String of dolphins: small fins on long green chains

Your care table

A leaf that suggests a leap

String of dolphins owes its name not to a flower but to its small fleshy leaves. Their curved shape and side projections suggest dolphins jumping over a green line. Curio × peregrinus is also known as Senecio peregrinus. Our offer in a 14 cm hanging pot carries shoots approximately 30 to 40 cm long. The distinctive leaf shape is best discovered close up when the chains hang freely and do not disappear into other decoration. The beauty here is very small. A good light position helps new leaves show their characteristic structure too.

Light reaches the pot edge too

Look for a very bright position where the basket does not hang immediately beneath a dark ceiling. Light should reach the shoot bases and upper leaves. Gentle sunshine is possible after acclimatisation; do not try the full heat behind glass on the very first day. In too dark a position, new growth may become longer and less convincingly shaped. A sun-filled room does not mean every far corner is bright enough. Observe shade directly at the pot and the development of the youngest leaves, not only the overall lighting of the living room.

Unpack with calm hands

The fine chains easily catch together during transport. Free them slowly without pulling on an individual shoot. Then give the basket a secure hook and enough distance from doors or walkways. Make sure the hanger also carries the wet pot’s weight. For the first few days, checking moisture and growth is enough. A small broken tip does not call for a complete cutback. Delay repotting until a suitable later time if the existing soil drains and the roots have enough space. Acclimatisation therefore begins with as few extra changes as possible.

It can become dry between waterings

The fleshy leaves store water. Let the rootball dry noticeably before watering thoroughly. Also check pot weight, as a dry surface may hide a still-damp core. Remove excess water after watering; a closed hanging container requires particular attention. Firm, well-shaped leaves above a dry rootball must be assessed differently from soft leaves above permanently wet soil. A rigid weekly interval cannot suit both situations. Light, temperature, pot material and season together determine how quickly the plant uses its reserves.

Airy soil for delicate roots

A free-draining succulent mix with mineral components makes the change between taking up water and a dry pause easier. Choose a pot only slightly larger once roots have filled the previous one. An oversized container contains much soil not yet explored by roots and consequently stays damp for a long time. Shoot bases should sit no deeper than before. Lay the chains loosely aside while working. Light feeding according to the product used is possible during active growth. More frequent nutrient supplies are no solution when light or drainage is what is actually missing.

Leaf shape as a conversation with the plant

Occasionally look at how new leaves differ from older ones. Small differences are normal in living plants. But if shoots become very thin and leaves strikingly flat or less characteristic, check light and provision. Do not change everything at once: improve the most obvious position-related factor first. Gently remove individual dry old leaves when they come loose. Healthy long chains can keep growing or be selectively shortened. Leave enough leafy parts in place. String of dolphins should retain its natural hanging character rather than regularly being forced into a rigid shape.

The winter spot stays bright

Shorter days often reduce growth and therefore water demand. A bright, frost-free spot is important; cooler cultivation lengthens dry pauses. Warm heating air alone is no reason to water more while the rootball remains damp. Check shoot bases and roots if the plant suddenly looks worse. Hanging the basket where it stays accessible makes this small check easy. The attractive green chains benefit more from a sensible rhythm than from many interventions. And when passing by, there is almost always another small fin to discover.

One plant, several views

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