String Of Dolphins Succulent Plant: Senecio Peregrinus. It is a very rare succulent plant that has similarities to a pod of leaping dolphins. It is difficult to find and needs special care. It is a beautiful succulent plant loved by succulent lovers.
The String of Dolphins succulent plant info
Alternate names
The String of Dolphins plant also has a common name as flying dolphins, the dolphin necklace, dolphin plant or scientific name Senecio Peregrinus. It can be categorized as a succulent flowering plant species. It belongs in the family Asteraceae.
It has given the name by Grisebach in 1879 to a different species from South America. It is actually a hybrid plant between Senecio rowleyanus and Senecio articulatus.
The String of Dolphins profile
Because of its unique features and shaped leaves, this succulent miniature plants has been an instant hit and popular by succulent lovers, particularly in Japan. The beautifully curved leaves look like they are jumping dolphins. Look like dorsal fins and the closest to a botanical dolphin.
This formation is a cross-pollination of two succulent variants a string of pearls and hot dog plant or candle plant.
The String of Dolphin or Senecio Peregrinus String of Dolphins plant can grow up to 6 inches or 15 cm tall. From the start to its mature stage, the Dolphin shape is maintained as it grows. It has the feature of the longer the vine gets, the more leaves it will produce. They are a crowd of jumping Dolphins. It is not a carnivorous plant.
The String of Dolphins or Dolphin Necklace flowers
You can even expect small star-like pink and white flowers during the plant’s flowering season or usually in summer or warmer months.
Senecio is in the Daisy or Aster family that has a resemblance to daisies. The flowers release a cinnamon fragrance and bunch in a sphere and form a pompom of a bloom.
How to grow String of Dolphins plant
Site location
The String of Dolphins is possible to be grown indoors. The main important thing is to provide enough light. If you do not find the indoor area with enough light, you can provide the plant lightly with grow light.
The plant is suitable as a house plant, you can sit the Dolphin succulent plant them on a windowsill or table that receive much sunlight. It is recommended to relocate the plant in a well-ventilated area to prevent the plant gets root rot.
If grown outdoor, prevent the plant in the area that gets full sun exposure. The plant prefers to get shady areas or during the summer in the area that has no shady spot, you can add sunshade to avoid getting sunburn.
Light
Light is very essential when growing the String of Dolphins. Dolphin succulent or Senecio Peregrinus needs a lot of light. It prefers indirect light rather than direct light. Avoid full sunlight to prevent the leaves from getting sunburn.
Temperature
If during winter months the temperature gets colder than 30° F (-1.1° C), you should relocate the plant indoor. The Dolphin succulent plant prefers cooler temperatures.
If being placed outdoor, the maximum temperatures in winter, during its dormant season, must be maintained at about 72° F (22° C). During the summer months, the plant should have a maintained temperature between 50° – 55° F (10° – 13° C).
Humidity
During the spring months (March to June), summer months (June to September), and fall months (January to March), the Dolphin succulent plant can tolerate normal room humidity. During the winter months, humidity should be lowered than the normal room. You can use a dehumidifier in the room to achieve that.
Soil
The String of Dolphins or Dolphin succulent plant prefers soil with specific characteristics. The dolphin succulent plant like soil which is loose with a high mineral and well-draining feature providing a porous movement of water.
If you choose this kind of soil, you will let the plant to have a healthy root system that can absorb all the nutrients needed to grow beautifully. Succulent soil usually uses potting soil for cactus or potting soil for succulent.
Pot or container
The best pot or container for Strong of Dolphins are the well-drained pot with great ventilation. Usually, the pot that has drainage holes that will help the water to drain properly to prevent waterlogged soil or rotting roots.
You can choose a terracotta pot or plastic pot that has drainage holes with a diameter between 3 inches to 6 inches. You can also use a hanging basket to become air plants for an indoor succulents houseplant landscape that has drainage holes.
How to care for String of Dolphins succulent plant or Senecio Peregrinus succulents care
Fertilizer
Because the String of Dolphins is low maintenance and easy to care succulent plant, the plant does not really require much fertilizer. The best way to feed the plant is only twice a year.
The best time to apply fertilizer is in the summer months and fall months. Apply a half-strength balanced mixture of diluted liquid fertilizer with 10-10-10 NPK formulation. Dilute 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water.
You add fertilizer during its flowering months or the start of its bloom in the spring, with a blooming fertilizer such as 7-9-5 NPK formulation.
You must be careful to over-fertilizing the Dolphin succulent plant that could result in losing its jumping Dolphin look.
Watering
The Dolphin succulent plant should not be watered too much. The String of Dolphins plants is tolerant of drought.
The watering practice should be done once per week during the summer months and its growing season or stage. In cooler months, the watering should be done once a month.
You have to monitor the soil each time. If you see the soil is dry, you should water the plant. If the plant does not get enough water, the dolphin succulent’s leaves will start to pucker.
Re-potting
If you see that the String of Dolphins root system is expanding, you have to do the re-potting of the plant. Remember that every 2 years the plant should be relocated or re-potted to a single size larger pot.
Keep the soil intact around the root during re-potting. All you have to do is to shake the excess of the soil off. After that, fill in the gaps around the roots with new soil. When the plant is blooming, it is not the right time to re-pot the plant. Do not use the bare foot method.
How to propagate Senecio Peregrinus
If you are planting seeds, it would take 12 to 15 years to mature to the blooming stage. If you are propagating stem cuttings, it will only take one year until it reaches a mature stage. It is not easy to grow from succulent seed.
The best and fastest way to propagate Senecio Peregrinus is by stem cuttings. Prepare and use a sharp and sterile knife or pair of scissors or hand pruners.
Cut a stem from the mother plant. Put it on a flat surface and let it sit for 7 days to allow the cutting to heal and callous.
Prepare a pot that has drainage holes filled with a well-draining soil or cactus soil.
After the stem is healed, stick the stem on the well-draining soil inside the pot.
If you see the soil is dry, water the soil regularly. You can also water the new plant once every 3 weeks.
What are the common problems of String of Dolphins?
The common problem when you grow the plant indoor is spider mites or mealybugs. Spider mites spin webs on the undersides of the leaves. Mealybugs emerge as white cottony growth on the plant.
You can get rid of mealybugs by using cotton swabs soaked in rubbing alcohol.
Spray with cold water to get rid of spider mites.
You can also use miticide to remove spider mites and use insecticidal soap to remove the mealybugs.
The disease of String of Dolphins is only fungal issues. it can be prevented by proper watering, well-draining soil and a pot with drainage holes.
