String of Tears (Senecio Herreianus)
The String of Tears (Senecio herreianus ) is an exciting succulent plant hailing from Namibia in South Africa. This member of the Asteraceae circle of relatives is a smooth perennial succulent desired for its creeping stems and appealing, tear-formed foliage. The plant’s genus call. Senecio is Latin and approaches “old man”.
The precise epithet, herreianus honors botanist. Hans Herre, who turned into a professional on the topic of South African succulents.
Common names for this plant encompass:
- String of Watermelons
- String of Raindrops
- Gooseberry Plant
- String of Beads
- String of Tears
Size & Growth
- The string of tears normally a low developing, trailing plant.
- Stems may additionally reap a duration of 1.5 feet in perfect situations.
- The string of tears has trailing stems ranging in coloration from inexperienced to crimson.
- The stems are pretty stiff and might turn out to be extra than a foot lengthy.
- They have a trailing or creeping growth dependency relying upon how they’re planted.
- The leaf form is of a teardrop or raindrop.
- They are geared up with clear leaf windows allowing greater light to get in.
When you peek in the window. You’ll see the interior of the leaf has very high-quality crimson stripes.
When the plant is grown in vivid sunlight. The purple colorings of the stems and leaves turn darker.
Flowering & Fragrance
Senecio herreianus String Of Tears produces cinnamon-scented. Trumpet-formed white vegetation at some point in the spring and summer season.
Also Read: Peperomia Serpens. Growing, Care and Propagation
Light & Temperature
The string of tears does high-quality in partial color or indirect vivid light instead of within the full direct daylight.
As a houseplant, it does nicely in an east-dealing with or west-dealing with a sunny window.
If you’re growing the plant outdoors. You must convey it in earlier than the cold months of wintry weather.
Alternately, in case you’re developing it as a groundcover, take cuttings to keep indoor vegetation as houseplants and go back to the outdoors when iciness is over.
This plant is winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 10b-12b.
Watering & Feeding
- They are able to keep water in their stems and leaves for lengthy intervals of time.
- Water as you will any trailing succulent or cacti sedum.
- Wait till the soil is almost entirely dry and then water very deeply.
- Allow water to run via the soil and out of the drainage hollow of the container.
- Fertilize those succulents as soon as 11 months for the duration of the summer season.
- Use a weak answer of a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer.
Soil & Transplanting
The string of beads likes dry, loamy, sandy, or gravelly soil with an impartial pH degree.
A sharply draining succulent soil or cactus blend is a superb choice.
As with any succulent or cactus, continually use containers with adequate drainage holes.
Grooming & Maintenance
When kept as a trailing houseplant, String Of Tears ought to be pruned regularly to keep a full shape.
Poke the stem cuttings lower back into the equal potting to fill in any empty spots.
But care commands are applicable to all Senecio.
How To Propagate Senecio Herreianus String Of Tears
- The string of Tears Senecio Plant is very clean to propagate.
- In its native setting. The stems honestly trail along the ground and set down roots as they go.
- In the wild. This plant forms dense mats.
- Take cuttings whenever you like during the yr.
- Propagate by using poking the give up of the slicing into unfastened soil or truly putting the slicing on top of unfastened soil.
Press it down gently to make sure you’ve got the right soil contact, and it’s going to soon begin putting down roots.
Senecio Herreianus Pest or Disease Problems
For the most component. This hardy succulent is pest and problem-loose when nicely cared for.
- Overwatering can cause root rot and stem rot and also will make the plant liable to succulent mealybug attacks.
- If your plant develops any of those troubles. Approach it by using lowering watering and the use of an insecticide within the case of mealybugs.
- Alternately, take healthful cuttings, ditch the diseased plant, and begin all over again.
If you do that. Make sure to apply new or very well wiped clean bins and sparkling potting soil and perlite mix.
Rinse the cuttings thoroughly to do away with any mealybugs and allow them to air dry before putting them at the soil surface to develop.
Does Senecio Plant Consider Toxic Or Poisonous?
Although there doesn’t appear to be precise information concerning toxicity in Senecio herreianus string of tears. It’s worth noting numerous of its cousins are rather poisonous and shouldn’t be eaten.
For example, Senecio rowleyanus is taken into consideration mildly poisonous to people and can purpose signs including diarrhea and vomiting if fed on.
In mild of this, it simply makes sense to maintain String Of Tears out of the reach of kids and pets.
Do Senecio Herreianus Considered Invasive?
Although Senecio herreianus string of beads is not listed as invasive. Care must be taken while planting it outdoors in areas in which it’s far winter hardy.
It does have a profuse boom price, spreads without difficulty, and could speedily adapt to turn out to be invasive.
Take steps to maintain it on your lawn.
Suggested and Uses
Like the String of Pearls. This attractive decorative succulent is a fantastic preference for use in putting baskets.
The trailing stems and thrilling leaves cascade merrily over the rims of bins. Why now not experience developing striking baskets of each String of Pearls and String on Tears?
In conducive climates. A string of tears should make a pleasant ground cover and could be an interesting addition to a rock garden or trailing over a rock wall.
