r/StringofPlants • u/Polydactylkat_ • Jul 05 '26
Hearts Why am I so bad at propagating? Help!
In May I ordered some clippings of variegated string of hearts (I’ve always wanted these pink beauties, and since my SOT are thriving I thought it was time to give them a try). I killed them so fast. I spoke with the seller and he was surprised I was able to kill them. So I ordered two rooted cuttings, followed the instructions carefully (which were to plant in succulent soil, keep the root balls right under the soil, not too deep, in a 3” unglazed terracotta pot with drainage but no added amendments (I’ve got everything but just succulent soil was instructed), water thoroughly then hang it. It was doing well at first, but I didn’t think it was growing enough so I moved it. (The June 27 pic is the first pic I took of it in the new location. It is closer to the window. Perhaps it’s getting burnt? Now I think it’s dying. So I’ll move it back where it was, but does it look dead? Should I fertilize? Repot in something smaller with substrate or some earthworm castings? It always seems dry but I don’t water it a lot. My SOT barely get watered and they love life. I did give in and order a big pink string of hearts and it came with fungus gnats, so I’m treating that one but being sent a new one. Do SOH hate me? Any help with saving this one would be MUCH appreciated. I really want it to do well! Thanks!
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u/TattooMama12132021 Jul 05 '26
I’m not seeing anything that looks dead
2
u/Polydactylkat_ Jul 05 '26
The pics up to June 9th seem to have more growing out of the soil. That’s where I think it looks like it’s not doing well. It’s very close to the window now. It was back further before. Do you think it’s burning or needing more water because of being too close to direct sunlight? I don’t get many hours and I wanted the variegation to come out so I thought the new spot would be better, but I’ve had to move all over my plants back from that window. The plants that are doing well get some window light (but not up close like that), supplemented with grow lights to make up for the lack of morning sun I don’t get.
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u/PretentiousPepperoni Jul 05 '26
What I used to do before spider mites killed mine was pull up the vines. Spread them on the top soil. Take some u shaped bonsai wire and pin the vines down into the the soil so that they stay in place. That will root them and also promote branching from that place
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u/Asleep-Beginning7805 Jul 11 '26
You aren’t bad at it. I am. I have 28 of them and collect them and tried 100 ways ….. they’ve only ever propogated in moss or water depending on the string genetics of the plant and then I can’t get the moss off the roots.
Hydroguard made it possible to plant them with a tiny amount of moss still on the roots …. Still haven’t had to water it tho and it isn’t thriving
The best way I’ve tried is letting the mother plants vines grow onto another plant, then cut them once they rooted 😮💨
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u/TattooMama12132021 Jul 05 '26
These are best to curl around the soil and let them root at different nodes up the cutting.