How To Care For String of Hearts
WATERING TIPS:
String of Hearts, like most succulents, need very little watering to survive. You should only water when the soil is completely dry. Overwatering will lead to moldy roots causing the plant to die. During the summer months you may need to water them every week and a half to 2 weeks. In winter months they can last up to a month without any water. Avoid any standing water on the leaves or in the bottom of the pot.
SUNLIGHT & WEATHER REQUIREMENTS:
String of Hearts like bright light, but don't like direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can cause the leaves to get sunburnt and die off. We recommend keeping them in a space that receives bright, indirect light for the majority of the day. One way to tell if your string of hearts isn't getting enough light is the leaves will be lighter in color. If you notice this on your plant, try moving them to an area in your home that receives more light.
String of Hearts enjoy the hot temperatures if they are protected from direct sunlight. During the winter months, they need to be grown indoors as they cannot survive temperatures below 50°.
Every plant is given a plant hardiness score from the United States Department of Agriculture. This score is used to determine the lowest temperature a plant can be exposed to while still being able to survive. The higher the plant hardiness zone number, the warmer the temperatures need to be for that plant to survive. String of Hearts have a USDA Plant Hardiness Zone of 10.
SOIL AND FERTILIZER USAGE:
The soil used for your String of Hearts Plants must be soil that does not retain water very well. All fertilizers used should be diluted to at least 1/2 strength to avoid harming the plant. You should only use fertilizers during their growing season (spring and summer). You shouldn't fertilize your plant during winter, their dormant period. It is not required to fertilize your plant, it may just grow at a slower rate.
INSECT PROTECTION:
For the most part, this is a bug-free plant. The most common bug is the mealybug. If your plant obtains these bugs, we recommend lightly spraying them daily with mild, soapy water until all bugs are gone. For an in depth analysis on how to prevent and care for plants with bugs click here.
OLD OR DAMAGED LEAVES:
Naturally, old leaves will wilt and die as the plant grows. You can carefully remove these leaves making sure you do not damage the rest of the plant. If a healthy leaf is broken off, the plant will naturally grow back a new leaf to replace it.
HISTORY:
The String of Hearts is a beautiful trailing vine succulent plant that is native to South Africa. It was given the name "String of Hearts" due to its unique heart-shaped leaves with vines that can reach up to 12ft long in its natural environment. Some other common nicknames of this beautiful plant are "Rosary Vine" & "Sweetheart Vine".
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ'S):
1. How can I tell if I'm underwatering my String of Hearts? Water is stored in the leaves of this plant, so a good indicator of not enough water is they'll begin to soften and look wilted or deflated.
2. How can I tell if I'm overwatering my String of Hearts? If you plant's starts losing the majority of its leaves and turning a yellowish color, this could be a sign of overwatering. When this happens, hold off on watering your plants for 2-4 weeks to help them completely dry before watering them again.
3. How often should I repot my plant? A general rule of thumb that we follow is repotted your plants every 12-18 months. During this time, you should trim some of your plant roots, leaves, and repot it in fresh new soil. The best time to repot your plants in during the Spring or Summer to limit the risk of harming the plant.
