the first frost — treat any outdoor stint as a summer holiday, not a permanent home.
More string of dolphins care
Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full string of dolphins care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.