String of Watermelons

Picked up a new succulent at the markets on the weekend.

I've been after a Chain of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii) to replace a lovely one I had in a hanging basket many years ago, but haven't come across one yet. While browsing the markets for hanging plants, and in particular hanging succulents, I came across this String of Watermelons (Curio herreianus).

Some online research shows that these originate from Namibia and South Africa. They are closely related to the String of Pearls plant (Curio rowleyanus). They love well-drained soil and partial shade. Apparently they are also toxic and can make you ill if ingested, or cause a rash if the sap touches your skin. Yikes - good to know! It can be grown as a hanging plant, but will also spread across the ground.

I love how it looks, with the plump, stripey "watermelon" leaves. I'm curious to see how it grows and what it will look like in a hanging pot. I think it will look quite stunning when it gets a bit bigger and more dense.

Until next time,
@Sammie