String of Dolphins Complete Plant Care Guide

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String of Dolphins is a unique cool trailing succulent. The leaves on this plant resemble dolphins and it’s so much fun to look at. Plus, this plant is easy to take care of and grows crazy fast.

String of Dolphins main care directions.

Water. Water when the soil is dried out as these plants are drought-resistant. The dolphin shaped leaves store water for a long time. I water my String of Dolphins when the dolphin leaves look shriveled up.
Light. Thrives in bright indirect sunlight like a south facing window or under artificial grow lights.
Fertilizer. Feed a high quality fertilizer like Dyna-Gro or use a plant food like Liqui-Dirt.
Humidity. No special humidity requirements. Thrives in regular household humidity.

Here’s what to know so String of Dolphins thrives in your home.

Light

String of Dolphins thrives in bright sunlight. The best kind of sunlight typically comes from a south facing window which gets the hottest, most intense sunlight of the day.

The second best place for this plant would be near a west or east facing window, which gets sunlight but not as much as a south facing window. The lowest light setting would be a north facing window, which gets very little light.

This is also a houseplant you can place under plant grow lights like T5 Barrina lights. I use these plant grow lights in my home for many of my plants and I love them. I even have my String of Dolphins sitting under T5 Barrina grow lights. These lights are running on a 13 hour timer every day.

Water

It’s easy to know when to water your String of Dolphins because the leaves will start to thin out and look shriveled up. The leaves usually look plump and full of water, so when they start to look less like this, give the plant a good drink.

This plant is drought-tolerant since it is a succulent, so you’ll probably only need to give this a good soaking once every 10+ days. You’ll likely water more in the summer months and less so in the winter months.

Check your plants soil either by using a moisture meter or sticking your index finger in about two inches deep. If the soil is dry, it’s time to give your plant a thorough watering.

Soil

String of Dolphins is a succulent that thrives in well-draining soil, not compact or dense soil. An easy recipe for well-draining soil would be 2 parts coco coir and 1 part perlite. You can make this mix even chunkier by using perlite size #4 or with orchid bark, which is super chunky.

My favorite houseplant soil at big box stores is Fox Farm Ocean Forest houseplant mix. This mix contains everything you need to grow healthy and happy plants in your home. I like to use this mix and make it even chunkier with orchid bark or perlite, but this isn’t a necessary step.

Temperature

String of Dolphins live in temperatures between 55°F and 85°F.

Fertilizer

Feeding plants fertilizer is essential because your plants are getting the nutrients it needs in your home. Plus, fertilizer helps promote healthy new growth on your plants creating even larger plants in your home.

I love using Dyna-Gro because it’s cheap and easy to use. This is how it works.

Maintenance: Mix ¼ – ½ tsp. per gallon of water with every watering.
Production: Mix 1 tsp. per gallon of water, once a week.
Monthly Feeding: Use 2 – 3 tsp. per gallon of water.

I also use Liqui-Dirt which is technically a plant food, not a fertilizer. This stuff literally lasts forever and I’ve barely made a dent in the package after using it for almost a year. Liqui-Dirt is a microbial, micro-fungi, and vitamin complex which revitalizes your soil or hydroponics system (yes you can use this for leca plants!).

Humidity

String of Dolphins thrives in regular household humidity of 20%. If you give your plant more humidity, it won’t hurt at all.

Propagation

String of Dolphins propagation is simple. Take a cutting that has a few nodes on the stem to increase your chances of propagation success. The nodes are where the roots will grow.

Then you stick these nodes under water or into soil. If there are any leaves submerged underwater, get rid of those leaves as they’ll rot underwater. Roots will develop in a few weeks and then you can move the plant to wherever you wish.

String of Dolphins Common Questions

Is String of Dolphins rare?

String of Dolphins is not a rare plant. You can find this plant almost anywhere including big box stores like Lowes or Home Depot.

How much is a String of Dolphins?

A full 6 inch pot of String of Dolphins goes for about $25. I bought a 4 inch pot of String of Dolphins for about $10 from Home Depot.

Is String of Dolphins hard to care for?

String of Dolphins is so easy to take care of and even lets you know when you need to give the plant water. The leaves will start to shrivel and thin out and that’s when you know it’s thirsty.

How do you care for String of Dolphins?

Caring for String of Dolphins is easy and simple. Place the plant in a spot getting bright indirect sunlight (south or west facing window), water when the leaves start to shrivel up a little bit (typically once every ten days), and fertilize with a high quality fertilizer.

Is String of Dolphins a fast grower?

String of Dolphins is a fast grower when placed in high light conditions and given proper fertilizer. I fertilize every watering but you can opt to fertilize every other watering or once a month.

I’ve seen String of Dolphins outside but make sure to never place it in full sun. You also want to keep this plant in between the temperatures between 55°F and 85°F.

How big do String of Dolphins get?

String of Dolphins get huge in the home. I’ve seen large 6 inch pots that trail for several feet. If you’re looking for a cool plant that hangs off a shelf or ceiling, this is it.

Why is my String of Dolphins growing upward?

You may notice your String of Dolphins starts to grow upward if the plant isn’t getting enough sunlight. My plant does this but I don’t mind it and it’s still growing everyday.

How do you propagate String of Dolphins?

Propagate String of Dolphins by cutting off a few strands of the plant. The strands will have nodes on them and you submerge these nodes under water. In a few weeks, roots will start to form and then you can move your plant cuttings to your preferred substrate.

Is the String of Dolphins toxic to pets?

Yes, this plant is toxic to pets. You can get more information on toxic and pet-friendly plants at ASPCA here.

Prevent pests

String of Dolphins can succumb to pest pressures just like any other houseplant. I’ve never had any issues with my String of Dolphins but if you do, here’s what you can do:

Before bringing a new plant home, check the plant for pests
Use a natural or synthetic pest killer to prevent pests
Check your plants once a week for pest pressures
Don’t overwater your plants (overwatering can lead to increase in fungus gnats)

Bonide Systemic Granules are a great way to get rid of unwanted pests.

Common issues

Brown tips: If your String of Dolphins has brown leaves, this can be a sign that your plant is getting too much sunlight or being overwatered or underwatered.

Shriveled leaves: If your String of Dolphins has shriveled leaves, this means your plant is thirsty and needs water.

Key Points To Remember

String of Dolphins is such a unique plant and incredibly affordable, so if you don’t have one already, get one!

String of Dolphins main care tips:

Place in south or west facing window or under plant grow lights
Water once the leaves start to thin or shrivel up
Fertilize during the active growing season (typically March-October)

This plant is really easy and there’s not too much to think about when taking care of this plant. Just enjoy the beauty of it!