Fishhook Plant Care: A Trailing Succulent

Everyone wants cascading, tumbling, and trailing houseplants these days. They are beautiful to look at, add value to the space, and create a strong aesthetic presence.

The fishhook plant is one such year-round houseplant, popular among plant parents in the United States. This trailing succulent is easily cared for and appreciates whatever attention you can give it.

Trailing plants like fish hook plants are decorative plants that you encourage to trail and cascade as far down as they want, as opposed to other houseplants that need to be clipped and pruned back into shape. Grow fishhooks Senecio plants indoors and see how beautiful they are!

About Fishhook Plant

This plant is known for its botanic name Senecio radicans. It is also known as FishHooks Senecio and String Of FishHooks. This plant’s natural habitat is South Africa, where it spreads underground to form a creeping vine. It belongs to the Senecio family.

This plant is commonly mistaken for the String of Bananas or a String of Pearls, both of which are also Senecio plant species. The Banana String has shorter, thicker tendrils than the Fishhook String, while the Pearl String features spherical beads.

Fishhook is now commonly seen as an indoor hanging plant. It’s stunning when grown in a hanging basket and allowed to cascade to the ground or to whatever length you want.

Fishhook Plant Care

Consider the following factors while caring for this plant:

Fishhook Plant Light Requirements

The fish hook plant thrives in nice bright light that is indirect. Too little bright light will cause your plant to dry and wilt over time. Therefore, you must move the plant closer to a south or west window if it is not receiving enough light. An open window works well in your favor. This way, the light will be utilized to its full potential. Another option, especially in the winter, is to utilize grow lights. Remember that direct sunlight can be harmful to the plant.

Hardiness of Fishhook Plant

Know that not all climates will allow your plant to remain outside all year if that is where you plan on keeping it. Fish hook plants are hardy from 25 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit but cannot survive at colder temperatures.

Remember that the main cause of your plants losing leaves and shrinking is cold from the environment or the water.

Fishhook Plant Soil Requirements

Sucrose-loving fish hook plants are no different from other succulents. They thrive in sandy, well-draining soil. Therefore, you must place them in a spacious pot with drainage holes.

Cactus and succulents require special soil that might be a bit challenging to acquire. But don’t worry; you can make it on your own. All you need is three components – planting medium in a 2:1 ratio, one part of perlite, and one part pumice or sand. You can also use cactus mix for fertilization.

One of the most vital characteristics of soil is its ability to drain water and nutrients. Root rot is a major threat to these succulents; therefore, you must ensure to avoid flooding.

To ensure that your Fishhooks drain quickly, you should plant them in loose, well-drained soil. Pot and root them in a mixture of potting soil and cactus and succulent soil.

Like other succulents, it’s preferable to err by keeping them a bit dry rather than excessively moist. But mind you, don’t let it dry completely; keep it a bit moist. Remember that this lovely houseplant stores excess moisture in its twisting tendrils.

Watering Fishhook Plant

You must water your fishhook plant about once every two weeks. Test the top inch of soil with your finger before watering your plant. If you feel it is dry, water the plant immediately. Don’t do it if the ground is damp.

 Keep an eye on the leaves to know how much to water. The leaves are thirsty if they are wilted and flat. However, if the leaves are soft and mushy, it’s likely that they’ve received too much water.

Your plant may suffer from root rot if you water it too frequently or before it has dried out between watering episodes.

A twice-monthly watering schedule is sufficient during the growing seasons, spring and winter. During winter, the soil will take longer to dry out; therefore, you should wait at least three weeks or a month before watering the plant. Always wait until the soil is nearly dry before giving it any more moisture.

Fish hook plants can survive in extremely dry conditions. However, if the plant’s leaves are dry and wrinkled, it probably needs water.

Fertilizing Fishhook Plant

As far as the fish hook plant is concerned, fertilization is not a major priority. It thrives on the soil’s or potting mix’s native nutrients.

This succulent houseplant does not require regular feeding; however, a small amount of fertilizer can improve its appearance. Add some worm castings or organic compost on top of the succulent’s soil once a year in the spring to accelerate the plant’s growth. Remember, fishhook senecio grows fast.

