Pretty Turtle

Position your String of Turtles in bright, indirect light, such as near an east-facing window or just back from a brighter sill. Strong, filtered light keeps the little turtle-shell leaves compact and preserves their silvery veining, while harsh midday sun will scorch and fade them and deep shade makes the growth leggy and sparse. As a trailing plant it looks its best in a hanging pot or on a raised shelf where the stems can spill, and it will happily reward a bit of extra humidity.

Water when the top couple of centimetres of mix feel dry, then let it drain freely, as the semi-succulent leaves hold their own reserves and the fine roots quickly rot if left sitting wet. Ease right back over the cooler months. Grow it in a light, well-draining mix and feed monthly through the warmer growing season with a diluted liquid fertiliser. Its shallow root system prefers a snug pot, so avoid over-potting and trim any straggly stems to encourage a fuller, bushier trail.