String of Fishhooks (Senecio radicans) is a trailing succulent with curved, hook-shaped leaves strung along thin stems, like a fishing line of tiny green hooks. It cascades beautifully from a hanging basket, and it is one of the toughest string succulents — faster-growing and more forgiving than string of pearls.
Like its dolphin cousin, it wants bright sun and very little water, and it rots fast in wet soil. The hook leaves are the water gauge: plump hooks mean the plant is hydrated, wrinkled hooks mean it is thirsty. It is toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, so hang it where pets cannot reach it. This guide covers light, watering, humidity, temperature, soil, repotting, feeding, propagation and the common problems that show up when something is off.
String of Fishhooks at a glance
| Care factor | What this plant needs |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Senecio radicans |
| Light | bright direct |
| Water | every 2–3 weeks; let soil dry fully |
| Humidity | low |
| Temperature | 60–80°F (16–27°C) |
| Repotting | every 2–3 years |
| Pet safety | toxic to cats and dogs |
Light
Give your String of Fishhooks bright direct light. A spot near an east- or west-facing window is usually ideal, or a metre or so back from a bright south-facing window. In the right light the plant grows steadily and keeps its colour; in too little light growth turns weak and stretched, and the plant loses the look that makes it worth growing. Our grow-light calculator can help work out whether your spot is bright enough.
Give it bright direct sun — a sunny south- or west-facing window is ideal. Sunlight keeps the hooks plump and the stems compact; in low light the stems stretch, the hooks flatten, and the plant thins out. Make sure light reaches the top of the pot, not just the trailing stems, or the crown will go bare.
Watering
Water: every 2–3 weeks; let soil dry fully. The golden rule is to check the soil before you water rather than watering on a fixed day — push a finger into the mix and water thoroughly only when it has dried to the depth the plant prefers, letting the excess run out of the drainage holes. Then empty the saucer so the plant never sits in standing water. Our watering calculator gives a starting point for your pot size, and the watering schedule generator can help you build a routine around it.
Water only when the soil has dried out completely — every 2–3 weeks is usually right. The hook leaves tell you when to water: wrinkled, deflated hooks mean thirst. Water thoroughly when you do water, let it drain completely, and never let the pot sit in water.
Humidity and temperature
String of Fishhooks needs low humidity and temperatures of 60–80°F (16–27°C). Humidity is the care factor most homes get wrong: heated indoor air in winter is far drier than most houseplants like, and the first sign is usually brown, crispy leaf edges. Grouping plants together, a pebble tray under the pot, or a small humidifier near the plant all help; a humidifier is the only method that reliably lifts humidity enough. Misting does very little — the water evaporates in minutes. Our humidity and temperature checker can tell you whether your room suits this plant.
Low humidity suits it — this is a succulent, and ordinary dry household air is perfect. Do not mist it, and do not keep it in a humid bathroom: damp air and wet soil together invite rot.
Soil and potting
Indoors, String of Fishhooks needs a rich but free-draining potting mix. Standard potting soil on its own can hold too much water and compact over time, so mix it with perlite and orchid bark to keep air around the roots while still holding some moisture. A pot with drainage holes is not optional; without one, water has nowhere to go and root rot follows. Our potting-mix calculator can work out the parts for a homemade mix for your pot size.
Use a very free-draining succulent mix — cactus soil with extra perlite or coarse sand. The mix must dry out quickly after watering, and the pot must have drainage holes. A shallow pot suits the shallow roots better than a deep one.
Repotting
Repot every 2–3 years, in spring, or sooner if roots are circling the drainage holes. Move up only one pot size — a pot that is too big holds wet soil the roots cannot use, and that is a fast route to rot. Our repotting calculator can help you work out the next pot size and how much fresh mix you will need.
Repot every 2–3 years in spring, moving up only one size. The stems snap easily, so handle the plant gently, and repot only when the roots genuinely fill the pot.
Feeding
Feed during the growing season, in spring and summer, with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half the strength on the label, roughly once a month while the plant is actively growing. Do not feed in autumn and winter when growth slows. Always follow the directions on the label — more fertiliser is not better, and excess salts build up in the soil and burn the roots, which often shows up as brown leaf edges. If you have been feeding heavily, flush the soil with plain water occasionally to wash the salts out. Our fertiliser calculator can help you get the dose right.
Feed lightly — once a month at half strength in spring and summer is plenty. Succulents need very little food, and overfeeding gives soft, stretched growth.
Propagation
String of fishhooks propagates from stem cuttings. Take a cutting a few centimetres long, let the cut end dry for a day or two, then lay it on moist succulent mix — it roots at the nodes within a few weeks.
You can also lay a trailing stem across the soil in the same pot to thicken the plant, or coil a long stem back into the pot so it roots and fills the crown. Keep cuttings bright and do not overwater while they root.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Pests | Check undersides of leaves regularly | Inspect leaf undersides weekly; isolate and wipe or shower the plant. |
| Yellow leaves | Overwatering | Let soil dry more between waterings; check drainage. |
| Brown leaf tips | Low humidity | Trim brown tips; raise humidity; use filtered water if tap water is hard. |
Pests
Likely cause: check undersides of leaves regularly. Inspect the undersides of the leaves every week, especially in warm weather, and isolate the plant at the first sign of trouble so pests do not spread to neighbours. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth or give the plant a gentle shower, and repeat weekly until the pests are gone. Our pest identifier helper can help you work out what you are dealing with before you treat it.
Yellow leaves
Likely cause: overwatering. Yellow leaves most often mean the soil has stayed wet for too long. Let the top of the soil dry out before watering again, check that the pot drains freely, and remove leaves once they are fully yellow. If several leaves yellow at once, check the roots — soft, black roots mean rot, and you should cut the rot away and repot in fresh mix. Water less in winter, when the plant grows more slowly and the soil stays wet for longer.
Brown leaf tips
Likely cause: low humidity. Trim the brown tips with clean scissors, following the leaf's shape, and raise the humidity around the plant — a pebble tray or humidifier helps more than misting. If your tap water is hard, switch to filtered or rainwater, since salts can also crisp the edges. Check the humidity with our humidity and temperature checker and move the plant away from radiators and hot, dry draughts.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I water String of Fishhooks?
Every 2–3 weeks; let soil dry fully. Check the soil with your finger before watering rather than watering on a fixed day — pots dry out at different rates depending on light, pot size and the season.
How much light does String of Fishhooks need?
It needs bright direct light. Too little light gives weak, stretched growth, while harsh direct sun can scorch the leaves, so a bright spot out of direct midday sun suits most plants in this guide.
Is String of Fishhooks safe for cats and dogs?
According to the data used for this guide, this plant is toxic to cats and dogs. Keep it out of reach of pets that chew plants, and if a pet eats any of it, contact your vet.
When should I repot String of Fishhooks?
Repot every 2–3 years, in spring, or sooner if roots are circling the drainage holes. Move up only one pot size so the fresh mix does not stay wet for too long.
Why are my string of fishhooks' leaves shrivelling?
Shrivelled hooks usually mean thirst — water thoroughly and the leaves should plump up within a day or two. If the leaves are shrivelled and the soil is wet, the roots may have rotted; take cuttings from any healthy stems and start again.