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Peperomia prostrata, commonly known as String of Turtles, is a delightful, easy to care for species in the Peperomia genus. Some other common names include Turtle Vine, Chain of Turtles, and Jade Necklace. This native of Ecuador is a trailing species with small, round and succulent leaves and is a perfect plant for smaller spaces.
Like the common name suggests, the leaf pattern of String of Turtles is reminiscent of turtle shells. It has a vining habit and forms a beautiful, lush mat of foliage and is perfect for smaller hanging baskets or to trail down from a shelf.
Keep reading to learn all about how to care for this dainty species!
STRING OF TURTLES CARE TIPS & GROWING CONDITIONS
1. LIGHT
Place your String of Turtles immediately in front of a nice, bright window that gets mostly indirect light. Providing your plant with 2-3 hours of direct sun is very beneficial, but avoid all day full sun.
At a bare minimum, it should be immediately in front of a northern facing window (if you live in the Northern hemisphere) or in front of a southern facing window (if you live in the Southern hemisphere).
Regardless where you live, for best growth, East or West facing windows would be ideal for these plants.
2. WATER
Watering is a very important topic to get right with Peperomias since most of them have pretty thick, succulent leaves, and Peperomia prostrata is no exception.
It is important to always water thoroughly, but you should allow at least the top half of the potting mix to dry out before watering again.
If your potting mix has stayed too wet for too long (“overwatered” as many people call it, but I despise the term!), you may notice one of 3 things:
- The first is that your plant can wilt. Keep in mind that wilting can also result from the potting mix having gone completely dry. You will have to feel your potting mix to determine which it is. Do not use a soil moisture meter as they are notoriously unreliable and drive the wrong behavior.
- The second thing that can happen with potting mix that has stayed wet for too long is that your plant can exhibit symptoms of edema (sometimes spelled oedema). These include raised bumps or protrusions on the leaves.
- The third thing is that your String of Turtles’ relatively fragile stems can rot pretty easily.
To be completely safe, allow 1/4 to 1/2 of your potting mix to dry out and then water thoroughly until water escapes the drainage hole.
It is also important to get the potting mix right for this plant so keep reading to learn my special mix for Peperomia.
3. FERTILIZING
My go-to fertilizer for most of my houseplants, including all Peperomia species, is Dyna-Gro Grow. It is a urea-free fertilizer and unlike many on the market, contains ALL of the macro and micro nutrients that plants needs for good growth.
I’ve used Dyna-Gro Grow for years now and the results are wonderful! Fertilizing should be a important part of any houseplant care routine so make sure to get yourself some and try it out for yourself.
Click below to get your own, and you will not be disappointed!
If your plant has been growing well in a nice, bright location and looks good, but the pattern and color of your leaves has faded, it could be due to a lack of fertilization. I also find that the older foliage will not have as many distinct markings.
4. SOIL & REPOTTING
Peperomia prostrata, like any any Peperomia species, is very sensitive to potting mixes that stay too wet or that have poor drainage.
You’ll also want to be aware that you should not over-pot these plants by any means. By giving this plant a pot that is much larger than its previous pot, the potting mix will take a lot longer to dry out, and it may spell death.
String of Turtles likes to remain at least slightly root-bound. If your plant is very root-bound, only go up by one pot size (for example, from a 4 inch pot to a 6 inch pot and no larger).
This plant probably will never need to be in a pot that’s larger than 6″ in diameter and can stay in this size pot for quite a number of years!
The following is my potting mix recipe for Peperomia plants and it works beautifully for me.
I like to use 2 parts of a good cactus/succulent potting mix such as Espoma Cactus Mix and 1 part 1/4″ horticultural pumice. Mix those together and you will have a beautifully draining mix for your String of Turtles!
As far as pot types go, ALWAYS choose a pot with a drainage hole. This is an absolute must for all plants, especially Peperomias and other plants will succulent foliage.
If you tend to be heavy with the watering can, you may want to choose a terra cotta pot to grow your String of Turtles.
Looking to purchase a String of Turtles? One of my favorite and most convenient one-stop-shops to buy practically any plant is Etsy. Check out the String of Turtles selection (link to Etsy) today!
5. TEMPERATURE & HUMIDITY
Average household temperatures and humidity is fine for your String of Turtles, but let’s discuss this topic a bit. I always like to say that if you are comfortable, chances are that your plant will be comfortable too.
Try and maintain temperatures between 65-85F (18-29C). Avoid any minimum temperatures below 55F (13C). Temperatures that are too cold can cause excessive leaf drop. Remember, these are tropical plants and they hate the cold!
Although average indoor humidity is OK for these plants, it will benefit from additional humidity, especially during very dry periods. If you live in a cold-winter area and you run forced air heat, it will be beneficial to run a humidifier.
If you can keep humidity in the 40-60% range, this is great for most indoor plants (as well as our sinuses and skin).
Looking for a good humidifier? Be sure to check out my blog post on my 3 favorite humidifiers.
