String Of Hearts Ceropegia woodii

Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this

A delicate trailing succulent with paired, heart-shaped leaves marbled silver over green and trailing on thread-like purple stems. Easy-going and drought-tolerant, it cascades beautifully from a hanging pot or high shelf, and produces curious little tubers along its vines.

Light

String of Hearts wants the brightest indirect light you can give it, plus a few hours of gentle direct sun — an east window, or a spot close to a south or west window, is ideal. Generous light keeps the vines compact, the leaves tightly spaced, and the silver marbling crisp and high-contrast; in shade the stems stretch into long bare runs with widely spaced, washed-out leaves. A little soft morning sun deepens the purple undersides and can bring a pink blush to the foliage. Harsh, unfiltered afternoon sun through glass, though, will bleach or scorch the thin leaves, so temper the most intense light with a sheer curtain.

Watering

Treat it like the drought-adapted succulent it is: water thoroughly, let it drain completely, then leave it alone until the soil is dry all the way through — roughly every 2–3 weeks in growth and monthly or less in winter. The fleshy leaves and underground tubers store their own water, so it tolerates a missed watering far better than a soggy one. Plump, firm leaves mean it's well-hydrated; slightly soft, puckered leaves are the signal to water. Yellowing, translucent, mushy leaves mean it has had too much. When in doubt, wait — overwatering and rot are the quickest way to lose this plant.

Soil & potting

Use a gritty, sharply draining mix made for cacti and succulents, or cut a standard potting mix with plenty of perlite, pumice, or coarse sand until it drains fast and never stays sodden. The shallow, fine root system rots quickly in dense, moisture-holding soil. Always plant in a pot with a drainage hole; terracotta is a good choice because it wicks away excess moisture. Repot only every couple of years — this plant is happy slightly snug — and refresh the top layer of mix in spring. The little bead-like tubers along the vines can be pressed into the surface to root new plants.

Humidity & temperature

Average household humidity suits it perfectly; as a semi-succulent it actively dislikes the damp, stagnant air that humidity-lovers crave, so no misting or pebble trays are needed. Keep it comfortably warm, between 60–80°F, where it does most of its growing. It tolerates a cool winter rest down to around 50°F, which can even encourage flowering, but protect it from frost and from cold drafts off winter windows. Keep it clear of heating vents and bone-dry forced-air spots that can crisp the trailing tips.

Fertilizing

String of Hearts is a light feeder and grows perfectly well with little to no fertilizer. During spring and summer, you can offer a balanced or low-nitrogen liquid fertilizer diluted to half or quarter strength roughly once a month — a cactus and succulent formula is a natural fit. Skip feeding entirely in fall and winter while growth pauses. Too much fertilizer pushes soft, leggy, vulnerable growth and can burn the fine roots, so err on the side of underfeeding; this plant genuinely prefers lean conditions over a rich diet.

Pruning & maintenance

Prune whenever you'd like a fuller plant or want to tidy long, sparse runners. Snip the vines back with clean scissors just above a leaf pair; the cut stems branch and the plant grows bushier from the crown. Don't discard the trimmings — every cutting is a ready-made propagule. Pinching back leggy growth that formed in low light, then moving the plant somewhere brighter, restores its dense, beaded look over time. Remove any shriveled or yellowed leaves and the occasional bare stem to keep the cascade looking lush.

Propagation

Wonderfully easy to propagate. Lay a cut vine flat on top of moist gritty mix so its leaf nodes touch the surface, and roots form at those nodes within a few weeks. You can also coil cuttings in water until roots appear, or simply plant one of the round aerial tubers that grow along the stems — half-bury it and keep it lightly moist until it takes hold. Spring and summer give the fastest results. A node, or a tuber, is what produces roots; a lone leaf without one will not.

Common problems

Soft, yellowing, mushy leavesAlmost always overwatering and the rot that follows — check soil and roots first.→Long, leggy, sparse vinesToo little light stretches the stems and spaces the leaves out.→

Through the year

Spring

Growth resumes — refresh the topsoil or repot if truly crowded, take cuttings, and ease back into regular watering and light monthly feeding.

Summer

Peak growth and the best season for vivid marbling. Give it bright light, water once dry, and watch the vines lengthen.

Fall

Growth slows — stretch the gaps between waterings and stop fertilizing as the days shorten.

Winter

Near-dormant. Water sparingly, skip fertilizer, and a cool, bright rest can encourage the little tubular flowers.

Recommended supplies for String Of Hearts

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