Why Does Your String of Turtles Keep Dying? Let’s Unpack This Mess
- Brittany Savaille
- Mar 4
- 3 min read
String of Turtles (Peperomia Prostrata) is just one of those annoying AF plants.
Looks stunning? ✅.
Fussy as HELL✅.
Easy AF to kill ✅✅✅.
If you've ever bought one only to watch it shrivel into a crispy, rotting mess—congrats, you’re in the club. But BEFORE you give up entirely, let’s talk about why this plant is such a little pain in the soil and how to actually keep it alive.
The Top 3 Ways People Kill a String of Turtles
1. Overwatering & Root Rot – AKA The Fastest Way to Kill It
You think you're helping. You’re not.
These tiny, shallow-rooted plants HATE sitting in wet soil. If you’re watering like you do for pothos or other trailing plants, you’re basically drowning it. Soggy soil = mushy stems, root rot, and sadness.
How to Fix It:
✅ Use a shallow pot with drainage—their roots don’t need deep soil!
✅ Use a well-aerated soil mix with fine grit (too chunky, and it won’t retain enough moisture).
✅ Bottom water when the top inch is dry—this lets them soak up what they need without staying drenched.
2. Not Enough Light – AKA Why It’s Looking Sad and Leggy
String of Turtles loves bright, indirect light—not a dark corner, not full sun. If yours is stretching out with tiny leaves, it’s literally screaming for more light.
How to Fix It:
✅ Place it near a bright window but out of direct sun.
✅ If you don’t have enough natural light, grow lights are your best friend.
✅ Rotate it so it grows evenly instead of reaching toward one side.
3. Cold Temperatures & Low Humidity – AKA “Why Is It So Crispy?!”
Peperomia prostrata HATES cold drafts. If it’s near an AC vent, a drafty window, or just chilling in a dry room, it’s probably dropping leaves out of spite.
How to Fix It:
✅ Keep it between 20-28°C (68-82°F)—no cold snaps!
✅ Give it humidity (50-70% is ideal). Terrariums, humidity trays, or placing it near other plants all help.
✅ Mist it lightly if your air is super dry—but don’t drench it.
4. OKAY! So You Killed It. Life Goes On.
It happens. We’ve all been there. But instead of crying over dead turtles, let’s reset and do it right this time.
Step one: Head to the store, grab a new one, and let’s get down to business.
🪴 Start by chopping off a few 4-6 inch chunks of the healthiest vines and set them aside. Trust me, we’re playing this smart.
🪴 Next, get rid of that garbage soil it came in. Peperomia prostrata is almost always sold in a dense, soggy mess of potting mix that holds way too much moisture. We don’t keep that dirt in this house.
🪴 Repot it properly – shallow pot, well-draining soil, fine grit, and aeration. No deep pots, no heavy soil, no sad, suffocated roots.
🪴 Give it a good butt chug (bottom watering, for the uninitiated). This lets the roots soak up exactly what they need without drowning.
🪴 Toss it in a bright AF spot – no more dark corners, no more sadness. It needs indirect light, not a dungeon.
The Good News? It’s Not ALL Drama!
Once you crack the code, String of Turtles is actually low maintenance. Seriously. You just need to give it what it wants instead of what you think it should have.
✅ Pet-friendly – No worries if your cat decides to take a bite.
✅ Super easy to propagate – Just snip a vine, pop it in water or damp soil, and watch it grow.
✅ Stunning when happy – Once you get the care right, it’ll reward you with lush, trailing vines that actually look like little turtle shells.
So, if you’re ready to try again, set it up for success—shallow pot, airy soil, good light, and no overwatering. Your future self (and your turtles) will thank you.
Got more plant problems?
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