The Strong of Dolphins is a juicy, fleshy, and plump succulent plant that is knotted together like a string. Its leaves seem to ‘dive out of the stem’, giving them the appearance of tiny green dolphins!
We have formulated a detailed guide that will help you grow the string of dolphins plant in your very own backyard. This succulent will also serve as an excellent indoor air purifier.
Table of Contents
Meet the String of Dolphins: Basic Knowledge and Origins
Senecio Peregrinus, also known as the String of Dolphins, is a hybrid produced by the cross between a String of pearls and the Candle plant.
With long tendrils, and foliage shaped like Dolphins playing in the sea, this succulent plant looks delightful in hanging baskets or table vases.
It blooms from May to June and produces pearly white flowers in the shape of puffballs!
Belonging to the Daisy family, several varieties of this genus are considered wild and produce vibrant orange and yellow flowers.
The string of dolphins became a social media sensation in 2017 when a tweet about this necklace-shaped botanical went viral and hit 10.5k re-tweets!
It’s a nothospecies, is dreamy, and smells like cinnamon! How delicious!
But remember not to chew on it; it’s poisonous for your stomach and your cat’s too!
Family Type: Asteraceae
Common Name: String of dolphins, dolphin plant, flying dolphins, the dolphin necklace
Botanical Name: Senecio Peregrinus
Plant Type: Succulent
Size: 6 ft tall
Native Area: Bolivia and Argentina
Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun
Soil Consistency: Well-draining, cactus/succulent soil
Humidity: Low to moderate
Toxicity: Poisonous to humans and animals
Flower Color: White, yellow
Common Pests: Aphids, mealybugs, scale, and spider mites
Varieties of Senecio: The Dolphin-shaped hanging Plant!
Broadly, the String of Dolphins can be classified into five varieties: cascading, shrubs, blue ground covers, upright snakes, and fuzzy whites.
The Senecio is one of the most prominent genera of the daisy family. Most of these plant species are fleshy succulents and therefore don’t demand much water to flourish.
P.s: The word daisy always reminds me of a dreamy white garden filled with pulchritudinous florets!
Senecio vulgaris
Also known as the old man in the spring or groundsel, this flowering green is an annual herb native to Europe.
It grows in the wildland and waste grounds and can be considered a weed.
It looks beautiful with yellow daisy flowers and fluffy white turfs that distribute the pollen to grow new ones. Mammalian herbivores avoid eating the foliages of this cultivar as it causes liver damage. It can grow up to 2 feet tall.
Senecio haworthii
With its pale white foliages, this plant presents itself as a wonder that seems like a prop from a Vikings movie scene!
Also known as the cocoon plant or woolly Senecio, the leaves of this tantalizing dwarf variety take a cylindrical shape and point upwards like a cocoon.
It’s primarily native to cape towns of South Africa.
Senecio crassissimus
Commonly known as the lavender steps, Vertical leaf Senecio, or the propeller plant, this cultivar belongs to the flowering species of the daisy family.
Endemic to Madagascar, the foliages of this shrub are blue, with vibrant purple margins. They also have a thick, waxy coating. The Senecio crassissimus produces orange florets that give it a nice rainbow punch. They thrive in a cooler climate.
How to care for a String of Dolphins plant
The Dolphin’s necklace is a relatively low-maintenance botanical, resistant to drought and other minor calamities. They are also easy to replant or propagate.
Adequate sunlight, not-so-much watering, and arid soil are pretty much all the spoiling this beautiful vine of joyous dolphins needs to thrive.
Sunlight
A potted String of Dolphins plant should be kept near a south-facing window. At least 6 hours of adequate bright sunlight a day helps the botanical to transform into a swarm of beautiful dolphins sealed as a necklace!
However, it should be planted in partial shade to avoid sunburn if grown outdoors. You can also use artificial lights if you live in a house that doesn’t face the sun.
Soil
Arid and well-draining soil is the requirement of almost all succulent plants. You can make a potting mix for your playful herb by combining two parts of potting soil, one perlite, and one part sand.
Alternatively, simply purchase a commercial potting mix. It works the same!
