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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 located in San Francisco, California.
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

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.
San Francisco, California
38% Low

Growing String of Bananas in San Francisco right now
Plant growth potential is currently low 📉
January 26th, 2023
Sunlight intensity as measured by “net radiation” in San Francisco is currently low 📉.
The availability of high quality sunlight in your home impacts ability for plants to thrive and is key in det…
Sunlight will increase by 30.1% ☀️
January 27th, 2023
San Francisco is trending towards greater sunlight intensity!
The amount of sunlight in San Francisco is expected to increase by 30.1% over the next 2 weeks to an average of 10.7 megajoules of ene…
Daylight will increase by 0.8 hours 📈
January 25th, 2023
This month, San Francisco is getting an average of 8.2 hours of clear sky sunlight per day.
Hours of daylight will increase by 8.7% over the next two weeks. Your plants will get 10.4 total hours o…
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 ensure it receives enough light to survive during this time of reduced sunlight intensity in San Francisco, California ⛅.
String of Bananas does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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.
When to repot String of Bananas
Is this a good time of year to repot? No ⏳
January 26th, 2023
The growing potential in San Francisco is low 📉.
Repotting in late fall or winter when the day lengths are shorter can be very stressful for a plant and cause it to go into shock.
It's best to…

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.
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 your location in San Francisco, California, 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.




