The succulent plant Curio herreanus (String of watermelons), also known as Senecio herreanus or Senecio herreianus, is closely related to the more popular String of pearls.
The flowering plant genus Curio belongs to the Asteraceae family. The plants in this genus are succulents that stay green year-round; their leaves are lengthy and striated, and their flower heads are disc-shaped rather than having ray florets.
This curio plants genus now includes over 20 species formerly placed in the Senecio genus. Curio herreanus has a lot in common with the more common Senecio rowleyanus.
String of Watermelon Plant
Table of Contents
Senecio herreanus, commonly known as the String of watermelons plant, is a perennial succulent plant from the regions of Southwest Africa.
Caring for the String of Watermelons
These succulent plants stand out most for the large number of watermelons that may grow from a single stem. The stems of this plant develop as a trailer in their natural habitat, trailing down the ground and roots at their points of contact to form dense mats. It can grow to a height of 15-20 cm and has the impression of a tall, thin column due to its thick makeup.
Light for the String of Watermelons
Light is crucial to the String of watermelon, but it’s very particular about how it’s provided. The conditions under which it grows will, however, alter the specifications that must be met.
A string of watermelons grown outside does best in dappled shade, so keep that in mind if you’re determined to grow one.
In the wild, the shadow of large trees is ideal for the growth of creeping plants. For this reason, while planting a succulent outdoors, it is crucial to mimic its natural conditions as closely as possible.
Light Settings Indoors for the String of Watermelons
If you want to grow it indoors, make sure to give it lots of direct sunlight. A west-facing window is ideal, bringing out plant life’s dark purple tones.
Light Needed Daily for the String of Watermelons
The string of watermelons plant needs between four and six hours of bright sunlight daily, particularly in the morning or afternoon, and keep it under partial shade.
Place the watermelon string near a west-facing window because, when the sun sets in the west, light coming in via windows facing west will be diminished in the mornings while providing abundant direct sunlight in the afternoons.
LED lights are also a great option if you need a well-lit space at home.
Watering a String of Watermelons
With the right amount of TLC, a Curio Herreanus ‘String Of Watermelons’ can develop into an attractive ornamental plant. It is best to water this succulent variety in the same way you would any other succulent.
How you water your String of Watermelons will determine how well they grow. Natural curiosities tend to populate hot, dry, low-rainfall regions. They need lots of sunlight and porous soil in a home garden. Soil drainage is essential, as curios cannot stand wet feet.
Watering Watermelons String During Growing Season
Curios are an excellent landscape plant to use if you live in an area with dry spells. During the growing season, water the plant once a week, thoroughly saturate the soil, and let it drain out of the container without letting it dry out completely.
Don’t fret if some leaves drop out; stop watering and give it time to start growing again. Too much water and shade might cause them to swell and develop disorderly, so it’s important to be cautious when watering them.
Soil for String of Watermelons
Plants in the genus Curio Herreanus are endemic to swampy, tropical, and subtropical habitats. This is why growing this tropical plant in a container with some drainage system and well-draining soil is so important. Without a container with drainage holes, you must use a pot and soil that allow water to escape easily.
Finding the Right Soil Mix for String of Watermelons
Soil high in organic matter and with good drainage is ideal for growing a String of Watermelons Plants (Senecio herreanus).
Potting Mix for the Mother Plant
Water must be able to drain quickly through the soil moist in plastic pots. Hence its structure must be somewhat loose. In this case, a cactus or soilless mix would work best.
You can also use cactus soil, which consists primarily of perlite and sand. As a result of its porous structure, perlite allows air to reach the plant’s roots.
Therefore, use soil with good drainage and plenty of perlites.
Fertilizers for String of Watermelons
Members of this species can be fertilized a little more than other succulents if rapid expansion is desired. Although it grows slowly, it can reach a height of 20 centimeters if given the right conditions.
Balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer diluted to half strength and applied once every two weeks throughout the growing season is ideal for string of watermelons.
Adequate Amount for the String of Watermelons
Most commercial potting soils already contain a sizable amount of added fertilizers.
If you wait until your plant outgrows its current container, it may be too large for the soil’s nutrient capacity.
Healthy Growth of a String of Watermelons
If you want your String of Watermelons to thrive, you need to repot senecio herreanus every year or whenever it doubles in size.
However, most potting soils are already fortified with a high concentration of nutrients.
It’s likely that by the time your plant has outgrown its current container, it will have outgrown the soil’s nutrient capacity altogether.
Potting and Repotting the String of Watermelons
Repotting your String of Watermelons is necessary to replace the plant’s nutrients after it has doubled in size or once a year, whichever comes first.
The String of Watermelons Plant (Senecio herreanus) only needs occasional repotting because its root system is so shallow.
Find the Right Pot for the String of Watermelons
If the plant gets too big for its current pot, repot senecio herreanus at the start of the growing season.
These succulents require a container with holes in the bottom.
Make sure the container you use to grow your watermelon string has, at minimum, one large drainage hole.
Glass containers should be avoided as they lack ventilation. Evaporation of water will be slower as a result.
Pot the String of Watermelons
Further, placing your String of watermelons in a Terracotta pot will cause damage because of the pot’s high temperature when exposed to sunshine.
As was just discussed, plastic containers with drainage holes are the way to go.
Repotting the String of Watermelons
String of watermelon is a low-maintenance plant and does not require frequent repotting.
Still, repotting could be necessary if you notice roots growing through the drainage holes or if you wish to cut back the trailing parts of the stems and avoid root rot.
Assuming this is the case, you must first unpot the Curio Herreanus. Afterward, carefully dry the roots before repotting the plant in a new pot filled with fresh succulent soil.
Flowering the String of Watermelons
This low-maintenance succulent is similar to the String of Pearls in that it features a transparent “epidermal window” that lets light penetrate the leaf’s center.
It blooms tiny, rayless white flowers in the spring and summer that attract bees. Flowers of this type are typical for the Curio Herreanus.
Our Final Thoughts on Growing the String of Watermelons
You can successfully grow a Curio Herreanus by giving it plenty of warm, indirect light, well-drained soil, a steady supply of warm water, stem cuttings, and temperature under the USDA hardiness zones.
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