Is string of bananas easier than string of pearls?

Yes, for most people. String of bananas grows faster, roots readily and tolerates a little more watering error than string of pearls. It still needs bright light and gritty soil, and it rots if kept wet.

How often should I water string of bananas?

Water when the soil has dried out almost completely and the banana-shaped leaves feel very slightly soft. That's usually every 10 to 14 days in summer and every three to four weeks in winter. Firm, plump leaves mean it doesn't need water yet.

Why is my string of bananas going bare on top?

Bare stems near the soil usually mean too little light, old strands dying back, or roots rotting from wet soil. Lay cuttings back on the soil surface to fill the top, and move the plant to a brighter spot.

Is string of bananas toxic to cats?

Yes. String of bananas, like string of pearls and other Curio and Senecio species, is considered toxic to cats and dogs. Eating it can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and drooling. Hang it out of reach.

How do you propagate string of bananas?

Cut strands 10 to 15 cm long, remove the leaves from the bottom few centimetres, and either lay the strands on top of moist gritty soil or push the bare section into it. Roots form at leaf nodes in two to four weeks. Water cuttings in water also root, but soil is more reliable.

Does string of bananas flower?

Yes. Mature plants often produce small white, fluffy flowers on short stalks in late winter or spring, which many people find smell faintly of cinnamon. A cool, bright, drier winter encourages flowering.

String of Bananas Care: Light, Watering and Propagation

String of bananas care is very close to string of pearls care, only more forgiving. Curio radicans (still widely sold as Senecio radicans) is a trailing succulent from South Africa with small, curved, banana-shaped leaves along long stems. It stores water in those leaves, which means it wants bright light, very free-draining soil and watering only when the pot has dried out.

It grows quickly, trails a metre or more, and roots wherever it touches soil, which makes it easy to keep full and to share.

String of bananas care at a glance

Need	What works	Avoid
Light	Very bright, some direct sun (morning is ideal)	Low light; sudden harsh sun
Water	When soil is almost fully dry	Watering on a fixed schedule; soggy soil
Soil	Gritty cactus mix with extra perlite or pumice	Regular dense compost
Pot	Shallow, with drainage; terracotta ideal	Deep pots; no drainage hole
Temperature	15–27 °C (60–80 °F); cooler winter OK	Below 7 °C
Humidity	Normal room air	Steamy, damp spots
Feeding	Two or three times in summer	Frequent feeding
Pets	Toxic	Within reach of pets

Light

String of bananas needs bright light. The best spots are right in front of an east or west window, or a south window with a sheer curtain in summer. A few hours of direct morning or late afternoon sun keeps the leaves plump and close together on the stem.

Light	What you'll see
Bright with some direct sun	Compact, full strands; fast growth
Bright indirect only	Good growth, slightly longer gaps between leaves
Medium	Stretched, sparse strands, small leaves
Low	Bare stems, decline, rot more likely

If the gaps between leaves get long and the strands look thin, the plant needs more light. Hanging baskets are often too high or too far from the glass; hang them close to the window. If you move a plant into direct sun, do it gradually. Measure your spot with the plant light meter converter, and see grow lights for houseplants for dim homes.

How to water string of bananas

Check the soil with a finger or skewer. Water when it's dry almost to the bottom.
Look at the leaves too. Slightly softer, less plump bananas mean it's ready. Shrivelled, wrinkled leaves mean it's overdue.
Water thoroughly until it drains out of the hole, or bottom water for 10 minutes.
Empty the saucer and let it dry out again.

In summer that often means every 10 to 14 days. In winter, when growth slows, every three to four weeks is usually enough, and a cool, bright, dry winter helps it flower. A hanging pot in warm air near the ceiling dries faster than a pot on a cool sill.

Overwatering is the main way these plants die. Signs include mushy, translucent or yellow leaves, black stems at the soil line and strands that pull away easily. If you see those, read root rot treatment and overwatered plant signs. The plant watering schedule is useful for reminders to check, not to water automatically.

Soil and pots

Use a gritty mix that drains in seconds:

2 parts cactus and succulent compost
1 part perlite or pumice
1 part horticultural grit

Shallow terracotta pots and hanging baskets with drainage holes are ideal. The roots are shallow, so a deep pot just holds wet soil. The soil mix calculator can work out quantities, and houseplant soil mix explains the ingredients.

Repot only when the plant has completely filled its pot, every two years or so, in spring. Strands break easily, so lay them over your arm while you work. See how to repot a houseplant.

Temperature and humidity

Normal room temperatures suit it, and it tolerates a cool winter down to about 7 °C if kept dry. It doesn't need extra humidity; dry indoor air is fine. Avoid steamy bathrooms without good light, where the soil stays damp.

Feeding

Feed two or three times between late spring and late summer with a cactus or balanced feed at half strength. That's enough. Use the fertilizer dilution calculator for doses.

Keeping it full: fixing a bare top

Bare stems at the top of the pot are the most common complaint. Causes include too little light, old strands that have died back after flowering or over time, and rot at the crown from wet soil.

To fix it:

Take 10 to 15 cm cuttings from healthy strand ends.
Lay them in a coil on the soil surface at the top of the pot, pressing the stems gently into the soil. Hairpins or bent paperclips hold them down.
Mist the soil surface lightly every few days until they root, usually two to four weeks.
Move the pot into brighter light.

Repeat once a year and the plant stays full.

How to propagate string of bananas

It's one of the easiest succulents to propagate.

Soil method (most reliable):

Cut strands 10 to 15 cm long with clean scissors.
Strip leaves off the bottom 2 to 3 cm.
Either push the bare section into gritty soil or lay the whole strand on top of the soil.
Keep the soil surface barely moist and the pot in bright, indirect light.
Roots form at the nodes within two to four weeks. Give a gentle tug to check.

Water method: stand the bare ends in a jar of water with the leaves above the water line. Roots form in a couple of weeks, but water roots adapt slowly to soil, so move them early.

See how to propagate houseplants for general tips.

Common problems

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
Wrinkled, shrivelled leaves, dry soil	Underwatering	Water thoroughly
Mushy, translucent or yellow leaves	Overwatering	Let dry fully; check roots
Black stems at the soil line	Rot	Take cuttings from healthy strands; restart
Long gaps between leaves	Too little light	Brighter spot, closer to window
Bare top of pot	Low light, ageing, rot	Lay cuttings on soil; more light
Brown, scorched patches	Sudden harsh sun	Acclimatise gradually
White fluff along stems	Mealybugs	See mealybugs on plants
Tiny green insects on tips	Aphids	See houseplant pests

String of bananas vs similar trailing succulents

Plant	Leaf	Difficulty	Pet safe
String of bananas	Curved banana shapes	Easy to moderate	No
String of pearls	Round beads	Moderate to hard	No
String of hearts	Flat, heart-shaped	Easy to moderate	Yes
Burro's tail (Sedum morganianum)	Plump, overlapping	Moderate	Yes

Is string of bananas pet safe?

No. Like other Curio and Senecio species, it contains compounds that are toxic to cats and dogs and can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and drooling. Hang it well out of reach. For a pet-friendly trailing plant, try string of hearts. See pet-safe houseplants and the plant toxicity checker.

Quick checklist

Bright light with some direct sun
Water only when the soil is nearly dry
Gritty mix in a shallow pot with drainage
Feed two or three times in summer
Lay cuttings on top to keep it full
Hang out of reach of pets

Sources and further reading

University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension: String of pearls and relatives, for trailing Senecio care.
ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants, for pet safety information.