Plant care guides
String of hearts care guide Ceropegia woodii
How to grow and care for String of hearts at home. Heart-shaped leaves on long trails.
- Light
- Bright / direct light
- Watering (summer)
- Every 14 to 21 days
- Watering (winter)
- Every 30 to 45 days, sometimes less
- Pet safety
- Pet-safe (non-toxic)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Scientific name
- Ceropegia woodii
- Origin
- South Africa
- Humidity
- 40-60%
Fun fact
Each tuber along the stem is a clone — break one off, plant it, and you have a new identical plant with no rooting hormone needed.
When and how much water
Water String of hearts when the soil has dried out completely. In summer that’s typically every 14 to 21 days; in winter slow down to every 30 to 45 days, sometimes less. Use room-temperature water and let any excess drain — never leave the pot sitting in standing water.
- Every 30 to 45 days, sometimes less
- Every 14 to 21 days
The real schedule depends on three things the calendar can’t see: the actual light at the plant, the pot’s size and material (terracotta dries faster than glazed ceramic), and your local humidity. Botanicaly’s app retunes the schedule from those signals on every reminder.
How bright a spot it needs
String of hearts needs several hours of direct sun. Turn the pot every week so it grows evenly. The ideal lux range is 10,000 - 50,000 lux. In practical terms, place it directly in front of a south or southwest window, or 30 cm from an east window.
Feeding
Feed String of hearts every 60 days while it’s actively growing. Use a cactus and succulent fertilizer, which is lower in nitrogen, at half the strength on the label, and only on soil that’s already damp. When growth pauses, skip the fertilizer and let it rest.
Temperature & humidity
String of hearts is comfortable between 18 and 27 °C. Below 10 °C the leaves start taking damage, so keep it clear of cold drafts and unheated rooms.
It does best at 40–60% humidity. It doesn’t need misting.
Common problems
Most String of hearts problems trace back to watering — here’s how to read the leaves.
Signs of overwatering
Watch for
- Yellowing leaves
- Mushy stems
- Tuber rot
- Soft black vines
Let the soil dry further between waterings and make sure the pot drains freely — soggy roots are the usual cause.
Signs of underwatering
Watch for
- Wrinkled flat leaves
- Shriveled leaves
- Thinning vines
Water a little more often and don’t let the soil go bone-dry for long.
Toxic to pets?
NoPet-safe.
String of hearts is non-toxic to cats and dogs. Safe to keep in a home with pets.
Browse all pet-safe houseplants →
Pet-safety information for catalog plants uses ASPCA reference data where available. It is reference information, not veterinary advice.
Propagation
Grow more String of hearts from a cutting.
- Choose a healthy stem with at least one node and one or two leaves.
- Cut just below a node using clean, sharp scissors or a knife.
- Remove any leaves from the bottom 5 cm so they don’t rot in water or soil.
Common questions
How often should I water a String of hearts?
Water your String of hearts (Ceropegia woodii) when the soil has dried out completely. In summer, that’s typically every 14 to 21 days; in winter, slow down to every 30 to 45 days, sometimes less. Botanicaly’s app tunes this further based on your home’s actual light, pot size, and local weather.
How much light does a String of hearts need?
String of hearts needs several hours of direct sun. Turn the pot every week so it grows evenly. The ideal lux range is 10,000 - 50,000 lux. In practical terms, place it directly in front of a south or southwest window, or 30 cm from an east window.
Is String of hearts safe for cats and dogs?
String of hearts is non-toxic to cats and dogs. Safe to keep in a home with pets.
Why are my String of hearts’s leaves turning yellow or drooping?
On a String of hearts, yellowing and soft growth usually mean overwatering — watch for yellowing leaves, mushy stems, or tuber rot. Let the soil dry further between waterings and check drainage. If you see wrinkled flat leaves, shriveled leaves, or thinning vines instead, it’s likely thirsty — water a little more often. Botanicaly’s Plant Doctor can help assess visible signs from a photo and suggest possible causes.
Botanicaly
A schedule that reads your room.
You don’t need to work out your String of hearts’s care from scratch each time. Botanicaly uses its saved setup and care history for the next step. Identifying is free. Pro adds Plant Doctor and Weather-smart care.
Still wet
Check again in 2 days
Botanicaly updates the next step when the soil isn’t dry.
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