Plant Nursery | A Caring Guide For String of Turtles

Peperomia Prostrata or String of Turtles, is a small succulent that grows in the rainforests of Brazil. It does best in warm climates but does well in most homes. Because of this, it is a popular plant for apartment jungles and houseplant collections all over the world.

It is small and grows slowly. It takes three to five years for it to reach full size. If you don’t have much room, this makes a string of turtles a good choice. The plant is often available in a plant nursery and used in fairy gardens, potted gardens, and glass terrariums because of the shape of its leaves.

The name of the plant comes from the shape of its leaves. Each one looks like a small turtle’s shell strung together. Every tiny leaf on its trailing vine has intricate, multicoloured patterns on it. As the plant gets older, the colours fade and the leaves become two-toned, usually with a darker green on one side and a lighter green on the other. Peperomia Prostrata is a unique plant that can be used in many different ways. Because of this, it is a great addition to any indoor plant collection and a great topic of conversation.

Care Tips For String of Turtles

Soil:

People who have grown succulents before used to using soil that has already been mixed and is made especially for succulents and cacti. A string of turtle plants should not be grown with these pre-mixed seeds.

Instead, you should use a mix that is mostly made of organic matter. One that has a lot of peat is the best. Peat is acidic, which is great for this plant, but watch out that the pH doesn’t get too low. It’s smart to test the soil every so often. Make sure the soil is good at draining.

Light:

A string of turtles plants like indirect, bright sunlight and will do well in these conditions. Too much sun will hurt the leaves of these plants, but if they don’t get enough light, they won’t grow new leaves. Because the plant grows as a vine, make sure that light gets to the top of the plant so that it can keep growing new leaves. Vining plants are often put on high shelves or in dark places, which stops the plant from making new growth. Make sure that all parts of the plant can get light.

Water:

Most of the time, overwatering is worse for a string of turtle plants than being too dry. The plant comes from the Brazilian rainforest, so it likes to be a little bit damp. Make sure the pot has holes for water to drain out, water the soil well, and then let it dry out between waterings.

To keep from overwatering, soak the soil until water runs out of the bottom of the pot and the soil is completely wet. Don’t water the plant again until the top two inches of soil have dried out.

Temperature And Humidity:

Most succulent fans are used to warmer temperatures, but this plant does better in cooler, more humid conditions. Keep your string of turtles planted in an environment where the temperature stays between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It doesn’t like being cold, so don’t put it near doors or windows that let in cold air, and if you put it outside in the summer, bring it inside before it gets too cold. During the dryer summer months or when a heater is running in the winter, you may want to use a humidifier or mister to increase the humidity around the plant, as long as the leaves don’t get too wet.

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