String of dolphins earns its name from fleshy, curved leaves with small projections that resemble fins. Sold as Senecio peregrinus and Curio × peregrinus, it is a trailing succulent suited to a bright hanging display. Give the crown useful light, let the root zone dry between waterings, and protect the delicate stems when moving the pot.
Choose the position before hanging the basket
Check the light at the top of the plant, not only along the dangling stems. A basket hung above a window can leave its crown in shade even when the ends look well lit. Start near a bright window with protection from harsh sun and adjust gradually. A grow light can help where daylight is inadequate. Our succulent light guide explains how to assess the location.
Water thoroughly, then allow drying
Check the medium and the weight of the pot before watering. When the root zone has dried, wet it evenly and allow excess water to escape. Empty the cover pot or saucer. Do not replace this with a weekly mist or a fixed seven-to-ten-day schedule. Grower Mountain Crest Gardens recommends drainage and drying between thorough waterings. Less frequent winter watering does not mean withholding water for an entire season regardless of conditions.
Use a light mix and a container with holes
A suitable cactus or succulent mix should drain freely without staying dense and wet around the roots. Assess the mix you actually have rather than assuming every bag labeled cactus soil behaves the same way. Choose a container with drainage and modest space around the roots. A large decorative pot filled with moisture-retentive compost can remain wet long after a small nursery pot would dry. Our succulent pot guide covers these choices.
Protect the stems from cold and unnecessary handling
Keep this frost-tender succulent away from freezing conditions and cold drafts. Outdoor summer displays need gradual adjustment to their new light and a plan for bringing the plant back inside. Ordinary indoor humidity does not call for routine misting. Support the basket securely and lift it by the container, not by the hanging stems. Leave enough clearance to avoid catching the trails in doors, curtains, or furniture.
Use healthy stem cuttings to renew sparse areas
Take a healthy piece of stem with several leaves and nodes, using clean snips. Remove leaves from the portion that will enter the rooting medium and allow the cut surface to dry before planting in a suitable succulent setup. Keep the cutting supported and avoid saturating an unrooted stem. Several rooted cuttings can fill gaps around a basket. Our succulent propagation guide explains the difference between establishing cuttings and watering a mature plant.
Diagnose bare stems before adding fertilizer
Long gaps between leaves can reflect inadequate light, while collapsing stems and soft leaves call for a root-zone check. Shriveling can follow a dry pot or damaged roots in wet soil; inspect before adding water. Trim dead material and investigate pests such as cottony mealybugs. Feed lightly with a suitable product when growth warrants it, following its label. Extra fertilizer cannot restore missing leaves to an old bare section or repair rotten roots.
Check labels and keep the plant out of reach
This plant is a hybrid, rather than a wild species with a simple native-country label. Its dolphin-shaped leaves distinguish it from string of bananas, although both make trailing displays. Do not buy it on an unsupported claim that it is the rarest succulent or assume seed-grown plants will reproduce the same leaf shape. Keep the plant and fallen cuttings away from children and pets, and avoid contact with sap. For another trailing option, compare our string of bananas guide.
