How to Grow and Care For String of Bananas

This low-maintenance succulent makes the perfect hanging houseplant!

The string is bananas is a close relative of the popular string of pearls. However, this trailing succulent is known for growing faster and being easier to care for—making it perfect if you've got a brown thumb.

With it's glossy, banana-shaped leaves that grow in long-hanging tendrils, it's an ideal hanging houseplant.

This drought-tolerant, low-maintenance succulent just needs a spot beside a sunny, warm window to thrive. But ensure those trailing tendrils are out of reach of curious kids and pets. Senecio species (the genus the string of bananas was part of previously) are toxic to humans, dogs, cats, and horses.

String of Bananas Care

Here are the main care requirements for fast-growing, low-maintenance string of bananas succulents:

• Position in full sun.

• Pot in well-drained succulent or cacti mix.

• Water immediately after the soil fully dries out.

• Fertilize lightly in the growing season or not at all—these plants are not heavy feeders.

Light

These trailing succulents require bright, direct light when grown indoors. Choose a location that receives at least six hours of sunlight throughout the day.

String of bananas do well under grow lights as well if needed.

When growing outdoors, a partial shade position is acceptable, particularly if you have a south-facing yard in a region that experiences high temperatures.

If this plant is not receiving enough light, it will become leggy and the banana-shaped leaves will become significantly more spaced out along the stem—a look that is often considered less visually appealing.

Soil

String of bananas requires a well-draining soil mix to help prevent root rot. You can purchase premixed cactus or succulent soil or mix your own at home.

A simple mixture of 2 parts potting soil, 1 part perlite, and 1 part pumice or sand will provide your string of bananas with adequate drainage.

Water

This hardy succulent is considered to be drought-tolerant with low water needs. There is no universal schedule for how often a string of bananas will need to be watered as this depends on various factors.

However, as a general rule, the soil should be allowed to dry out completely between waterings without leaving it dry for too long.

When you do water, water deeply to moisten all the soil without leaving the soil soggy or the plant sitting in standing water.

Reduce the watering frequency significantly during their dormant winter phase.

It is better to under-water a string of bananas than to overwater as they are highly susceptible to root rot.

Keeping the succulent planted in well-draining soil and ensuring that the pot has adequate drainage will also help to prevent root rot.

Temperature and Humidity

While string of bananas are native to the dry and hot climates of South Africa, they do well in normal household temperatures and humidity levels.

Ensure you keep your plant away from heat or air conditioning vents and drafty or cold windows to avoid exposure to extreme temperatures.

String of bananas can also be grown successfully outdoors in succulent gardens. However, they are not frost-tolerant, so require regions that experience warm weather year-round.

Growth will slow considerably in low temperatures—and anything below 32 degrees Fahrenheit can kill your plant.

Fertilizer

As with most succulents, string of bananas does not require regular fertilizing. However, because they are fast growers, they can benefit from a light feeding in the spring or summer months.

Using organic fertilizers such as worm compost, liquid kelp, or fish emulsion is recommended.

Propagating String of Bananas

Propagating string of bananas via stem cuttings in the spring or summer is a cinch. It's the perfect option for adding to your succulent collection or gifting plants to others.

It's especially handy because growing string of bananas from seed is tricky and not a popular propagation method.

Here's how to propagate your string of bananas:

1. Start by taking 4- to 6-inch healthy stem cuttings using sterile, sharp pruning shears or scissors. Cut just below a leaf node.

2. Remove the bottom two to three leaves at the base of the stem.

3. Allow the cutting base to dry out and callus over before potting. This typically takes 24 to 48 hours, and the cutting should be left flat in a warm, dry spot.

4. Transfer the cutting to a well-drained potting mix, covering the bottom leafless nodes so the base of the stem sits in at least an inch of soil.

5. Ensure the soil is packed secure against the stem to avoid it toppling over.

6. Pick a warm indoor spot in bright sunlight. Your new string of bananas plant can take up to a month to fully take root.

