How to Grow and Care for Dischidia nummularia (String of Nickels Plant) Indoors
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Dischidia nummularia (String of Nickels Plant) grows best in bright light with some morning sunshine, average warmth, moderate humidity and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil with two feedings in the growing season.
String of Nickels Plant also called Button Orchid is one of the popular string of plants with trailing stems and succulent leaves which form a dense mass of greenish-yellow foliage.
The stems can grow upto 3 metres long and cascade downwards beautifully placing it among the best plants for a hanging basket, a pedestal, a tabletop. a plant shelf or any where the stems can hang downwards.
The leaves are opposite and round and look like numerous coins, hence the common name "String of Nickels". The young leaves often have a powdery bloom. The flowers are white to yellowish-white.
Botanical name: Dischidia nummularia
Family: Apocynaceae
Common names: String of Nickels Plant, Button Orchid
Origin
Dischidia nummularia is native to India, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Australia where it grows as an epiphyte on trees.
Toxicity
String of Nickels Plant produces a milky sap which can irritate the skin. Always wear gloves when handling. Dischidia nummularia is considered toxic to both humans and pets if ingested.
Dischidia Varieties
• Million Hearts Plant (Dischidia ruscifolia) which bears numerous heart-shaped leaves on trailing stems and white, tiny and very fragrant flowers.
• Watermelon Dischidia (Dischidia ovata) which bears oval-shaped leaves with markings which resemble the rind of the watermelon fruit.
Where to Buy
Button Orchid are excellent hanging plants for any plant collection, you may acquire them online from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
How to care for Dischidia nummularia indoors
To care for Dischidia nummularia indoors, give it bright light with 4-6 hours of morning sunshine, average warmth of 18-260C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil with two feedings during the growing season.
String of Nickels Plant has no need for frequent repotting as it has a small root system. Pruning is needed to keep the plant neat, to discourage pests and diseases and to control growth. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.
Watering
How should I water Dischidia nummularia?
Dischidia nummularia cannot tolerate soggy soil. Ascertain that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to avoid rotting.
Water your String of Nickels Plant liberally until water comes through the drainage hole in spring and summer. Discard any excess water on the saucer or catch plant to prevent the soil from getting soggy.
Allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out before the next watering to keep the soil moderately moist. Avoid overwatering to prevent rotting, yellowing and leaf drop.
During the cold season, significantly decrease watering to maintain the soil barely moist as the growth is minimal at this time. However, do not allow the soil to dry out completely to avoid wrinkling and leaf fall.
Light Requirements
Does Dischidia nummularia need sunlight?
Yes. Dischidia nummularia thrives in bright light with 4-6 hours of morning sunshine. Ensure to place the plant infront of a large, bright window where it will receive some sunshine.
Low light will result in a leggy plant while direct hot sunlight will scorch the leaves. Therefore, if the natural light is not sufficient, use a grow light to supplement it.
Rotate the pot regularly to ensure that the plant gets light on all sides to prevent it from becoming leggy.
Temperature and Humidity
Dischidia nummularia does well in a moderate warmth of 18-260C. Keep it away from drafts as sudden changes in the temperature can cause stunted growth and leaf drop.
Average room humidity of 50-55% is ideal for String of Nickels Plant. It has no need for extra humidity but ensure that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.
Fertilizer
Feed your String of Nickels Plant in spring and summer with a slow release fertilizer as per the manufacturer's instructions. The plant is not a heavy feeder so be careful when feeding. Do not feed in fall and winter as growth is reduced at this time.
Potting Soil
The best potting medium for Dischidia nummularia is a rich, loose, free-draining soil. The medium should be loose enough to allow water to drain out fast enough to prevent retention of excess water as the plant is prone to root-rot if the medium gets soggy. A cactus and succulents mix is ideal for this plant.
Repotting
Dischidia nummularia has a small root system so frequent repotting is not necessary. Repot the plant at the beginning of the growing season only when it becomes crowded in its current pot.
Use a pot 1 size larger than the current one and ensure that it has a drainage hole. This is important to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot and death of the plant. Take care not to bury the stems to prevent rotting.
Use a shallow pot rather than a deep one as the plant has a small root system. You can select from these succulents pots available on Amazon.
How to prune Dischidia nummularia
Pruning Dischidia nummularia requires removal of any dead leaves and stems to keep the plant neat and tidy. This also helps in reducing pest and disease infestations.
Trim the stems at the beginning of the growing season if they become straggly to rejuvenate growth and encourage a fuller plant.
Dischidia nummularia Propagation
Dischidia nummularia (String of Nickels Plant) is propagated at the beginning of the growing season from stem cuttings.
