A Complete Guide to Caring for Chandelier Plants

With its cascading leaves dotted with plantlets, the chandelier plant is an intriguing houseplant. Also called mother of thousands, its common name gives you a hint at how readily it propagates itself. While easygoing, chandelier plants do have some specific care needs. Follow this guide for tips on watering, sunlight, soil, propagation, and more to keep your chandelier plant healthy and happy.

Chandelier Plant Care Basics

Chandelier plant care is focused on mimicking the hot, arid climate this succulent is adapted to. Key elements include:

• Soil – Fast-draining cactus mix or sandy soil. Avoid heavy, wet soils that hold moisture.

• Water – Allow soil to dry out between waterings, Water deeply but infrequently,

• Light – Bright, direct light for at least 6 hours daily Some shade from hot afternoon sun

• Temperature – Above 50°F. Ideal in zones 10-11. Bring indoors if temperatures drop lower.

• Humidity – Average to low humidity. Does not tolerate continually damp air.

• Fertilizer – Optional monthly with balanced succulent fertilizer during growing season.

Get these basics right and your chandelier plant will thrive with minimal effort. Now let’s look at each care element more closely.

Providing the Right Soil

Chandelier plants need a fast-draining soil that mimics the sandy desert soils they hail from. The best potting mix will be:

• Gritty – Coarse sand, perlite, gravel or clay pellets improve drainage.

• Lean – Low in rich organic matter that holds moisture.

• Neutral to acidic – pH between 6.0-7.0 is ideal.

You can buy cactus potting soil or make your own mix of 2 parts potting soil, 1 part perlite or builder’s sand, and 1 part pine bark or compost. Terracotta pots also improve drainage.

Watering Correctly

Chandelier plants are prone to rot if overwatered, so water carefully:

• Allow soil to dry out completely between waterings. Test with a finger.

• When watering, soak the soil thoroughly until water drains from the bottom.

• Water less in winter during dormancy. Wait up to 2 weeks when plant is inactive.

• If leaves wrinkle or plant wilts, it needs more frequent watering.

• Never leave plants sitting in water. Drain all trays or saucers promptly.

Adjust your watering practices to match the plant’s growth stage and your local conditions. Erring on the side of underwatering is safer than overwatering these succulents.

Getting Lighting Right

In their native habitat, chandelier plants bask in bright sun. Replicate those conditions with:

• At least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. More is better.

• East or west-facing windows if grown indoors. Avoid direct southern exposure.

• Outdoor placement in full sun, but with some midday shade.

• Rotate container regularly so all sides get evenly illuminated.

• If plant stretches toward light or leaves drop, it needs more sun.

Sunlight fuels photosynthesis and keeps chandelier plants compact. Insufficient light leads to weak, lanky growth.

Maintaining the Right Temperature

Warmth-loving chandelier plants thrive with:

• Daytime temperatures above 50°F (10°C).

• Ideal year-round range of 60-80°F (15-26°C).

• Outdoor growing only in frost-free zones 10-11.

• Overwintered indoors in cooler climates.

• Avoid cold drafts and allowing soil to get chilled.

Cool conditions slow growth and may eventually kill chandelier plants if prolonged. Monitor forecasts and bring indoors before frost hits.

Controlling Humidity

Chandelier plants prefer drier air. Ensure sufficient ventilation with:

• Fans to keep air moving if humidity is high.

• Avoiding tightly enclosed spots like terrariums.

• Quick drainage after watering to minimize damp soil.

• Spacing for airflow between plants.

• Moving plants outdoors during warm months.

Excess moisture in the air or soil can lead to mold, rot, and fungus. Keep your chandelier plant’s environment on the dry side.

Fertilizing for Added Nutrients

While not essential, you can fertilize your chandelier plant:

• Monthly during spring through fall growing season.

• Use a balanced, water-soluble succulent fertilizer.

• Dilute to half-strength recommended rate.

• Flush soil monthly to prevent salt buildup.

• Avoid high-nitrogen mixes that drive excessive growth.

• No fertilizer needed in winter when plant is dormant.

Go easy on fertilizer, as chandelier plants are adapted to low-nutrient desert conditions. Excess salts and nutrients can do more harm than good.

How to Prune Chandelier Plants

Pruning is not mandatory, but you can trim your plant for shaping:

• Use sterile pruners to avoid disease transmission.

• Cut flowering stems back to a branching point after blooms fade.

• Trim leggy growth back by a few inches to encourage bushiness.

• Remove badly damaged or diseased leaves and stems.

• Take cuttings for propagation from trimmed stems.

Prune chandelier plants in early spring, snipping just above leaf nodes for the best regrowth. Avoid heavy pruning that removes too much foliage at once.

Easy Propagation Methods

Chandelier plants self-propagate from tiny plantlets that form on leaf tips. You can also propagate by:

• Detaching plantlets once they develop small roots and potting up individually.

• Taking 4-inch stem cuttings in spring, letting ends callous over, and rooting in soil.

• Seeds collected from spent flowers – but plants grown from cuttings will flower sooner.

• Dividing the rootball of more mature plants.

With multiple propagation options, you’ll never run short of new chandelier plants!

Repotting Chandelier Plants

Repot chandelier plants when:

• Roots emerge from drainage holes at the base.

• Soil remains soggy, signalling a pot-bound plant.

• Growth seems slowed and stunted.

• Transitioning a plant from indoors to outdoors.

• Every 1-2 years in early spring for fresh soil.

Choose a container 2 inches larger than the current pot. Trim any dried roots and replant at the same level in fresh cactus mix.

Caring for Chandelier Plants Outdoors

When growing chandelier plants outside in zones 10-11:

• Choose a sloped, well-drained position with full sun exposure.

• Amend native soil with sand or gravel to improve drainage.

• Add a layer of pebbles or gravel as mulch to retain moisture.

• Avoid placing plants in low-lying areas prone to frost or dampness.

• Bring potted specimens indoors if overnight temperatures drop below 50°F.

Your chandelier plant will grow exponentially faster planted in the ground compared to containers. Just be sure not to situate it where its spreading nature will become invasive.

Overwintering Indoor Chandelier Plants

If you live where winters dip below 50°F, overwinter chandelier plants with care:

• Before frost, transition plants to a bright, sunny indoor location.

• Cut back on watering from fall through winter.

• Stop fertilizing and limit repotting/propagation during dormancy.

• Check for pests like mealybugs that can infest dormant plants.

• Keep plants above 60°F if possible. Cool windows can chill roots.

• Begin acclimating plants back outdoors after the last spring frost passes.

With the right overwintering conditions, chandelier plants will revive quickly when spring warmth returns.

Troubleshooting Common Chandelier Plant Problems

Watch for these common issues:

• Wilting, drooping leaves – Underwatering, or possible root rot from overwatering.

• Pale leaves – Insufficient sunlight.

• Leggy growth – Needs more light.

• Leaf drop – Too little water or too much sun. Find the balance.

• Brown leaf tips – Low humidity or irregular watering.

• Mealybugs – Treat with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap spray.

• Root rot – Allow soil to dry out. Trim affected roots and repot.

Catch problems early and adjust care. Healthy chandelier plants are quite resilient!

With its trailing ropes of succulent foliage, the chandelier plant is easy to grow indoors or outside in warm climates. Just be vigilant about providing very well-drained soil, bright light, sparse watering, and warmth. Do that and your chandelier plant will thrive and multiply!