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4.4 out of 5 (71 experiences)


About Dolphin Plants
The string of dolphins is a unique hybrid, and perhaps the most striking of the ‘string of’ plants. Their vines are studded with succulent leaves shaped suspiciously like Flipper. Like their relatives, the string of pearls, the dolphins evolved as an adaptation to store water in dry environments. Be sure this plant gets abundant sunlight or the dolphins may begin to unfurl and look more like a string of stingrays. 🐬
Taxonomy
Senecio 'Hippogriff'
Senecio
Asteraceae
Asterales
Also known as
String of Dolphins, String of Dolphins and Dolphin Plant

How to care for Dolphin Plants

How often to water your Dolphin Plants

every 12
Dolphin Plants 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 Dolphins in your home

a window
Dolphin Plants may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.
Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Dolphin Plants in your home 🏡.

How to fertilize Dolphin Plants

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 Dolphin Plants after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Dolphin Plants 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
Dolphin Plants 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
Dolphin Plants may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.
Toxicity
Dolphin Plants 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
Dolphin Plants 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
Dolphin Plants 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
Dolphin Plants 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 Dolphin Plants to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.
Native Region
Dolphin Plants is native to Worldwide.
Flowers
Dolphin Plants produces flowers in the wild, but does not flower when kept as houseplants.
Growth Pattern
Dolphin Plants has long, trailing foliage which makes them a great addition to a hanging planter. The newest growth will emerge from the tip of the stems.
Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
Dolphin Plants can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10-12a. Find your local hardiness zone here.
Propagation
Dolphin Plants 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 Dolphin Plants. 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 Dolphin Plants
Dolphin Plants
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 12 days

< 3ft 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












It’s a part of the succulent family so it’s hardy and doesn’t need much water, but you can’t just forget about it like you can a regular succulent. It requires for you to monitor it but you don’t have to water it too often. Overall, it’s a fun plant to watch grow and it’s easy to propogate








I cannot crack this one! Had him in direct sun outside… purple, parched, burned. Had him in direct sunlight INSIDE… dolphins turned into paddles, rather than lush cascading hanging vertical vines I had a solo wirey horizontal vine reaching for the sun. They look great when thriving though! Mine just hates me 🥲.

