This adorable succulent will give you an all-day beach vibe because, true to its name, its leaves resemble a pod of leaping dolphins. The succulent dolphin (Senecio peregrinus) is a hybrid of the pearl necklace (Senecio rowleyanus) and the candle plant (Senecio articulatus). In this article we will discuss how to propagate, grow the succulent dolphin and its care.
Contents
Basic data
- Botanical name: Senecio peregrinus
- Common name: Dolphin chain, dolphin factory, flying dolphins, dolphin necklace
- Plant type: Succulent
- Maturity size: 15cm high
- Sun exposure: Full or partial sun
- Soil type: well-drained, for cacti/succulents
- Flowering period: Spring
- flower color: White
- Toxicity: Toxic to dogs and cats
As the succulent dolphin is a cross variety, it is not a very common plant and can be difficult to find. However, a quick search on the Internet shows that there are specialist producers and you may be lucky to find it.
However, if you know someone who has one, you can ask them for a branch, as it is very easy to grow succulent dolphins by cuttings.
Where to Grow Succulent Dolphins
You can usually grow dolphin succulents indoors as houseplants, although they can also be grown outdoors.
However, they are not frost-tolerant succulents and they need warm weather all year round to survive outdoors.
It is not a shade-loving plant and providing it with enough sunlight is essential for healthy growth. Place your succulent dolphin in a bright, sunny window.
How to Propagate a Dolphin Succulent
Dolphin succulents can be easily propagated from cuttings in water or on land.
Take cuttings that have at least 2-3 nodes along the stem for the best chance of success. The nodes are found at the points where the leaves emerge from the stems and this is where the new roots will grow.
If you are propagating stem cuttings in water, remove the leaves from the lower node(s) to make sure the leaves don’t rot.
Roots should develop within a few weeks, after which you can transfer the cutting to soil.
If only propagated in soil, just bury a few inches of the cutting in soil and make sure it stays moist until roots develop.
Dolphin Succulent Treatment
The dolphin succulent is generally considered a low maintenance plant. Their thick leaves retain water, making them drought tolerant, and they don’t require any special care or maintenance to keep them happy.
Plus, they are easy to propagate, so just by having one of these succulents, you can easily share a few with your friends.
Light
Although it can easily burn in direct sun when grown outdoors, when grown as a houseplant, succulent dolphin grows best when it receives at least six hours of sunlight per day.
A lighted window is ideal, but it can also adapt to medium light when grown indoors. If necessary, use grow lights to provide additional light.
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Like most succulents, the dolphin succulent requires arid, well-drained soil.
Commercially available cactus/succulent mixes are suitable for this plant, but you can also make your own mix at home.
Simply combine 2 parts potting soil, 1 part pumice or perlite, and 1 part sand.
Water
Dolphin rope leaves can retain water for a long period of time, so they are considered drought tolerant and do not require regular watering.
Let the soil dry out completely between waterings to prevent root rot, then water thoroughly.
Reduce watering during the fall and winter months when the plant goes dormant.
temperature and humidity
Dolphin succulent grows well with average house temperatures and humidity levels when grown indoors.
Interestingly, although these plants cannot tolerate frost, they tend to prefer cooler temperatures than your average succulent. They tolerate winter temperatures of up to 4 degrees Celsius.
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You don’t need regular fertilizer. In fact, over-fertilizing this plant can cause the leaves to lose their iconic dolphin shape.
However, they can benefit from a light feed in early spring to help stimulate growth and promote flowering.
Using an organic fertilizer, such as worm castings, liquid seaweed or fish emulsion, is often recommended.
Pot and graft
This climbing succulent tolerates rooting and does not need to be repotted regularly. However, every few years it needs to be repotted to refresh its growing medium and increase pot size.
It is important to use a pot with adequate drainage holes to avoid root rot and waterlogging.
The dolphin succulent can do well in plastic and terracotta pots, but some gardeners prefer terracotta because it helps absorb excess moisture from the soil.
Plagues and diseases
Common houseplant pests such as aphids, scale insects and spider mites can be a problem for the succulent dolphin.
These pests are sap suckers and if left untreated can wreak havoc on a healthy plant.
The succulent dolphin is not subject to any particular diseases, except for root rot, which is caused by excessive watering.
If you water only when the soil is completely dry, plant in a pot with adequate drainage holes, and use a well-drained potting mix, there should be no problem.
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