Propagating Fishhook Plant

Creating new fishhook plants from your existing ones is a breeze.

1. Take a cutting from the mother plant by removing the lowest pair of leaves.
2. Place the plant cuttings in water or plant them in soil with the cut ends facing down. Keep an eye out for the establishment of roots.
3. Use a propagation station for a smooth ride.
4. You can transfer the plant to the soil after an inch of the root has grown in water.

Make sure you don’t lose track of where you got the cuttings, though. As the stem expands, more shoots will emerge.

Moreover, always remember it’s ideal for propagating your plant when it’s actively growing rather than in the winter. Since these plants are perennials, you can safely start the propagation process whenever you need to.

Pests on a Fishhook Plant

Fortunately, fishhook plants rarely face serious problems from pests. You will see very few pests on this trailing plant. However, mealy bugs and other sap-sucking insects can spread disease to these plants.

Most plant parents have complained about mealybugs. They can grow to be around 15 of an inch long and are oval in shape with a rosy purple color. Adults have a cottony wax covering that makes them white to light grey.

Once these bugs discover a suitable eating site, they tend to stay put. Therefore, it is essential to remove them to save your plant.

Spray your plant with warm water from a shower head or garden hose to get rid of mealybugs. They will be pried off your plant by the power of the water. You can also use alcohol to remove them.

Shake the plant slowly to ward off the big ones if you see them. Hand-pick the rest of them to get rid of tiny infestations.

If the bugs persist, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray. You must repeat the process several times to get your desired result. Make sure to remove the affected area of the plant as it might influence the new growth.

Pruning Fishhook Plant

This plant is ideal for growing in hanging baskets and hanging pots since it can send out roots all the way to the ground, creating a unique and beautiful display. You can train the young shoots to climb a trellis from the bottom up.

If your fishhooks Senecio plant is getting too big for its pot, trim it by severing the stem just above a leaf. If your plant is healthy, it will recuperate and send two new shoots instead of one.

Pruning the plant is necessary to prevent pets and youngsters from tripping over it. When swallowed, fishhook plants cause serious illness.

You can prune at any time of year, but doing so during the growing season can help your plant recover more rapidly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do fish hook plants flower?

The fish hook plant has tiny, white blossoms, yet its scent is as spicy as cinnamon. It doesn’t matter if you grow the plant indoors or out; you’ll get flowers either way.

Is it safe to eat the fish hook plant?

Keep children and pets away from the fish hook plant, as it is a somewhat hazardous succulent. Only when consumed are the leaves and tendrils harmful. Put the plant up high.

If you’re going to grow it in a garden, you should protect the plant with wire mesh. Seek emergency medical attention if a child or pet ingests any part of the plant.

Can you plant fishhook plants outdoors?

The fish hook plant is adaptable to both indoor and outdoor environments. It will flourish in either condition. It is important to note that this plant is not cold hardy and should be protected from the hot sun.

Consequently, if you live in a mild climate, place your plant in your garden, which has a site that receives a lot of brilliant indirect light throughout the winter. If you can’t grow it successfully outside, bring it inside and give it the care it needs.

Why do fishhook plants wilt?

The primary cause of your fish hook plant’s demise is probably due to a lack of water. Overwatering causes the roots to spread out and eventually kills the plant. Even submerging it would have the same effect. The plant will wilt if you fail to water it, and the soil dries out completely.

What could be causing my Fish Hook plant to shrivel up?

A fish hook plant begins to wither and die in the absence of its leaves and subsequent growth. The tendrils will start shriveling due to cold weather. The plant has either been exposed to cold weather, or you have watered it with cold water. Remove the plant from the cold draughts and turn up the heating. Soon after, it will recover and grow new leaves to replace the old ones.

Final Thoughts

Succulent in nature, the fish hook plant is characterized by its long tendrils. The name of this plant comes from the resemblance of its bluish leaves to fish hooks. It is drought-tolerant and can create a beautiful illusion of space.

However, you must ensure to keep this decorative plant away from kids and dogs because it is somewhat harmful. Water it once every two weeks, provide it with organic compost, and place it in a room with lots of indirect bright shade of light.