Plant care guide
String of Hearts Dropping Leaves: Thirst, Rot, Cold or Light?
Updated
Why is my String of hearts dropping leaves?
A string of hearts drops leaves when the root zone goes wrong in either direction: mix left bone dry long enough for leaves to shrivel, or mix kept wet until roots and tubers rot. Cold, a sudden move and low light also shed leaves, and low light leaves long, bare vines.
What to do first
Look at the leaves before they fall and feel the mix. Thin, soft, wrinkled leaves in dry mix mean water thoroughly. Yellow or mushy leaves in damp mix mean stop watering and check the roots. Then check temperature, drafts and light.
Finding little hearts on the floor under a string of hearts is unsettling. The vines are thin, so every lost leaf shows. Leaf drop is a stress signal, not a diagnosis. The leaves just before they fall, and the state of the mix, tell you which stress it is.
Clemson Extension’s disorders factsheet lists over- and under-watering, a pot that is too small, a big change in environment, chilling, and pests or disease as causes of leaf drop. For this trailing succulent, start with water.
What did the leaves look like before they fell?
| Leaves before dropping | Mix | Most likely cause |
|---|---|---|
| Thin, soft, wrinkled, still green | Dry right through | Too dry for too long |
| Yellow, soft or mushy | Damp days after watering | Overwatering, root or basal rot |
| Green, falling within days of a move or cold spell | Normal | Chill or sudden change |
| Pale green, widely spaced on long vines | Normal | Too little light |
| Scorched patches on the most exposed leaves | Any | Too much direct sun |
Too dry
University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension’s string of hearts article explains that the succulent leaves thicken when storing water. NC State Extension’s Ceropegia woodii profile says underwatering causes wilted leaves.
A plant left dry through a warm, bright spell uses up that store. Leaves go thin and soft, then fall. Very dry mix can shed water down the sides of the pot, so a quick splash may not reach the roots. Iowa State University Extension’s diagnosis guide lists this among the reasons a root ball stays dry.
Too wet
This is the more dangerous cause. Wisconsin says the plant tolerates dry soil much better than soggy soil and is easily killed by overwatering. NC State says overwatering can cause root rot and yellowing. The RHS plant profile warns it is vulnerable to basal rot if too wet in winter.
University of Maryland Extension’s root rot page says rotted roots are brown to black and soft. If leaves yellowed before they dropped, our string of hearts yellow leaves guide covers the root and tuber check in detail.
Cold, moves and light
Cold. Wisconsin advises keeping string of hearts above 16 °C (60 °F) in winter. Iowa State lists cold during transport and drafts from doors, heat vents and windows as causes of leaf drop. A hanging pot by a winter window can sit in much colder air than the room.
A sudden change. Iowa State says a sudden change in light causes leaf drop. Clemson notes that drop after a big change in environment should last about three weeks.
Low light. NC State says large gaps between leaves mean the plant is not getting enough light. Wisconsin says leaves turn light green without enough light, and suggests a west- or south-facing window. Long vines that are bare near the pot are often a light problem.
Pests. Wisconsin names mealybugs as the main pest. NC State and the RHS add aphids and scale. Check the nodes and the tubers along the vines.
What to do
- Feel the mix right down to the bottom of the pot.
- If it is dry, soak it until water drains from the base, then let it drain fully. NC State advises letting the plant dry out completely between waterings.
- If it is damp, do not water. Tip the plant out. Healthy roots and tubers are firm. Maryland Extension advises taking cuttings only from healthy tissue.
- Move it out of drafts and away from cold glass.
- Give it brighter light, but acclimate it gradually to avoid sunburn, as Wisconsin advises.
- Water less in winter. NC State says the plant is dormant over winter and watering should be reduced even further.
Judge recovery by new growth, not by the leaves already lost. Wisconsin notes the aerial tubers along the vines root to form new plants. Our string of hearts propagation guide shows how to use them to fill a thin pot.
For the full watering method, read our soak-and-dry guide.
References
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Ceropegia woodii
- University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension: String of Hearts, Ceropegia woodii
- Royal Horticultural Society: Ceropegia linearis subsp. woodii
- Clemson Cooperative Extension, HGIC 2251: Houseplant Diseases & Disorders
- Iowa State University Extension: Diagnosing Houseplant Problems from Improper Environmental Conditions
- University of Maryland Extension: Root Rots of Indoor Plants
How this guide was put together: NC State Extension, University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension, RHS, Clemson Cooperative Extension, Iowa State University Extension and University of Maryland Extension guidance.