String of buttons

String of buttons: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Small succulent with thin stems, 40 cm tall and 30 cm wide, upright at first and later trailing.

Leaves

Thick, triangular to egg-shaped, 1–2 cm, grey-green; the pairs of leaves are stacked crosswise, as if the stem pierces them.

Colour

In full sun the leaves get a red edge; in a spot that is too dark they stay green and the plant stretches.

Flower

Small cream-yellow stars in clusters at the tips; it rarely flowers indoors.

Roots

Shallow and finely branched: a shallow pot is enough.

Plants: March–April · Pruning: April

Why grow it?

• Distinctive, geometric foliage: the little leaves look like beads on a string.
• Low maintenance: it tolerates drought and forgives a forgotten watering.
• Stays small and tidy, ideal for a windowsill or a small dish of succulents.
• Red leaf edges in strong sun add extra colour.
• Roots easily from cuttings, handy for giving away.

String of buttons: where does it grow best?

• As much light as possible: a south, east or west window; in summer it can stay in full sun.
• Very free-draining compost: cactus compost or potting compost mixed with coarse sand or grit.
• Dry: let the compost dry out completely between waterings.
• Warm in summer; cool in winter (5–10 °C), never below 5 °C.
• A shallow pot with a drainage hole, preferably unglazed terracotta.

Light

Sunny

Potting soil

Cactus compost

Acidity

Neutral

Watering

Sparingly

Size

0.4 m tall, 0.3 m wide

Temperature

Minimum 5 °C

Goes well with

• Echeveria: Blue-grey or purple rosettes next to the small leaves of the crassula.
• Stonecrop (Sedum): Same light and watering, with soft, trailing stems.
• Aloe: A larger succulent for contrast of shape.
• Kalanchoe: Same sunny spot, with brightly coloured flowers.

String of buttons: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April.

1. Repot in March–April, when the plant outgrows its pot. A young plant every 2–3 years, an older one less often.
2. Choose a shallow terracotta pot with a drainage hole, only slightly larger than the old one.
3. Mix cactus compost with a third coarse sand, perlite or grit for good drainage.
4. Set the plant at the same depth as before, gently shake the old compost from the roots and let damaged roots dry for a few days before potting.
5. Wait about a week before watering, so that small root wounds can heal.
6. You may add a thin layer of fine grit on top: it keeps the base of the stems dry.

Care

Water

In summer give a thorough watering every 2–3 weeks and let it drain, only when the compost is completely dry. Almost none in winter. Never leave water standing in the saucer.

Feeding

From May to August give a quarter to half dose of cactus feed once a month. None in winter.

Light

Acclimatise it gradually to strong sun, especially after winter, otherwise brown patches appear on the leaves.

Tidying

Remove fallen or shrivelled leaves; it prevents rot.

Repotting

Every 2–3 years in spring into fresh, gritty compost.

Tip: It wants lots of sun and little water; let the compost dry out completely between waterings. Stem cuttings root easily.

String of buttons: when to prune it?

Pruning months: April.

When: In spring (April), when the plant gets too long or bare.

How:

• Cut long or bare stems back to just above a few pairs of leaves.
• New side shoots appear below the cut within a few weeks.
• The cut pieces can be rooted as cuttings.
• Remove dead or rotten stems completely at the base.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Cuttings

In spring or summer: cut pieces of 5–8 cm, remove the lowest leaves and let the cut dry for 2–3 days. Insert them in dry, gritty compost and only keep it slightly moist after a week. Roots in 3–6 weeks.

Leaves

A fallen leaf or pair of leaves lying on dry compost can root. It takes longer than cuttings.

String of buttons: how does it get through the winter?

• Not hardy: it needs at least 5 °C and overwinters best cool and bright at 5–10 °C.
• Barely water in winter: a little every six to eight weeks is enough, so that the leaves do not wrinkle.
• No feeding in winter; do not put it above a radiator.

Diseases and pests

• Rot: A soft, black or slimy stem base from too much water. Let the compost dry, cut away the rotten part and re-root healthy pieces.
• Stretched stems: Too little light: the stems get long and bare and the leaf pairs are far apart. Move it into the sun and cut back in spring.
• Wrinkled or limp leaves: Wrinkled means too dry, soft and yellowish means too wet. If dry, water thoroughly and let it drain well afterwards.
• Mealybug: White, cottony tufts in the leaf joints. Dab them with a cotton bud dipped in alcohol or rinse the plant and repeat weekly.

Through the year

• January: Rest: cool and bright, almost no water.
• February: Rest: cool and bright, almost no water.
• March: Repot if needed. Gradually give more light.
• April: Cut back and take cuttings. Start watering.
• May: Water every 2–3 weeks. Start feeding.
• June: Growing season: water when the compost is dry; full light.
• July: Growing season: water and feed. May go outdoors into the sun.
• August: Growing season: last feed. Watch for mealybug.
• September: Water less. Bring indoors before it turns cold.
• October: Move somewhere cooler, almost no water.
• November: Rest: cool and bright.
• December: Rest: cool and bright, almost no water.

Edible and useful

Not edible. String of buttons is mildly poisonous: cats and dogs that chew the fleshy leaves may drool, vomit and become a little lethargic. It is of little danger to people, but do not let small children chew it. Keep the pot out of reach of pets and clear up broken-off pieces and cuttings, which come away easily and end up on the floor. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Did you know?

• The species name perforata means ‘pierced’: the stem seems to pass straight through the crosswise stacked pairs of leaves.
• A well-known relative is the jade plant (Crassula ovata), which belongs to the same genus.
• The family Crassulaceae gave its name to CAM photosynthesis: many species open their pores at night so they lose little water by day.