Plant care
String of Raindropstemperature & humidity
Curio citriformis (syn. Senecio citriformis)
More about string of raindrops
Ideal temperature for string of raindrops
Temperature kills fewer string of raindrops plants than you'd think. What kills them is the micro-climate within a normal-temperature room — a leaf pressed against single-glazed winter glass, the hot dry updraft directly above a radiator, the cold blast from an AC vent. The thermostat reading at 18-27°C (65-80°F) is fine; the spot you put the plant in matters more. Below roughly 18°C the damage starts — soft blackened patches, translucent leaves, sometimes overnight.
Cold tolerance & winter care
String of Raindrops is frost-tender (USDA 10-11, RHS H1c (needs minimum 10-15°C; can stand outside in summer in mild spells)). 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 raindrops
String of Raindrops sits happiest at around 30-50% relative humidity. Average, fairly dry household air suits it well and it needs no misting; as a succulent it actively dislikes prolonged damp, humid conditions, which encourage rot and fungal problems. Good airflow around the trailing stems is more useful than added humidity. 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 Raindrops temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for string of raindrops?
String of Raindrops grows best between 18-27°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 raindrops tolerate?
String of Raindrops 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 raindrops need?
String of Raindrops prefers about 30-50% relative humidity. Average, fairly dry household air suits it well and it needs no misting; as a succulent it actively dislikes prolonged damp, humid conditions, which encourage rot and fungal problems. Good airflow around the trailing stems is more useful than added humidity.
How do I raise humidity for string of raindrops?
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 raindrops live outside?
String of Raindrops is rated for USDA zone 10-11 and RHS hardiness H1c (needs minimum 10-15°C; can stand outside in summer in mild spells). 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 raindrops care
In the UK? Keeping string of raindrops warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full string of raindrops care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.