String of Dolphins: Tiny Leaping Dolphins on a Vine, With Succulent Rules
A trailing succulent with leaves shaped like leaping dolphins. It needs bright light, gritty soil, and strict soak-and-dry watering to keep its shape and avoid rot.
String of dolphins (Curio × peregrinus) is a hybrid between string of pearls and the candle plant, and the result is a trailing succulent whose curved leaves look exactly like little dolphins mid-leap. It’s adorable. It’s also just as touchy as its string-of-pearls parent about water and light, which is why it’s on the high-maintenance list. Master the “leave it alone” skill and you’ll have a pod of dolphins cascading down your bookshelf.
Where to put it (light)
Bright, indirect light with some gentle direct sun, ideally an east window or a lightly shaded south window. It needs more light than most people give it; in dim spots the dolphins lose their shape and the strands get sparse. Keep the top of the pot in the light.
Temperature
60–80°F (16–27°C). It likes a cooler winter around 50–60°F (10–16°C) and can tolerate brief dips to 40°F (4°C) if dry. No frost.
Watering
Soak, then let it dry out completely, every 2–3 weeks in summer and monthly in winter. Flat, wrinkled “dolphins” are thirsty; mushy or yellow ones are drowning. Overwatering is the fast track to a rotted crown.
Feeding
Once or twice in spring with a half-strength succulent fertilizer. Overfeeding flattens the dolphin shape.
Soil
Gritty succulent/cactus mix with extra perlite or pumice, in a shallow pot with drainage. Terracotta is ideal.
Humidity
Low to average. Keep it out of steamy rooms.
Common pests
Mealybugs and aphids (they love hiding in the leaf curves) and fungus gnats in wet soil. Scale occasionally. Treat with rubbing alcohol on a swab or insecticidal soap.
Propagation
Difficulty: Easy. Stem cuttings. Lay 3–4 in (8–10 cm) cuttings on dry succulent mix or insert the cut end into the soil; roots form at the nodes in 2–3 weeks.
Also worth knowing
Toxicity: mildly toxic to cats and dogs if chewed. Mature size: strands 1–3 ft (30–90 cm). Repot every 1–2 years in a shallow pot. It may bloom small white flowers in cool weather.
Propagate by laying cuttings on soil; they root at the nodes. Mildly toxic to pets, so hang it high.