The String of Hearts is a trailing succulent-like plant native to South Africa. The delicate heart-shaped foliage and slender vines can reach up to 12' long in its natural environment and have earned this plant many nicknames, including Rosary Vine and Sweetheart Vine.
The String of Hearts needs heat and bright light.
Lighting Requirements
This plant is not suitable for lower light environments. Indoor it should be placed in a South or West-facing window with a lot of light and if outdoor, they can be in a bright shade area, but they can also be supplied a few feet removed from the window.
One of the easier ways to see if they get sufficient light is to see the color of the leaf and the gaps between leaves. The String of Hearts leaves will be wider apart and lighter in color with less marbling if the plant needs more light.
Potting Mix
In the right conditions, these plants develop very quickly and, consequently, they benefit from being repotted every few years. But care to be taken, however, as the delicate vines can easily break. Thrive of these plants in well-drained cacti potting mixes. If you are using an ordinary potting mix, it will need additions of things like pumice or perlite to ensure it has sufficient drainage.
Watering and fertilize
Let the soil dry in between waterings and then provide a deep watering. The swollen foliage and leaf drop is a sight of overwatering.
And don't forget that your String of Hearts plant will appreciate regular feeding with a fertilizer. It must be a special fertilizer that isn't high in nitrogen as too much of this can result in the plants becoming overly soft. They need to be fed at most once a month during their active growth period in May-August. They don’t need any fertilizer during their dormant period.
What the appearance of the leaves can tell us
Curling leaves on any plant is usually a sign that's being underwater or that your plant is slightly dehydrated and needs a drink.
Do not let dry out completely if your plant is young but if your plant is more mature and has a lot of these nice thick plump and firm hearts then they can't tolerate being underwater and that is why allow it to dry out completely.
Also keep in mind the curling of the leaves isn't necessarily mean that you're underwatering because if your Hearts are firmly attached to the vine they're not going anywhere. They're not flimsy or they're not falling off it could just be because they're just not as mature yet they're just more on the thinner side.
My String Of Hearts drops leaves, what to do?
It really depends on what you're noticing before they drop did they turn yellow and then drop that's usually a sign of overwatering. Curl, go wrinkly dry up, and then fall off that's usually a sign of underwatering.
Tubers
If down the top can get a bit more of the sunlight what will eventually is it will start new vines its new growth. Especially if you have a lot of tubers that are showing up on the soil. There now tubers are pretty much the nose that kind of just you know grew into this ball and that's where the roots are growing and you'll typically see them at the top of your potting soil or when you report them you'll see them all in there.
Propagating String of Heart plants
These plants are generally propagated by stem cuttings rather than through seed germination. Because sourcing seeds is difficult. Using the stem cutting method is easy and generally sees good success. Cuttings must be with at least two internodes. And even single leaves can also be used for propagation. You just need to be sure that the potting medium is kept moist and is positioned somewhere that is warm and has bright but filtered light. Cuttings can also initially be sat in water. And once the roots have formed, they can then be transplanted into the pot.
This propagation method is popular as it is quite easy. All you need to do is to prepare a vase, scissors, and some water.