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4.7 out of 5 (74 experiences)


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

How often to water your String of Buttons

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.
Water 0.5 cups every
12

Check the growing potential in your area
A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for String of Buttons in your home

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 🏡.

How to fertilize String of Buttons

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.

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!
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.
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 🏡.
Toxicity
String of Buttons is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.
Humidity
String of Buttons prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.
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!
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!
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
String of Buttons produces flowers in the wild, but does not flower when kept as houseplants.
Growth Pattern
String of Buttons is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.
Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
String of Buttons can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.
Propagation
String of Buttons can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:
- Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
- To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.
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
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 12 days

< 1ft from a window

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












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.







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.


