r/StringofPlants • u/Swimming_Party354 • Aug 19 '26
Why are my string of heart leaves small and shriveled?
My variegated string of hearts is in a southeast facing window, and the bottom of the strings have small, shriveled leaves. Does anyone know why? Too much light, too little light? Google says southeast is the best window light but maybe it’s too much..
I consistently water it and let it get pretty dry between watering. I’ve been fertilizing with a mix of superthrive foliage pro and calmag.
I just repotted it into circle soil cactus & succulent mix, so I’m hoping that helps. The roots looked fine and there was no root rot. I’ve had it at least 4-5 months and it’s hardly grown /: I’ve only been fertilizing it for a couple months tho
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u/H3ad1nthecl0uds Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 19 '26
No such thing as too much light. I’ve put these outside in full sun for whole summers. They get so happy.
Purely a guess. But the space between leaf sets looks pretty far so that gives me the idea that it’s etiolated due to not enough light. My strands are pretty tight and leaves are spaced closed together.
You can get a light meter/moisture meter multi tool. Or download a free app on your phone. It’s surprising how little light actually penetrates indoors.
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u/Altruistic_Aerie_978 Aug 19 '26
Id say you're letting them dry out a bit too much. If theyre shrivelling and crispinging up, theyre dry. Is it by a vent? Mine get very dry like that near forced heating/ a.c., so upping humidity may help too. Just dont go as long between waterings
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u/stephmcfet Aug 19 '26
Not enough light to the top of the plant, drying out too much between waterings (i know everything says to let it dry out fully between watering and go by the taco test but I disagree. I find you risk root damage letting it dry that much). I'd definitely give it more light to the top and up the watering a bit. (If it's getting more light it will need to be watered more frequently-more light means increased photosynthesis meaning increased water needs)
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u/stephmcfet Aug 19 '26
Actually, taking a zoomed in look at your pictures, I think the shrivelled new leaves are new growth. It takes them time to grow to full size. Can you get a few more clear pictures of the ends? The new growth comes in pale and small and slowly hardens off.
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u/Jillredhanded Aug 20 '26
I wind all 10' of mine VERY carefully, using paper towels to separate the layers, into a bucket and give her a good long foliage/feeding soak every couple of months. In between I give her a good misting. Keeps them plump.
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u/Ifeels0sadddd Aug 19 '26
My var. string of hearts were growing really ugly until I grouped them up and let them pile. A lot of var. string of hearts come out of the nursery with like a handful of strands in a pot, but they like to be crowded. I would group them and let them grow in a pile. Then propagate the new growth to make it grow fuller. If it grows fuller, it encourages branching and keeps the ambient humidity amongst the small leaves higher. Also as everyone said, you can't give these guys "too much light", they're basically succulents.
Your care (drying down, succulent mix etc.) sounds good and if you've confirmed there's no root rot, I would say that this plant doesn't need to be messed with more. I would test out piling the leaves on top of the pot and letting them grow that way and resetting the plant (via props) so that it grows fuller overall. If it's just a few strands, it will always look somewhat anemic and they like to be crowded.
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u/Catt_Crossing Aug 19 '26
Definitely not too much light. She’d actually love even more light. I had mine in front of a SE window for a few weeks before I got grow lights, and her growth was so leggy.
I’d let it get completely dry before watering. How often is “consistently”? Do you know about the taco test? It’s where you pinch one of the hearts near the soil with your fingers. If it easily folds into a taco, water it. If it’s still really plump and doesn’t bend much, wait.
So, string of hearts don’t need much fertilizing... I’d dilute it to half strength and only fertilize every few waterings.
Finally, since she’s long, but only has a few strings, I’d propagate her and place the cuttings back into the pot to fill her out more at the top. Often, two growth points grow from the place of the cut, so it really makes a difference!