Plant Care String of Buttons

String of Buttons

4.7 out of 5 (72 experiences)

String of Buttons has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower
String of Buttons has a Survivor plant personality Survivor

About String of Buttons

Plants in the Crassula genus are amazingly diverse and come in an incredible assortment of sizes and colors. Many of the ones we grow today are native to a small region in South Africa, which makes that diversity even more amazing! They're super low maintenance plants that can handle long periods of drought, so great if you're prone to skipping waters (we won't tell). 🫢 Make sure they get plenty of sunlight and that they're planted in a pot with a drainage hole and they'll be happy as can be!

Taxonomy

Crassula perforata
Crassula
Crassulaceae
Saxifragales

Also known as

Ivory Tower, Necklace Vine, Pagoda Plant, Ivory Pagoda and Ivory Towers

How to care for String of Buttons

💦 Water

How often to water your String of Buttons

Water needs for String of Buttons
0.5 cups
every 12

String of Buttons needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of String of Buttons

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for String of Buttons in your home

Light needs and placement for plant String of Buttons: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

String of Buttons love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

String of Buttons does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of String of Buttons in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize String of Buttons

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for String of Buttons: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your String of Buttons after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Crassula
💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

String of Buttons is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow String of Buttons →

Benefits of Growing String of Buttons →

Common String of Buttons Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for String of Buttons →

Outdoor Care Guide for String of Buttons →


💦 Water Needs

String of Buttons thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

String of Buttons Water Frequency →

String of Buttons Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

String of Buttons requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

String of Buttons Light Requirements →

String of Buttons Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

String of Buttons is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is String of Buttons Edible? →

String of Buttons Toxicity to Cats →

String of Buttons Toxicity to Dogs →

String of Buttons Toxicity to Humans →


💨 Humidity

String of Buttons enjoys lots of humidity. Provide humidity for your plant by watering regularly and thoroughly, since plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves. They may also benefit from being placed next to a humidifier.

String of Buttons Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

String of Buttons is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for String of Buttons →

Best Pots for String of Buttons →

When and How to Successfully Repot String of Buttons →

What Are Healthy String of Buttons Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

String of Buttons grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize String of Buttons →


❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for String of Buttons to go dormant in the summertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.


🌎 Native Region

String of Buttons is native to South Africa.


🌸 Flowers
⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

String of Buttons is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.

String of Buttons Lifecycle →

String of Buttons Size Guide →

How and When to Prune String of Buttons →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🌱 Propagation

The seeds of String of Buttons can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

How to Propagate String of Buttons →


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with String of Buttons. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


Care Summary for String of Buttons

String of Buttons

String of Buttons


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

String of Buttons has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 42
String of Buttons has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 41
String of Buttons has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 20
String of Buttons has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 13
String of Buttons has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 5
String of Buttons has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily 3
String of Buttons has a Pest magnet plant personality Pest magnet 1
@UnfeignedBanana avatar
@@UnfeignedBanana
leaf-1 1 Plants
xp 50 XP
globe Wilmington, NC
01/02/2022

It’s very easy to take care of the water every day either

Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Sophee avatar
@Sophee
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 100 XP
globe Indianapolis, IN
09/23/2021

Fun beautiful plant

Fast grower Fast grower
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
@honeyyvoiced avatar
@@honeyyvoiced
leaf-1 39 Plants
xp 9,520 XP
globe Des Plaines, IL
07/23/2021

I’ve been wanting this plant for awhile for its hardy properties and how pretty it is and I highly recommend

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
@JferLuvsConifers avatar
@@JferLuvsConifers
leaf-1 68 Plants
xp 14,033 XP
globe Greensboro, NC
07/22/2021

This guy is a cutting from another plant and is doing quite well with minimal water and lots of sun.

Fast grower Fast grower
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
@Georginab avatar
@@Georginab
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 119 XP
07/15/2021

Quite a fast grower but very shallow roots

Fast grower Fast grower
@alexsoasis avatar
@@alexsoasis
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 162 XP
07/03/2021

Needs a lot of water
Dies easily

Browns easily Browns easily
@Junglevision avatar
@@Junglevision
leaf-1 58 Plants
xp 1,104 XP
globe Hanover, NH
05/29/2021

Love her! Such a great color palette, and can survive and thrive off minimal work.

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
@SunflowerStacy avatar
@@SunflowerStacy
leaf-1 0 Plants
xp 162 XP
globe Tucson, AZ
05/27/2021

Beautiful. Grows fast. Different colors.

Survivor Survivor
Blooms easily Blooms easily
Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@breezygobrazy avatar
@@breezygobrazy
leaf-1 14 Plants
xp 269 XP
05/25/2021

This is an older picture, but mine has grown so much since then. I let us completely dry our before the next watering & I have it right in front of a window so it does get a lot of sun. I love it so much and I would definitely recommend it for a beginner plant parent because it’s so easy to care for.

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
@MysteriousNova avatar
@@MysteriousNova
leaf-1 11 Plants
xp 600 XP
05/21/2021

It makes a good beginning succulent. Mine grew a third (3rd) stem on its own and manages to survive infrequent waterings

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
@faithplants avatar
@@faithplants
leaf-1 18 Plants
xp 438 XP
globe Norwich, England
05/17/2021

This plant was a gift from my brother last year and since then it has grown so much and is really easy to care for. Plus it’s super pretty.

Fast grower Fast grower
@Holidae avatar
@@Holidae
leaf-1 26 Plants
xp 1,943 XP
globe Mississauga, Ontario
05/16/2021

I have had this guy for many years and have cloned him successfully many times. Absolutely love!

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
@Keyshaj avatar
@@Keyshaj
leaf-1 0 Plants
xp 1,547 XP
05/15/2021

Not the easiest to prop but as long as you have good light and enough water grows pretty well. Have new babies on a bunch of plants. Took a while to trot from a cutting though. Had new growth before roots.

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
@lucia avatar
@@lucia
leaf-1 34 Plants
xp 802 XP
05/06/2021

i actually propagated this plant after a larger plant got root rot. i had her in water for much longer than necessary and contemplated keeping her in water forever but decided to put her in soil. did super all but had a hard time staying upright so i added a stick to help.

Fast grower Fast grower
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
@lucia avatar
@@lucia
leaf-1 34 Plants
xp 802 XP
05/06/2021

i’ve knocked her over a few times and i got her VERY small so she’s been growing very long and leggy even though she is in a bright light spot.

Survivor Survivor
@Stringofpip avatar
@@Stringofpip
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 184 XP
05/03/2021

She’s so so cute and grows quite fast!

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
@Rxmom avatar
@@Rxmom
leaf-1 36 Plants
xp 6,189 XP
globe Winnipeg, Manitoba
05/03/2021

Every so often I remove a leaf and a whole new stem starts. I’ve also cut one off and stuck it back in the dirt and it easily took root.

Fast grower Fast grower
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Sofia avatar
@Sofia
leaf-1 6 Plants
xp 578 XP
globe Framingham, MA
04/04/2021

This plant will tell you when it needs to be watered. They will shrivel up and make it very obvious. Luckily they bounce back super easy too

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Browns easily Browns easily
Survivor Survivor
@Shimmy avatar
@@Shimmy
leaf-1 10 Plants
xp 817 XP
globe Chesapeake, VA
03/31/2021

Pretty and easy so far

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
Karen avatar
@Karen
leaf-1 10 Plants
xp 189 XP
globe Chicago, IL
03/19/2021

This plant was a house warming gift along with two others. The other two were not nearly as hearty (that is why it is off center). This plant is easy and happy. Keeps going even when my cat tries to take it down.

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor

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