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String of Bananas care guide

String of Bananas (Curio radicans) is a succulent that likes very bright light or direct sun and water every two weeks. Here is everything you need to keep it healthy.

Botanical nameCurio radicans
Also known asBanana Vine, Necklace Plant
Plant typeSucculent
LightVery bright light or direct sun
WateringWater every two weeks
FertilizingFeed about every two months in the growing season
GrownIndoor
Type of plantOrnamental

How often to water String of Bananas

Water String of Bananas every two weeks as a baseline. Treat that as a reminder to check rather than a rule to follow blindly — push a finger an inch or two into the soil and water only if it feels dry at that depth.

Expect to water more often in warm, bright, or dry conditions, and noticeably less in winter when growth slows. A pot with drainage holes matters more than the exact interval: standing water is the most common way houseplants are lost.

Light requirements

String of Bananas prefers very bright light or direct sun. It needs as much light as you can give it, including several hours of direct sun. A south-facing windowsill or a sunny patio is ideal.

If growth becomes stretched and leggy with long gaps between leaves, it is reaching for more light. Pale or bleached patches usually mean the opposite — too much direct sun.

Feeding and fertilizer

Feed String of Bananas about every two months through the growing season using a balanced liquid fertilizer at half the strength on the label. Pause over winter — an unfed plant recovers far more easily than one with fertilizer burn.

Care notes

Wrinkled, banana-shaped leaves signal thirst. Let soil dry fully; give it a bright sunny spot.

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Frequently asked questions

How often should you water String of Bananas?

As a starting point, water String of Bananas every two weeks, then adjust to your own conditions. Check the soil first: push a finger an inch or two down and only water if it feels dry at that depth. Most String of Bananas problems come from watering on a fixed schedule rather than watering when the plant actually needs it.

How much light does String of Bananas need?

String of Bananas prefers very bright light or direct sun. It needs as much light as you can give it, including several hours of direct sun. A south-facing windowsill or a sunny patio is ideal.

Should you fertilize String of Bananas?

Feed String of Bananas about every two months during the active growing season (roughly spring through early autumn) with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Stop feeding in winter, when growth slows and unused nutrients build up in the soil.

Is String of Bananas an indoor or outdoor plant?

String of Bananas is grown as an indoor plant. It does best in stable room temperatures, away from cold draughts and radiators.

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