Ruby Necklace Plant (Othonna capensis) Care & Propagation Guide

In this guide, let's take a deep dive into this delightful succulent and learn about its background, how to care for it, and how to grow your own ruby necklace.

The Ruby Necklace Plant (Othonna capensis) is a fast-growing succulent that is very attractive due to its two-toned stems and leaves. Ruby Necklace Plant also called string of rubies, is a trailing succulent that can also be used in ground cover and rock gardening. The Ruby Necklace Plant is native to South Africa. Like other trailing succulents, Ruby Necklace Plant is very easy to care for. The less we care about them, the better they are. Minimal maintenance and low watering make it the perfect hanging succulent near windowsills.

Ruby Necklace Plant Overview

Botanical Name	Othonna capensis
Common Name	String of rubies, Ruby Necklace Plant, string of pickles, Ruby Necklace Succulent
Plant Type	String Succulent
Mature Size	2 inches tall
Sun Exposure	Direct sun
Soil Type	Well-draining, cactus/succulent soil
Soil pH	6.0-6.5
Bloom Time	Spring, summer, fall

Where to Grow Ruby Necklace Plant

If you live in a colder environment, where temperature can go below 20 °F (-6.7 °C), You should plant Ruby Necklace Plant in a pot (better with a drainage hole). Because Ruby Necklace Plant is not cold hardy and you'll be able to bring it inside in winter. Ruby Necklace Plant grows well in a brighter area where it gets about 4 to 6 hours of sunlight. But keep it away from direct sunlight in very hot months.

How to Propagate Ruby Necklace Plant (Othonna capensis)

The ruby necklace plant is similar to other succulents that are easy to propagate. Ruby Necklace Plant propagation can only be accomplished with stems, hydrotherapy and seeds. When breeding is successful, you can sell or give the othonna capensis to your loved ones. In addition, you can sell a large Othonna Capensis. The best time to breed Ruby Necklace Plant is spring and autumn.

Ruby Necklace Plant Propagation with Seeds

Ruby necklace plant (Othonna capensis) seed propagation can be done, and growing Ruby Necklace Plant from seeds is a very simple process.
Seed pods are located at the tips of completely dried flowers and should be removed carefully.
Sterilize dry soil in the microwave for 90 seconds. This will kill harmful bacteria.
Dry the succulent seeds of the Ruby Necklace Plant and plant them under the top layer of the soil.
Place in indirect sunlight or growth light. Cover the soil with a plastic or glass lid to retain moisture.
After a month, it will grow young saplings that can be transferred to a larger pot.

Ruby Necklace Plant Propagation with Stem Cuttings

The Ruby Necklace Plant (Othonna capensis) is very easy to propagate by stems.
Just cut with a clean, sterilized cutting tool and let it harden for an hour or two.
Use rooting hormone when potting in soil.
During reproduction through the stem, fragile leaves may be shed from the stem.

Ruby Necklace Plant Propagation with Leaves

Spreading the Ruby Necklace Plant through leaves is very difficult and almost impossible.
However, if you find broken healthy leaves with small stems, throw them into the same pot.

Ruby Necklace Plant Propagation with Division

Ruby Necklace Plant (Othonna capensis) propagation by roots is also a simple process.
When the Ruby Necklace Plant has long branching stems, you might notice that aerial rooting occurs after some intervals in the stems. From then on, do a clean cut on the Ruby Necklace Plant 1 inch below the root using a clean sterilized cutting tool, and wait for the callus for 1 to 2 hours before potting it into damp soil. Put it in indirect bright sunlight.

How to Care for Ruby Necklace Plant (Othonna capensis)

Ruby Necklace Plant Light Requirements

The Leaves on the Ruby Necklace Plant (Othonna capensis) will also start to turn purple if you give the Ruby Necklace Plant continuous bright light. Four to six hours in the morning sun, bright light continues in indirect light. Avoid afternoon sun or even bright light in summer. The Ruby Necklace Plant can even thrive in low light conditions, making it a perfect hanging succulent, but the stem will be green in color. The lowest lightning conditions damage the Ruby Necklace Plant , e.g. the space between the leaves increases and the strand looks weaker due to stretching and lack of sunlight. The best window for Ruby Necklace Plant is the southwest window.

