Light
Bright, indirect
Ideal spot
Curio macroglossus 'Wax Ivy' · Trailing plant
Bright, indirect
Ideal spot
every 1–2 weeks
In the growing season
Easy
Moderate grower
Toxic
Cats & dogs
Wax Ivy (Curio macroglossus 'Wax Ivy') belongs to the Asteraceae family and is a easy houseplant to look after. This moderate grower plant is happiest in bright, indirect and reaches 30–90 cm indoors.
For watering, the rule is simple: drought-tolerant. In the growing season it needs water roughly every 14 days, dropping to every 26 days in winter. Use the watering calculator below to tune that rhythm to your pot size, light and household humidity.
Important: Wax Ivy is toxic to pets — keep it out of reach of cats, dogs and children.
Set your pot size, light and humidity — the calculator tunes the watering rhythm to your home.
Light at the spot
Humidity
Season
Water Wax Ivy
every 14 days
≈ every 1–2 weeks · 2.1× per month
Let the top 2–3 cm dry and finger-check before watering again.
Wax Ivy prefers bright, indirect but will cope with bright, indirect. Harsh midday sun can scorch sensitive leaves, while too little light leads to leggy, sparse growth.
Keep Wax Ivy between 15–28 °C and aim for around 35% humidity (20% minimum). Below 7 °C it risks cold damage — keep it away from draughty windows and radiators.
15–28 °C
Not below 7 °C
35%
20% minimum
Drought-tolerant
Soil between waterings
Pot Wax Ivy in gritty, fast-draining succulent mix. A drainage hole is essential — soggy, airless soil is the single most common way houseplants die.
String of pearls and its relatives are toxic to cats, dogs and people, causing vomiting, drooling and skin irritation — hang well out of reach.
The best ways to propagate Wax Ivy are stem cuttings and layering. Late spring and summer are ideal, when the plant is growing most actively.
Each 'pearl' has a translucent stripe — a built-in window that channels light inside the bead so the plant can photosynthesise while losing almost no water.
In the growing season Wax Ivy needs watering every 1–2 weeks (about every 14 days in a 16 cm pot at medium light), and much less in winter — roughly every 26 days. Use the watering calculator above to get the exact interval for your conditions.
Wax Ivy thrives in bright, indirect. A spot near a bright window out of harsh midday sun is ideal; give it a little more light in winter.
Wax Ivy is toxic to pets. String of pearls and its relatives are toxic to cats, dogs and people, causing vomiting, drooling and skin irritation — hang well out of reach.
The most common problem with Wax Ivy is root rot from overwatering. Check your watering and drainage first — most issues trace back to too much or too little water.
The best ways to propagate Wax Ivy are stem cuttings and layering. Late spring and summer are ideal, when the plant is growing most actively.
Indoors Wax Ivy typically reaches 30–90 cm. With the right light and occasional repotting it stays compact and bushy.
Care data last verified on 15 June 2026.
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