String of Rubies Plant (Othonna capensis) Indoor Care and Propagation Guide

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String of Rubies Plant (Othonna capensis) blossoms in very bright light, average warmth, moderate humidity and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained, succulents soil coupled with two feedings in the growing season.

Othonna capensis also called String of Pickles Plant, Little Pickles Plant or Ruby Necklace is one of the popular string of plants and is characterized by thin, oval-shaped leaves and reddish-purple stems.

The bean-shaped leaves turn a bright ruby red when the plant is grown under bright sunshine. The flowers are a bright yellow color.

In its natural habitat, String of Pickles Plant grows as a trailer, with stems trailing on the ground, rooting where they touch and forming dense mats. The trailing stems are spectacular when they cascade downwards beautifully in a hanging basket or on a pedestal. It is among the best hanging succulent plants for indoors.

The odd shaped leaves is an adaptation to arid conditions and allows for the storage of water while exposing minimum surface area to the dry desert air which greatly reduces water loss.

The fleshy leaves and stems store water, which allows the plant to go for a considerably long period without being watered. Ruby Necklace is one of the best drought-tolerant plants for the home, office and other spaces.

Botanical name: Othonna capensis
Synonmy: Othonna crassifolia
Family: Asteraceae
Common names: String of Rubies Plant, String of Pickles, Ruby Necklace, Little Pickles

Origin

Othonna capensis is a trailing, perennial, succulent vine native to the drier parts of Southwest Africa.

Toxicity

String of Rubies Plant (Othonna capensis) is non-toxic to both humans and pets. It is among the pet-safe plants that you may grow in the home.

Where to Buy

If you are looking to add this plant to your addition, String of Pickles Plants are available online on Etsy (Link to Etsy).

Othonna capensis Care Indoors

String of Rubies Plant (Othonna capensis) flourishes in very bright light with at least 6 hours of sunlight, average warmth of 20-27⁰C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained, succulents soil coupled with two feedings during the growing season.

Othonna capensis requires regular pruning to keep it neat as well as rejuvenate growth. Frequent repotting is not needed as it has a small root system. Keep reading for more on the best growing conditions and how to achieve them.

Light Requirements

String of Rubies Plant grows best in bright light with at least 6 hours of morning or late afternoon sunlight per day.

Bright sunshine enhances a bright ruby red color on the leaves and stems. Low light results in a leggy growth with wide spaces btween the leaf nodes and undersized leaves.

Therefore, where the natural lighting is not adequate, consider growing Othonna capensis under a grow light. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.

Regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the plant receives enough light on all sides for uniform growth and to prevent legginess.

Watering

Water String of Rubies Plant thoroughly (until water comes out through the drainage holes) during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 inches of the soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist.

Significantly decrease watering during the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

Make sure the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to avoid soggy soil as it can lead to rotting. Avoid wetting the foliage during wetting as it can encourage fungal diseases. You may water from the bottom.

Temperature and Humidity

String of Rubies Plant requires an average warmth of 20-27⁰C during the growing season to thrive. Keep it away from drafts as it does not like sudden changes in the temperature as they can cause leaf drop.

String of Rubies Plant has no need for extra humidity. Average room humidity of 50-55% is ideal for this plant. Ensure that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal disease infestations.

Potting Soil

The best soil for String of Rubies Plant should be rich in organic matter, loose and free-draining to avoid getting soggy soil. The soil should be loose enough to allow water to drain out fast enough. Othonna capensis is prone to root-rot if the soil gets soggy (retains too much water), therefore, cactus and succulents soil is ideal for the plant.

Fertilizer

Feed String of Rubies Plant twice during the growing season with a balanced, liquid fertilizer. This plant is not a heavy feeder so be careful when feeding. Do not feed in the cold season as growth is minimal at this time. Feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn and death of the plant.

Repotting

String of Rubies 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 one that has a drainage hole to avoid getting soggy soil as it can lead to rotting of the plant.

A shallow pot is ideal for this plant as it has a small root system and be careful not to bury the stems to prevent rotting. Take a look at these succulents pots available on Amazon.

Pruning

Pruning String of Rubies Plant involves removal of any dead leaves and stems to keep it neat. Trim the stems at the beginning of the growing season if they become straggly to rejuvenate growth.

Propagation

String of Rubies Plant (Othonna capensis) propagation can be done at the beginning of the growing season from stem cuttings.

How to propagate String of Rubies Plant from stem cuttings

Take 4-6 inches stem cuttings from a healthy String of Rubies Plant. Ensure each cutting has 2-3 leaf nodes as this is where rooting will occur.

Allow the cuttings to dry (callus) for about 5-7 days to avoid rotting.

Fill the rooting cointainer or pot with quality succulents soil and moisten it moderately.

Once callused, press the cut end of the cutting into the soil or lay the cuttings on top of the soil and lightly press the leaf nodes into the soil.

Place the set-up in a brightly-lit, warm place and maintain the soil moist until the cuttings are well rooted.

Allow substancial growth before transplanting the new Little Pickles plants to individual pots after which you can begin routine care.

Othonna capensis Problems

String of Rubies Plant (Othonna capensis) problems include root-rot disease, dropping leaves, shrivelled leaves, diseases and pests among others. Read on for more on these problems, their remedies and solutions.

Plant dying

String of Rubies Plant may die due to overwatering, underwatering, overfeeding, overfeeding, hot direct sunlight, poor soil, being extremely pot-bound, pests and diseases among others.

Check out these 11 Reasons Why String of Rubies Plant is Dying and How to Fix Them

Dropping (losing) leaves

String of Rubies Plant may lose leaves when not given the correct growing conditions. It may drop leaves due to improper watering, poor feeding, wrong temperature, poor soil, diseases and pests among others.

Here are 12 Reasons Why String of Rubies Plant is Losing Leaves (dropping leaves)

Pests

The common pests in String of Rubies Plant are mealy bugs, aphids, scale insects and spider mites. These are sap-sucking insects which attack the new growth from where they suck the plant sap and will cause wilting, yellowing and leaf drop. Isolate the affected plant and treat it with neem oil and insecticidal soap as per the manufacturer's instructions.

Diseases

String of Rubies Plant is prone to powdery mildew and leaf spot disease. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants and treat it appropriately for the diseases.

Rotting base and stem collapse

String of Rubies Plant rotting base and stem collapse is an indication of basal stem-rot disease which is brought about by overwet conditions. Use the upper stem to propagate new plants and discard the infected parts. Reduce frequency of watering during the cold season in the future.

Shrivelled (wilted and discolored) leaves

String of Rubies Plant shrivelled (wilted and discolored) leaves can be due to two possible reasons. One possible reason is overwatering in the cold season which will result in soggy soil.

Reduce the amount and frequency of watering in the cold season and maintain the soil barely moist. Growth of the plant is minimal during the cold season therefore it does not require much water.

The second possible reason for shrivelled leaves in String of Pickles Plant is underwatering during the growing season. Water the plant moderately during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 inches of the soil to dry out between waterings but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Read more on how to water houseplants the correct way.

Elongated (leggy) stems

String of Rubies Plant elongated (leggy) stems during the cold season is due to too much water. Water less and maintain the soil barely moist.

If elongated (leggy) stems happen during the growing period, the cause is too little light which will cause the plant to grow weak, elongated (leggy) stems in an attempt to reach the light source. Move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright light with 6-8 hours of direct sunlight or instal grow lights if the natural lighting is not adequate. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.

Brown, dry leaf spots

String of Rubies Plant brown, dry leaf spots are caused by underwatering. Water the plant liberally during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 inches of the soil to dry out between waterings but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

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