7. Wait around 48 hours before watering. When you do, water deeply, but avoid soggy conditions and standing water. Continue to water deeply whenever the soil fully dries out.
   

Potting and Repotting String of Bananas

String of bananas don’t mind being root-bound and do not need to be repotted regularly as a result. Moving to a bigger pot once every couple of years to refresh the soil is usually enough.

Picking a pot that is too large and deep makes it difficult for the plant to absorb the moisture in potting mix and can lead to root rot. The spring and summer months are the best time for repotting as it will give the delicate roots time to recover during the active growing season.

These plants are typically much easier to repot than other hanging succulent varieties, such as the string of pearls, because their leaves don’t fall off as easily. However, take care during repotting to ensure you don’t break any delicate stems.

Have no fear if you lose a couple of strands, though—simply pop the end of the broken stem back in the pot, and it will eventually grow its roots.

Common Pests/Diseases

String of bananas succulents are not prone to any particularly serious problems, but they can be susceptible to many of the most common types of houseplant pests and diseases.

Most notably, watch out for signs of root rot which can result from overwatering.

Keep an eye out for sap-sucking pests such as aphids, mealybugs and other scale insects, and spider mites. Early detection and proper treatment can help control these pesky insects and prevent a full-blown infestation.

Common Problems With String of Bananas

String of bananas might be ideal houseplants for beginners, but that doesn't mean you can completely neglect them. Problems often arise when you get it wrong with watering.

Here are some early warning signs you might need to tweak their low-maintenance care regime.

Wrinkly Leaves

Withering leaves starting to pucker is typically a sign you are over or underwatering your plant. Stick your finger into your potting mix.

Does the soil feel soggy? This is probably a sign you are going overboard on the watering schedule, or you may need to repot in a better-draining succulent mix.

If the soil is dry and the leaves are flat and wrinkly, you may have left it like this too long. Regularly checking the soil is the best strategy.

Mushy Stems

Another sign you are going overboard with watering is the leaves and stems turning from solid to squidgy. You want to lay off watering to let the soil dry out quickly.

Sometimes, root rot might have already set in, and you might be unable to salvage your plant. In this case, look for non-mushy stems and take cuttings to propagate new plants.

Leafless Plant Base

If you spot the leaves dropping at the base of the plant stems, this can be another sign of over or underwatering.

Most often, it relates to underwatering, and you will need to check the soil more regularly and rewater immediately on the soil fully drying out.

If your plant loses a lot of leaves at the base and doesn't look its best, this is another occasion when propagating a new plant from a healthy upper stem may be better.

Unfortunately, the lost lower leaves won't grow back.

Leggy Growth

If your string of bananas plant is leggy with weak, spindly stems, this is a sign your plant isn't getting enough sun.

The technical term for this phenomenon is etiolation, and it happens when the plant is stretching to try to reach the available light. The leaves can also turn yellow and be smaller than normal.

Pick a spot next to a window receiving at least six hours of direct sunlight. Again, starting a new plant from a healthy leaf cutting might be a better strategy if the leggy growth is significant and unsightly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are string of bananas hard to care for?

String of bananas are ideal plants for beginners as they are not too difficult to care for. They don't need pruning, feeding, or lots of water. Providing you don't overwater and can offer a bright spot in your home, you will be rewarded with a fast-growing and forgiving succulent.

Where is the best place for a string of bananas?

When growing string of bananas as a houseplant, it's all about picking a spot that receives at least six hours of bright light a day and keeping the plant away from drafts or extreme temperature fluctuations. You can grow these plants outdoors in warm, frost-free regions, where they can cope with a partial sun position.

How tall does a string of bananas grow?

The trailing vines on fast-growing string of bananas plants can reach up to 3 feet long, providing you offer a bright position and the right amount of water. They make ideal succulents for adding to a hanging basket, or you can train them to grow up a DIY moss pole or trellis.

Read the original article on The Spruce.