Water
Commonly, succulents are tricky when it comes to watering, but the best way to water a String of Dolphins is to soak it wet and let the water drain out from the drainage holes.
The plant can retain water for extended periods and is drought resistant, so it is not necessary to water it regularly. Over watering can cause root rot. Also, we suggest cutting back on watering your dolphins during the dormancy period.
Temperature and Humidity
65-72 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature for growing a String of Dolphins. They are not frost-tolerant but can survive in colder temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you live in a colder region, you don’t have to worry about putting curtains on all your windows to protect the plant.
Even low to moderate humidity conditions will suffice this herbage.
Fertilizer
The string of Dolphins doesn’t need regular fertilizing, as it affects the foliages of the plant. Light feeding during the blooming period is optimal for growing this plant.
Fish emulsion or liquid kelp fertilizers are preferred since they are organic and light.
Pruning
Pinch off the leggy stems to enhance the appearance of your vine. Remove discolored or dying foliages by pruning the string of dolphins. You can rearrange the string layout to ensure fuller and healthier plant growth.
Potting and re-potting
For potting, make sure you use a well-draining mix and a pot that has holes for drainage. Wet feet can be detrimental for this botanical, as it can cause root rot and waterlogged soil. Gardeners prefer terracotta pots as it absorbs excess moisture. However, plastic pots are also fitting.
Re-potting your string of Dolphins every few years by using a progressively bigger pot each time will boost growth and encourage blooming.
Propagation
The stem cutting method is best for propagating a string of Dolphins.
Cut the stem along with 2-3 nodes (the points where leaves emerge).
Lay the stem cutting on top of the soil in a pot, and ensure moisture and adequate sunlight.
You will see an alluring new baby string of dolphins growing from the propagated stem within a couple of weeks.
When cutting a String of Dolphins underwater, derive a small, leafless stem cutting and place it at a depth of 1.5-2 inches in the water.
Change the water every 3-4 days to avoid bacterial infections, and once the root starts growing (after 18-25 days), you can plant it in the soil.
Flowering
Belonging to the Aster or Daisy family, wide varieties of the dolphins of string produce daisy-like composite blooms comprising lots of mini flowers.
The petals cluster in a sphere shape, and the fragrance is woody, like cinnamon.
The color of the flowers varies with the cultivar. The color range offers white, orange, yellow, or sometimes light pink flowers.
Challenges and solutions
Like most succulents, the dolphin-shaped hybrid basket plant is also low maintenance. However, there are a few challenges that this hardy herbage faces.
This section provides all the necessary information regarding solutions to protect your botanicals against the deadly sharks of the plant world!
Pests
Cotton-like balls or tiny webs indicate the presence of spider mites or mealybugs on your merry botanical.
These sap-sucking infestations can leave your plant gasping for freshness. Try spraying with cold water or using an alcohol swab to clean the foliages.
We suggest keeping your String of Dolphins in a clean moist atmosphere to control pests.
Diseases
No disease other than root rot is expected to affect the String of Dolphins, and that too is caused by overwatering – not pests!
A well-draining pot mix and adequate drainage holes can help you prevent this chaos.
A few fungi can also infect the foliages of the string of dolphins. You can curb this by applying neem oil or a fungicide.
Ask Away: FAQs
Can String of Dolphins get infested by Mites of Spiders?
If you notice tiny webs on the foliages of your String of Dolphins, your botanical has spider mite infestations, and you need to do something about it soon.
Where can I buy a String of Dolphins plant online?
You can buy a potted String of Dolphins in several online stores, including Amazon, Etsy, Succulents Box, and Cactus en ligne, for as low as $4.
Is it true that the String of Dolphins has windows?
It’s a somewhat deceiving term. Check the top of your dolphin; if it’s tightly closed, the plant probably needs water. This top part is known as the window, indicating whether the plant is hydrated enough.
Does the String of Dolphins get stressed?
The foliages of your Dolphin plant can change color into purple or red due to pigments called anthocyanin and carotenoids. This change is often spawned because of stress like sudden temperature alterations, feeding problems, and poor watering schedules.
