Being a little bit eccentric never hurt anyone, and the Peperomia ‘Pepperspot’ or String of Coins, as most people call it, is just the plant for the job, thanks to its ability to adapt and enjoy using its silver dollar vine for climbing and vining.
String of Coins is a drought-tolerant penny plant that is often confused with the Peperomia prostrata or String of Turtles; however, these young plants maintain a solid coloration rather than showing off vibrant veins or variegation. In contrast to the brownish-red vines and undersides, the rounded, succulent-like leaves mature to dark green with gray-green leaves flowers.
Once mature, String of Coin plants can be a stunning waterfall of vines in the background of a place. They look great in a hanging basket and on the floors of terrariums, where they will fill in and cover the ground, shielding the roots of any other plants planted.
String of Coins Plant Care
Table of Contents
The following are some of the major requirements of this silver dollar succulent:
Soil Requirements for Silver Dollar Succulent
Well-draining soil, which dries quickly after being watered, is ideal for the String of Coins’ natural growth. The plant’s roots decay if the ground is too wet for too long. Soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5 is ideal for growth. It’s best to use a succulent and cactus combination.
Since it is a succulent, the String of Coins does best in extremely porous and aerated soil. Its roots will deteriorate and finally die in consistently wet soil.
The String of Coins shouldn’t be planted in regular potting soil. The soil must be very well-aerated and loose so that it can dry out between waterings. E
The String of Coins requires somewhat acidic soil, which can be checked with pH indicator strips.
Light Requirements for Silver Dollar Succulents
Light and sun are appreciated on the String of Coins, which receives between six and eight hours of daily indirect bright light. While most houseplants don’t do well in direct sun, this silver dollar plant works well in both low and high light levels.
You should place this plant in suites facing south. On the other hand, rooms on the north side of the building are excessively dreary and chilly. The lack of sunlight prevents the plant’s growth in shaded areas.
This interesting plant can do fine in either full or dappled sunlight. They thrive in the scorching heat and bright sunlight of their natural tropical Madagascar habitat. Therefore, you must, therefore, have access to sunlight.
Watering Requirements for Silver Dollar Succulent
The string of Coins is located on the steep cliffs of Madagascar. Sand and loose soil prevent water from being retained in these regions. It is a silver-dollar succulent that can persevere with only a trickle of water. The soil should be soaked fully and then allowed to dry before being watered again. Make sure your soil doesn’t stay soggy for too long. In the colder months, watering is not necessary as often.
Soil drainage is crucial. The soak-and-dry technique is thoroughly soaking your plant and then letting the excess water drain out of the pot through the holes in the bottom. Remember waterlogging the roots will eventually kill your plant.
Wait to water the String of Coins again until the earth is fully dry. You should water it in the spring and summer, then dry it out in the winter.
Temperature Requirements for Silver Dollar Plant
Temperatures between 6 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius work well for the String of Coins. The optimum temperature is between 18 and 27 degrees Celsius. You should still take precautions to keep the frost away from it, even though it can withstand a certain amount of cold. It can stay functional in temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius.
The String of Coins prefers hot, dry weather. Your plant will thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 9b-11b in the United States.
Humidity Requirements for Silver Dollar Plant
Because of its dry and hot natural environment, the String of Coins likes conditions with low to medium humidity. It’s not good to put your plant near a humidifier or in a warm, moist space. The optimal relative humidity at home is between 40 and 50 percent. A dehumidifier is something to think about getting if you live in a very humid area.
The ideal humidity range for the String of Coins is between 30 and 70 percent. This plant cannot tolerate high humidity or any sort of wet environment. Make sure your String of Coins plant gets enough light and air by leaving windows open whenever feasible.
Fertilizing Silver Dollar Plants
Silver-dollar tropical plants do not require strict fertilization because of their tough nature. However, If you really want to fertilize your String of Coins, you should only do so once, in the summer. The fertilizer should be balanced and water-soluble, and it should be diluted to half its original strength. Refrain from fertilizing the plant in winter.
The round silvery gray leaves of your plants will benefit immediately from the added nutrients in water-soluble fertilizers. They should be poured onto the soil, but care should be taken to avoid splashing the plant. The plant’s leaves, stalks, and flowers will all be harmed if fertilizer is put straight over them.
When purchasing pre-made fertilizer, go for a natural organic blend.
Potting Silver Dollar Succulent
You should grow your String of Coins in sandy, well-drained soil. These branched, delicate curly tendrils would look great with a cacti mix watering moderate solution. Make sure there are holes in the bottom of the pot for excess water to drain out. If it gets rootbound in its pot, repot it in the spring. All-purpose potting mix is too wet and nutrient-rich to use.
How to Repot the String of Coin Plant
Planting a String of Coins in a hanging basket or a small container allows its thick cylindrical stem to cascade gracefully to the ground.
