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String of Bananas (Senecio Herreianus) is another unique trailing succulent. Like the other string series of plants, this plant is easy to care for. Read the below tips to ensure you keep your String of Bananas looking its best!
String of Bananas prefer bright in-direct sunlight and should never be placed in direct sunlight, as prolonged exposure can cause their leaves to become damaged and dry out the plant very quickly.
Make sure the top of the pot gets enough light. This stops the soil from staying wet for too long, which can cause root rot, attract pests, and harm your plant. If your plant is in a hanging basket or somewhere that light is not reaching the soil on your plant, you can supplement with a grow light or lower it so that the top receives more light.
String of Bananas prefer well-draining soil. Be sure to use a potting mix that is specifically for succulents/cacti. Or if you are making your own mix – using 2 parts potting soil + 1 part perlite/pumice and 1 part sand is an ideal mix for this variety of plants.
Just like a succulent in nature, this plant is drought tolerant as their leaves can retain water for a long period of time. Due to this they do not need as frequent of a watering routine. Allow the soil to dry out thoroughly between watering's to prevent root rot and other overwatering related issues. During the fall and winter months, these plants go into dormancy – so reduce your watering frequency during these times as well. When watering, give your plant a thorough watering and discard any excess watering sitting at the bottom of its pot if watering into a pot without drainage holes.
You can fertilize these plants annually with an organic liquid fertilizer, ensure that you dilute to half recommended strength. Over fertilizing these types of plants can cause a toxic build up as they don't have high fertilization requirements.
This plant prefers cooler and more humid temperatures over the warmer temperatures that most succulents thrive in. Avoid any cold drafts from any windows or air conditioners. You can also increase the humidity by running a humidifier in the room of the plant, or you can lightly mist their leaves.
The "String of Bananas" plant (Senecio radicans) is generally considered toxic to pets if ingested. The ASPCA lists it as toxic to both cats and dogs. When animals ingest parts of this plant, they may experience symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, lethargy, and other gastrointestinal issues. If you have pets, it's advisable to keep this plant out of their reach or opt for non-toxic alternatives.
Yes your String of Banana's can flower.
Parts of the stem on your plant may loose foliage due to the plants soil drying out too much at the top. String of Banana's have a delicate root system and if exposed to longer periods of dry soil then it may cause your plant to loose or have its foliage dry up.