Ruby Necklace Plant Soil Care

Ruby Necklace Plant naturally grows in South Africa where the porous soil gives them well drainage. So you'll also need the same type of well drainage soil for it to grow well. If you need to make your soil, you can check my in-depth guide on preparing the perfect DIY succulent soil for containers. You can also get the pre-mixed gritty mix succulent soil from amazon.

Ruby Necklace Plant Watering

Ruby Necklace Plant requires the typical succulent watering schedule. It is best to water once the soil is totally dry. Otherwise, the roots of Ruby Necklace Plant may rot in wet soil. You can check the soil by putting your finger into the soil about 2.5 inches deep. Or, typically water after 4 to 7 days, depending on your environment conditions. Ruby Necklace Plant is a winter dormant plant and does not require much water in this season, except in excessively dry conditions.

Ruby Necklace Plant Temperature & Humidity Care

The Ruby Necklace Plant is not a cold weather succulent and does best in warmer temperatures. Never let your Ruby Necklace Plant sit in temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) for extended periods of time. When grown indoors, a Ruby Necklace succulent does well in typical household temperature and humidity levels. Avoid placing your string of rubies next to cold or drafty windows during extreme winter temperatures.

Ruby Necklace Plant Fertilizer Care

The best thing about the ruby necklace succulent plant is that it is efficient in fertilization. Ruby Necklace Plant doesn’t need a lot of fertilization because what matters to it is the place where he grows. For fertilization, Ruby Necklace Plant only needs once or twice a year. This is because the Ruby Necklace Plant Succulent ornamental plants are resistant to plant pests.
Excessive fertilization will cause Ruby Necklace Plant to grow abnormally. The stems, which are red purple in color, usually bloom in spring, which is between May and June. During the blooming season, Othonna capensis requires moderate amounts of water to keep plants and flowers fresh. If there is too much water, plants will actually cause root death. So, the best time to water the Ruby Necklace Plant Succulent is when it’s dry, but don’t water every day.

Ruby Necklace Plant Pests & Diseases Care

Watch out for common sap-sucking houseplant pests such as mealybugs and scale on your string of rubies. Regularly inspecting the succulent and catching any pests early is the best way to prevent more serious infestations. Treat affected plants with rubbing alcohol, neem oil, or insecticidal soap to get rid of unwanted pests.

Ruby Necklace Plant FAQ

Is Ruby Necklace Plant Poisonous?

Ruby Necklace Plant is a non-poisonous and is considered a safe succulent plant.

Is Ruby Necklace Plant Plant a Xeric Plant?

Ruby Necklace Plant is a plant that can grow well in xeric gardens. Xeric gardening is a landscape model that allows one to grow a variety of plants without having to add water from time to time. Ruby Neklace Succulent is suitable for planting in xeric gardens because it is a plant that grows in dry and semi-arid places. This means that he does not need much water for growth. Ruby Necklace Plant can withstand drought without the need for daily watering. watering only needs to be done when the soil is completely dry. Even then, only a little watering. Another reason why Ruby Necklace Plant is suitable for planting in xeric gardens is because of its appeal. This Ruby Necklace Plant plant blends well with other flower plants. So, the existence of a Ruby Necklace Plant is no stranger to these plants.

Is Ruby Necklace Plant Invasive?

In its native settings, Ruby Necklace Plant plants grow with wild abandon. If you live in areas where the plant is winter hardy, be careful not to allow Othonna to ramble off freely. Ruby Necklace Plant has a rapid growth rate. Naturally, in settings where the Ruby Necklace Plant will die back during the winter it is not invasive. Likewise, if you keep it as a houseplant it will not have the opportunity to be invasive.

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