

















String of Bananas

4.5 out of 5 (79 experiences)


About String of Bananas
String of bananas evolved their signature shape as an adaptation to store water in dry environments. In place of leaves, cells in the green bananas perform photosynthesis to feed the plant. Translucent crescents act like windows to allow sunlight to reach cells on the inside of the banana and increase their ability to capture the sun! 🪟☀️
Taxonomy
Curio radicans
Curio
Asteraceae
Asterales
Also known as
Senecio radicans and String of Fishhooks

How to care for String of Bananas
How often to water your String of Bananas

every 9
String of Bananas needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 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
9
Finding light for String of Bananas in your home

a window
String of Bananas 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 Bananas does not tolerate low-light 🚫.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of String of Bananas in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize String of Bananas

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 Bananas after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
-
My brother killed my plant so any advice on how to save her? I weeded out most of her bad parts, but she still seems to be dying. #StringOfBananas
-
String of bananas or Purple Flush? I have propagated a string of bananas (or so I thought) but upon further inspection it appears to be a Purple Flush? The original plant had no signs of purple. Can anyone figure this out? 😄
-
My bananas have flowered! #StringOfBananas
-
String of Bananas Turning Purple Hi my string of bananas are turning purple towards the top, anyone know what might be causing this?
-
Happy to see me or? #StringOfBananas This is my first banana plant. Do they bloom? Or is it just happy 😆 🥴. #HappyPlants
-
Propagating is so fun!! Trimming my string of bananas!
-
This is how it was delivered to me🥹 Is there any way to save what’s left?
-
Greer is still slowly recovering from the accident that put her on the 50% Off shelf at the nursery, but check out these teeny new sprouts! This plant wants to live! #freshleaffriday
-
Hi there! I recently got a String of Bananas, and I was wondering.. Is this window location alright? It's west facing, and the plant does receive direct sun for quite a lot of the afternoon. Is direct sun too harsh for this plant? #StringOfBananas
-
Plant anonymous - I’m going to need a meeting real soon. Went to hd to get pots and got this. I still need pots #StringOfBananas #GregGang #NewPlants #NewPlantMom #HappyPlants
String of Bananas 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 Bananas prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. 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 Bananas 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 Bananas 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 Bananas 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 Bananas 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 Bananas 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 Bananas 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
String of Bananas is native to Southwestern Africa.
🌸 Flowers
String of Bananas produces flowers in the wild, but does not flower when kept as houseplants.
⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern
String of Bananas 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
String of Bananas can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.
🌱 Propagation
String of Bananas 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.
🧐 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 Bugs Affecting String of Bananas →
- Drooping String of Bananas Leaves →
- String of Bananas Dropping Leaves →
- String of Bananas Mushy Leaves →
- Black Spots on String of Bananas →
- String of Bananas Leaves Falling Over →
- String of Bananas Leaves Curling →
- String of Bananas Yellow Leaves →
- String of Bananas Root Rot →
Care Summary for String of Bananas
String of Bananas
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 9 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 plant is absolutely beautiful when I purchased it was a small plant it as grown so much and I was to cut some pieces off and I placed them 4 different hanging baskets and placed them hanging from my tree they just keep growing with little maintenance.









This plant is absolutely beautiful when I purchased it was a small plant it as grown so much and I was to cut some pieces off and I placed them 4 different hanging baskets and placed them hanging from my tree they just keep growing with little maintenance.




