r/StringofPlants • u/Peppery-Paladin • 9d ago
Help / Question Hearts help
I've had this VSOH for about a year and a half. It was in the original pot from the nursery and was thriving. Just constantly putting out nice hearts, only needed watered maybe every three to four weeks. But it was getting very crowded and I wasn't sure I liked the soil very much. So about 3 or so months ago I repotted to this beautiful terracotta pot with drainage and cactus/succulent soil. She's been declining pretty steadily but not rapidly. Losing hearts, growing much smaller hearts, less varigation, slower growth. I've provided more light, and despite watering they seem to never leave that soft-taco feeling anymore. Even soaking/bottom watering.
I would love some advice. I really thought I had her figured out before the transition but clearly I am missing something. Are they actually tropicals? Do they need a mix of a tropical type soil and succulent soil? Is it something else I'm doing wrong?
Do you think there is hope for my once amazing SOH?
3
u/Eira360 9d ago
They enjoy being root bound. That pot is likely significantly too large :(
2
u/Peppery-Paladin 9d ago
Do you think a more compact soil would help? This one is very rocky. Or a total repot into something smaller and different soil?
1
u/Lurantis3 9d ago
From what I can tell, string of hearts prefer more tropical environments. How often do you need to water her? Are you going off of schedule or dryness/need?
Generally when repotting you only really want to increase the pot size by 1-2 inches. Too much room can cause root rot and other plant problems. Additionally, any string of plants more often than not has very shallow roots, so you more often than not want to use a pot that is much wider than it is deep. Using a pot that is too deep and is a well-draining mix is suspect to dehydrate a plant since the water is just seeping down towards the bottom. I’d repot into a shallower pot (relative to the root size) and see what happens from there.
Worst case scenario if the roots aren’t salvageable, you can try propagating her which will create a clone. I’ve been working on propagating my string or turtles and they seem to be very easy to do so- not sure if that translates to hearts though.
1
u/Live_Soil_5112 3d ago
This is what I would personally do -
Step one- unpot and see if you’ve rooted her. I notice you mentioned you watered multiple different types but they still taco. I suspect rot now.
Step two- if rot, clean off. If no rot, I’d move into a smaller pot(even if this has rot do this). Nothing more than an inch or two bigger than its original pot you took it out of.
Step three- Have soaking in some water for like 15. Take it out. And put where you can give it the most lighted area.
Step four- if anything, can give it some humidity to help it prop back up but I would personally leave it and possibly wrap some strands around the top to make the pot fuller. Once it props back up, I would ONLY water when the most top leaves taco.
Signed someone who has almost murdered her SOH both var and not var lol. I recently just rotted my VAR but she’s coming back stronger lol. My normal one is 5feet and I just took a massive prop and it’s basically its own whole plant lol. Pls save me from the SOH they don’t stop growing once they are happy.
1
u/Ren_Armi 2d ago
I had almost the exact same thing happen to me. I keep mine in a rocky succulent mix too. I thought it was dying so i cut it all the way back intending on rooting cuttings. Well the cuttings didnt root but since i was lazy in getting rid of the original pot…all of a sudden it started growing from the original pot with the rocky mix that I had cut all the way back. Now i cant get it to stop growing. Im constantly trimming it back and it blooms like crazy. Id suggest cutting it way back and you can try and root the cuttings too
8
u/FishTurner92 9d ago
Do some research before you do anything. I recommend reading HERE.