6. PRUNING AND PROPAGATION
If your plant is getting too long and unkempt for your liking, do not be afraid to trim and prune your plant back lightly. This will keep the plant more vigorous and full, and you can use the cuttings to propagate!
Here are some simple methods that you can use to propagate. Spring and summer are the best times to propagate in general since your plant will be in a phase of most active growth.
Which ever method you choose, don’t place your cuttings in a dark space. Place them wherever you’d normally have your plants growing. Cuttings still need light!
Sphagnum Moss Method
- Snip some cuttings of the plant. Make sure that your cuttings are taken from healthy-looking vines.
- Lay them right on top of moist sphagnum moss.
- Cover the pot loosely with clear plastic wrap, or insert two bamboo stakes or another similar support, and suspect a clear plastic bag over them to provide humidity while the cuttings are rooting.
- Periodically remove the plastic to air things out, let your plant breathe for a few hours and then replace the plastic.
- After cuttings are rooted, you can transfer them to soil.
Water Propagation Method
- Snip some cuttings of the plant. Make sure that your cuttings are taken from healthy-looking vines.
- Remove the lowest leaf or two.
- Place your cuttings in water and make sure that the nodes (where you removed the leaves) are under water.
- Wait for rooting to occur and then plant in potting mix once roots are about half an inch long.
Soil Propagation Method
- Snip some cuttings of the plant. Make sure that your cuttings are taken from healthy-looking vines.
- Remove the lowest leaf or two.
- Insert the cuttings in potting mix and make sure that the nodes (where you removed the leaves) are buried in soil.
- Keep the potting mix moist while rooting and you can also create a humidity dome with a plastic bag as described above.
- Once the cuttings are rooted and you see signs of new growth, you can remove the humidity dome and start your normal care routine.
7. PESTS
String of Turtles are relatively pest free, but if you do encounter any pests, it is likely to be the dreaded mealy bug. Mealy bugs will appear as white, cottony masses on your plant.
If you do notice mealy bugs, use a good insecticidal soap. You can easily purchase a bottle from Amazon and I really like the Bonide Insecticidal Soap.
Always use as directed on the label, spray the entire plant and repeat application even after you don’t see mealy bugs anymore to be sure that you eradicated them.
STRING OF TURTLES QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Peperomia prostrata.
Can you grow String of Turtles under a lamp or grow light?
Yes absolutely! Any plant can be grown under a grow light.
Is String of Turtles toxic to pets?
According to the ASPCA, String of Turtles is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Should I cut off the flowers on my String of Turtles?
The inflorescences appear as long, narrow, whitish spikes. It is best to cut them off so you can preserve the plant’s energy and so it can focus on growing more foliage. If you enjoy the flowers, there is no harm in leaving them, but make sure to cut them off when they are spent.
Why does my String of Turtles have dry ends?
If you notice that your vines have ends that have shriveled and dried up, immediately check your potting mix. In the vast majority of cases, your plant’s potting mix has completely dried out. Verify this first by checking the potting mix with your finger, and/or lift your pot to see if it’s really light. Give your plant a good watering if it has dried out completely.
Why is my String of Turtles dropping leaves?
Typically, this would be due to two factors. Temperatures that are too cold is one reason. Another reason would be an imbalance in soil moisture. Potting mix that has gone too dry, or stayed too wet, will cause your plant to drop leaves.
Does String of Turtles flower?
Yes it does! As you can see in the photo, the inflorescence looks like a rat tail. The flowers are actually very tiny and grow on the long inflorescence.
Does String of Turtles grow fast?
Growth rate is relative, and highly dependent on growing conditions. String of Turtles can actually grow pretty quickly under conditions that are to its liking. If you find that growth is very slow, it’s probably due to insufficient light, warmth, poor potting mix, or all of the above.
Why is my String of Turtles not growing?
Mostly likely, you are not providing enough light, period. Providing sufficient light and sufficient attention to potting mix moisture will solve your issues.
Why does my String of Turtles have small leaves?
Although new leaves will be small, if your mature leaves are small and/or thin, you’re likely not providing your plant with enough light. Another indication of low light will be a very slow growth rate and leaves that are more spaced out from each other than they used to be.
Why are my String of Turtles leaves reddish in color?
You may be providing too much direct sun for your plant. Back off a little bit on direct sun, and your plant will turn green again. These plants do not want to be in full, direct sun all day, but they can do well with 2-3 hours of direct sun per day while indoors.
Why are my String of Turtles leaves turning brown and crispy?
Go ahead and feel your potting mix. It is likely that your plant has stayed dried out for much too long.
Why are my String of Turtles leaves turning yellow?
Feel your potting mix. Has your plant stayed wet for too long? Perhaps it Is it sitting in water, is growing in a pot much too large, has poorly draining soil, or any combination of the above. If your plants leaves are yellow and also starting to turn mushy, your plant has been kept wet for too long.
