Please don’t burgle my (string of) turts!

This week’s plant is gaining popularity fast; little leaves resemble the shell of a sea turtle

The+darker+leaves+on+top+are+new+growth+from+the+string+of+turtles%2C+lighter+ones+are+about+a+year+old.

SANDI KOBIESA

The darker leaves on top are new growth from the string of turtles, lighter ones are about a year old.

SANDI KOBIESA, Multimedia editor

Welcome back plant friends. This week’s plant reminds me of “Over the Garden Wall,” one of my favorite cartoons. “I’m here to burgle your turts” reminds me of the desperate desire people have to own a string of turtles.

I remember first hearing about this plant, and I fell in love without even seeing it. Turtles, one of the most majestic creatures of the sea. I searched high and low to find this glorious plant, and boom, add to cart on Etsy.

For $20, I bought a two-inch pot of turtles last May and was just in awe. I babied that plant so much, I’m pretty sure all of my other plants were jealous.

Near the end of 2020, this plant started to rise in fame, and now a small two-inch pot can cost anywhere between $25 to $50.

String-of plants are very difficult for me to care for, in all honesty. I have killed a string of pearls, a string of dolphins and two strings of hearts. Basically, these plants are part of my plant graveyard.

My turtles were the first string-of plant to thrive so well. Trial and error of course, I almost killed it once when I first moved back home. They require a lot of light, like a crazy amount of light.

Mine is currently about nine inches below a grow light, but it would thrive in an east facing window or a south facing window. For this plant to grow, not only does it need light shining on the hanging parts, but also on the top of the plant, if that makes any sense.

I butt chug my string-of plants, meaning I fill up a small Tupperware with water, enough to cover the bottom half inch of the pot. With this method, the plant is able to absorb as much water their roots need without a worry of over watering.

Propagating this plant is really easy, you cut a little piece of the plant, and place it in soil. Grab a bobby pin, or break a paperclip, place it over the cutting into the soil so it doesn’t move. It will eventually grow roots that way and boom, new plant!