Propagating String of Nickels Plant from stem cuttings
Take 3-5 in. stem cuttings from a healthy plant. Ensure each cutting has 2-3 leaf nodes as this is where new growth will sprout from.
Allow the cuttings to dry (callus) under a shade for about 7 days to avoid rotting.
Press the cut end into moist, free-draining soil or lay the string on top of the soil and lightly press the leaf nodes into the soil.
Ensure the rooting container has adequate drainage holes to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.
Place the set up in a warm, well-lit place and maintain the soil moist until the cuttings are rooted.
Allow substancial growth before transplanting the new plant after which you can begin routine care.
Dischidia nummularia Problems & Remedies
Dischidia nummularia (String of Nickels Plant) problems include plant dying, dropping leaves, yellowing leaves, brown leaves, leggy growth, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.
Plant dying
Why is my Dischidia nummularia dying?
Your Dischidia nummularia is dying due to soggy soil, underwatering, overwatering, poor lighting, drafts, pests and diseases among others.
Check out this post on 11 Reasons Why Dischidia Plant is Dying and How to Fix Them
Dropping leaves
Why is my Dischidia nummularia dropping leaves?
Dropping leaves on your Dischidia nummularia is caused by very cold water, underwatering, overwatering, poor quality soil, temperature stress, diseases among others.
Read more on these 12 reasons why String of Nickels Plant is dropping leaves and how to fix them
Yellowing leaves
Why are the leaves on my Dischidia nummularia turning yellow?
Dischidia nummularia (String of Nickels Plant) leaves may turn yellow due to overwatering, little light, nutrients deficiency, pests infestations, and poor quality soil among others.
Read our detailed account on 12 Reasons for String of Nickels Plant Yellowing Leaves and How to Fix Them
Brown leaves
Why are my Dischidia nummularia leaves turning brown?
Some of the causes of brown leaves on your Dischidia nummularia are inconsistent watering, too little light, extreme temperatures, and aging.
How to fix it
Inconsistent watering: Do not water on a schedule. Water when the top 2-3 inches feel dry but do not let the soilball dry out completely.
Too little light: Position the plant in a brighter spot with 4-6 hours of morning sunshine.
Extreme temperatures: Protect the plant from drafts emanating from hot surfaces, AC units, windy doors, drafty windows and others.
Aging: With maturity the older leaves begin to die; they first turn yellow, then brown and eventually fall off.
Leggy growth
Leggy growth (elongated stems) on String of Nickels Plant is due to overwatering and too little light.
How to fix it
Overwatering: Cut down on watering to maintain the soil barely moist in fall and winter.
Too little light: Move the plant in a brighter spot where it will receive bright light with some direct morning sunshine or use a grow light if the natural lighting is not enough.
Pests
Common pests of Dischidia nummularia are spider mites, scale insects, aphids and mealybugs.
How to fix it
- Check underneath the leaves regularly for these pests and take timely control measures.
- Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants.
- Treat the infested plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturer's instructions.
- Regularly damp-wipe the leaves with a soft cloth to discourage the pests.
- Maintain the plant well pruned to minimize the hiding and breeding grounds for these pests.
Diseases
String of Nickels Plant is prone to:
1. Leaf spot disease which is characterized by brown, moist spots on the foliage. In a serious attack the spots can enlarge and merge, killing the whole leaf.
How to fix it
- Remove and burn the affected parts to reduce the risk of spread to the rest of the plants.
- Spray the affected plant with a systemic fungicide and ensure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Keep the plant on the dry side and do not mist it for several weeks.
2. Powdery mildew which is a fungal disease and is prevalent in warm humid conditions. It is characterized by spotting or coating of the leaf surface with a white powdery deposit.
How to fix it
- Remove the affected leaves and discard to reduce spread to other parts of the plant.
- Spray the plant with a systemic fungicide as indicated by the manufacturer.
- Improve the air circulation for the plant as doing so reduces the occurrence of the disease.
3. Basal stem rot disease which is brought about by overwet conditions. It is a fungal disease which spreads rapidly and kills the plant making it difficult to treat.
How to fix it
- To save a plant that is in the early stages of infestation, cut away and discard or burn the diseased tissue.
- Keep the soil on the drier side; avoid soggy soil by use of well-draining soil and a pot with a drainage hole.
- Ensure there is free air circulation for the plant.
- Avoid keeping the plant in very cold conditions.
- If the plant is too far gone, use the upper stems to propagate new plants and discard or burn the infected parts.
- Discard its pot and soil to prevent spread to the rest of the plants.
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