Looking to purchase a String of Turtles? One of my favorite and most convenient one-stop-shops to buy practically any plant is Etsy. Check out the String of Turtles selection (link to Etsy) today!
That’s all folks! Do you have a String of Turtles? Comment below. I’d love to hear!
Please do me a favor and share this post to social media because it will help me spread the Ohio Tropics houseplant care tips to the masses! Also, check out my shop on Amazon for all your houseplant care needs:
OHIO TROPICS PLANT CARE STOREFRONT
Brooke Hoeffner
Wednesday 22nd of March 2023
Hi!
I just finished reading the care guide for a String of Turtles plant and I found it very informative and extremely helpful in many ways. Thank you very much!! I do have a question about something I’m noticing with my own SoT. Mine is hanging in a South Easterly facing window above my kitchen sink. I have a little humidifier going that sits on the windowsill in front the sink and I try to keep it running 24/7. When I’m home, I check it periodically through the day so that it doesn’t run out of water and then I make sure to refill it before I go to bed and before I go to work or whenever I’ll be gone for a while. I’ve had it hanging there now for almost two months now and I’m noticing that I’m getting alot more growth on the side of the pot that’s facing away from the window. I’ve also noticed that some of the leaves on the side of the pot facing the window have started to loose the brown coloring to them and of the leaves that have lost the brown coloring, some of them…instead of looking like a flat leave that has the brown patterns on it, they have become almost like a little pocket and it looks like it could have some kind of liquid inside. It actually reminds me of what a blister looks like. Like you can see where the brown pattern used to be but instead of being brown, it’s now green and it’s like your seeing it through a layer of some kind of fluid or gel or something…it’s very odd looking and it’s only happened to a few of the leaves so far. I can get pictures if you would like to see. As far as watering goes, I keep a log book of date and time. How I watered and for how long. Also what kind of water I used and any added supplements. She was last watered on 02.26.23 at 12:30AM. She had a full out of pot soak for 10 mins in 1 qt of distilled water that had 8 pumps of Mircle Grow Succulent Plant Food which is the recommended amount for 1 qt of water. Other than the difference in growth from the window facing side and the side facing away from the window and whatever is happening with these leaves, the over all health of the plant seems to be very good! The leaves on the side facing away from the window are all nice and round with sharp distinct edges on the brown patterns of the leaves. You’re clearly able to see new and continuing growth. I honestly didn’t even know any of this was going on until I got out my step ladder and actually got up in the window and looked down into the pot and then turned it to look at the growth on the window facing side. I’m really surprised because it looks like it’s doing so well. What’s strange too is that the leaves that have been affected, they don’t necessarily look “unhealthy” they are green and even dare I say lush looking. They don’t appear “mushy” or “rotting”. The only thing that has my warning flag up is the difference in appearance to what I know a healthy looking leaf looks like. I’m sorry my question is so long, I just wanted to provide as much info as I could to be as helpful as I could. As I stated, I can provide pictures if you would like. Thank you so much in advance!!
Sincerely, Brooke Hoeffner
Courtney
Saturday 18th of March 2023
I have a string of turtles! I’m glad I read this article. I was thinking of up potting it but I guess it likes to be a little root kind. So I think it can stay in its pot much longer. I have Troy le checking the soil because I can barely fit my finger through the dense leaves covering it. I cut the flower spikes off of mine in the summer/fall and by now it’s got sooo much more growth and new leaves. Even my husband stops to notice how long it has gotten! It was just barely hanging over the edge of the pot when I first got it.
Raffaele
Sunday 19th of March 2023
Sounds like your plant is doing just fine Courtney! :-)
Jodie
Wednesday 21st of December 2022
My daughter came home from college and forgot and left her string of turtles in her car during cold to freezing temperatures. It dropped a bunch of leaves, but still has plenty. Will it survive?
Raffaele
Wednesday 21st of December 2022
If it still has plenty of leaves, it will survive. If any vines are particularly bare or damaged, you can always propagate and start over if needed :-)
Amy
Wednesday 26th of October 2022
I noticed my SOT's leaves were falling off near the soil end more often when I came back from a 10 day trip. I did water the plant before I left, so I assume this is due to a dry out. Do I cut the strings that have no leaves near the soil end or should I leave it be?
Raffaele
Friday 28th of October 2022
Hi Amy, it's really up to you. If the vines have no leaves at all though, I would trim those to maybe an inch from the soil. They may start to grow back! It's worth a try.
Teresa
Friday 7th of October 2022
My indoor String of Turtle plant is doing well. The only thing I'm questioning is the three-leaf-clover leaves that are growing with the other beautiful leaves. Why is it growing three-leaf clover leaves? I imagine I should remove them, no? Thank you. Teresa
Raffaele
Sunday 9th of October 2022
Clover is a common "weed" that finds its way into many pots. I would just be diligent in pulling it out, especially before it blooms and releases seeds. It can be quite annoying!