Pick a cactus or succulent assortment. This will allow the water to escape from the pot without any obstructions. Cover the bottom of the planter with gravel.
To facilitate water drainage, fill the bottom of the pot with gravel before adding cactus mix and planting the String of Coins.
Carefully insert your plant into the center hole of the container. Fill the space with sand.
Soak your plant well and set it somewhere to drain. Water the plant only once you’ve verified that the soil is completely dry.
Choose a container that is at least 3 inches bigger than the one you are currently using. Put some gravel and cactus soil in the new container.
Toss the existing String of Coins pot and replace it with a new one. Get rid of the dust and dirt.
Search for harmed root areas and remove them as needed. Repot your plant in the new container.
Pruning Silver Dollar Succulent
As the String of Coins’ branches gets longer, it risks looking scraggly. Reduce sagging branches by only a few centimeters to keep a tidy appearance. Trim off any broken or damaged branches.
Very little upkeep is required for your String of Coins. The trailing branches can be trimmed with a tiny cutter if they become too long and scraggly.
To keep the remainder of the plant from getting sick, you should look for any damaged or diseased branches and remove them.
Propagation of Silver Dollar Succulent
Most people decide to go for the Xerosicyos danguyi leaf propagation method for this silver-dollar succulent. You can use seeds, but it’s not easy; therefore, ace gardeners don’t recommend it.
Plant them when the danger of even light frost has passed, and keep the soil moist and warm. The propagation requires about 21 degrees Celsius to succeed. After two to three weeks, the seeds should start to sprout. However, acquiring a fully grown plant with this procedure takes a very long time and is not very reliable.
Therefore, cuttings should be used for propagation whenever possible. Unless you reside in a warm environment, spring is the best time of the year to propagate a silver coins plant.
How to propagate your Silver Coins plant:
Use mature stem cuttings with at least three to five leaves. It will die if you cut the main stem. In time, it will callus over, and a new branch will emerge from the lowest node of the stem.
After you’ve cut it, give it a few days to dry so the wound can callus over. One that faces the sun is preferable. The time it takes will be determined by the weather. It will decay or become infected if you wet it without first allowing it to scab over or form a callus.
Scab over the wounds, then plant your cuttings in soil and spray them lightly every day. The planting medium should never be allowed to dry out completely. The pot shouldn’t get soggy from too much watering, though. You can add an effective rooting hormone to the soil just before repotting. Add more potting mix if the plant fails to grow.
Keep the cutting in a cool, dark spot with filtered light while it grows. Protect it from the full sun. A greenhouse or shade cloth that blocks out 30% of the sun will do the trick. If your cutting has roots after a few weeks, you can give it a light tug to see if it is doing so.
Hold your breath and keep crossing your fingers. A fresh shoot, with or without roots, may not appear for two to three weeks. Some might grow later.
It is not possible to grow new leaves on plants in a non-growing season. Even if you provide it with the perfect environmental conditions, it might not be possible for the plant to cultivate leaves on its own. The leaf itself may have roots, but without a stem and a node from which a new shoot can emerge, the leaf cannot reproduce. Node is the critical factor here.
Problems When Handling Coin Strings
The string of coins can be easily grown and maintained. However, there are times when you might encounter some problems while growing it. Some of the major problems are as follows:
Insects and Other Pests
Pests have little effect on this plant. Once in a while, scale insects may try to eat them, making the plant weak and light green in color. You don’t have to worry; direct application of rubbing alcohol with a cotton swab can help kill the scale insects. In addition to killing them, this will also allow you to protect the plant from further infestations and keep the green-colored branches intact.
You can also rub off the scales with a dry cloth, get rid of them by hand, or use tweezers to remove them.
Root Rot
Excessive watering is the leading cause of root rot in your String of Coins. It’s not necessary to water this plant often.
Just water when the soil looks dry. If your plant’s roots are decaying, you should repot the plant and transplant it into a fresh pot with dry soil.
Sagging Plant
Overwatering manifests itself in other ways as well. If you look closely enough, you may see the rot in your roots where they’ve been standing in soggy dirt. This will cause the plant to become loopy, giving it a sagging appearance.
Fungal Growth on Leaves
Too much humidity in the air might promote fungal growth in plants. Keep the humidity levels low and dry in the room. Your String of Coins might get attacked by a fungus called Septoria lycopersici, which might be harmful to your plant’s health.
To stop the fungus from spreading, remove any affected leave and put the plant in a new container with fresh dirt.
Conclusion
The string of Coin is a drought-resistant, pea-green plant with a greenish-yellow inflorescence that requires slightly acid-inducing soil. This root-bound plant can resist heat and can be cultivated in a wide temperature range. Try to shield it from excess moisture because its growing branches might not do well in such conditions. Be mindful of the growing conditions if you want to promote new growth.