How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Blue Chalksticks (Curio repens)

Curio repens is a popular filler succulent that jazzes up any garden. The cylindrical leaves are dusted with blue-grey ‘chalk’, hence the common name chalksticks. They stick straight up in the air while the plant grows wide, giving the appearance of a sparse shag rug.

Originally from South Africa, chalksticks is easy to grow and maintain. Planted in the right conditions, this species requires little maintenance to look its best. If you’re new to growing succulents, or new to gardening in general, Curio repens is a great option.

With the steps we outline below, your succulent will be flourishing in no time.

What is Blue Chalksticks?

The scientific name of this species is Curio repens, closely related to a number of other succulents that are easy to grow and ideal for beginners. It was previously known as Senecio serpens, and that name is still used as a synonym today.

Blue chalksticks grows best outdoors in zones 9-11. If you live outside this area, you’ll need to plant in a container that can be brought inside during the winter. Alternatively, many gardeners use this succulent as an annual, allowing it to die each winter and then replanting.

The growing season for chalk sticks is spring to fall. In the summer and early fall, you may see small, white flowers. These flowers grow in corymbs, which are flat-topped clusters. Chalk sticks aren’t just pretty, but also deer, rabbit, drought, and even fire-resistant.

Planting

Choose a spot in your garden that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. If you are planting in containers, ensure they have drainage holes to prevent waterlogging, as Curio repens is susceptible to root rot in overly wet conditions. Use a cactus or succulent potting mix, or amend regular garden soil with sand or perlite to improve drainage.

If planting in the ground, loosen the soil and mix in some coarse sand or perlite to boost drainage. For container planting, fill the pot with your prepared succulent mix.

Space the plants relatively close together in a container or further apart in beds if you want them to spread out as a ground cover. Plant at the same depth and wait a few days for the roots to settle before you water.

How to Grow

Blue chalksticks are straightforward when it comes to care. Here are their simple, yet crucial, demands.

Light

Curio repens grows best in full sun. This translates to around six hours of direct sunlight per day, whether indoors or out. They can also tolerate partial shade (anything from four to six hours per day day). However, growth will generally be stronger in brighter spots, as long as the sun is not too harsh.

If you’re keeping your blue chalksticks indoors, place it in the sunniest south-facing window you have. Supplement with a grow light if needed.

Water

Curio repens appreciates the ‘soak and dry’ method of watering. After each watering, let the soil dry out completely. Then let the plant sit in the dry soil for a few days before watering again. With this method, you’ll be watering around once every three to four weeks, depending on environment.

When you water in pots, continue until water comes out of the drainage hole. Don’t forget to empty any container trays so the pot isn’t sitting in water. In the winter, only water if the plant looks limp.

Underwatering will make Curio repens wilt and shrivel, but a quick watering should fix the problem. When overwatered, the plant will be discolored, mushy, and drop leaves. Repot it in dry soil and don’t water again for a few days.

Soil

Use well-draining soil for Curio repens that match its succulent needs. Specialty succulent and cacti soils work well. You can also make your own by mixing potting soil with perlite or sand (1:1 ratio). 

If the soil is retaining water, the leaves may drop or rot. Remedy this by mixing extra perlite or sand into the soil and testing the drainage.

Temperature

When it comes to temperature, your blue chalksticks demands warmth that matches conditions in its native habitat. At the lowest, it can handle 20°F (-7°C), but won’t survive consistent temperatures below freezing.

If you live in a cooler zone with frequently low temperatures, plant in containers to move your plant to a protected area as needed.

Fertilizer

Blue chalksticks benefits from a nutrient boost around once a year. More can be added during the growing season if the plant is not performing well. If yours is planted in the ground, fertilizer isn’t necessary.

Use half-strength or diluted liquid fertilizer. It should be low in nitrogen, which is the case for most specialty succulent fertilizers.

Maintenance

If your Curio repens outgrows its container, repot it in early spring. Choose a pot that allows room for growth and fill it with damp, well-draining soil.

While you have your succulent out of the soil, check the roots for any sign of damage or rot. After replanting, water regularly until it’s rooted.

Curio repens doesn’t have to be pruned. However, you can prune for cosmetic reasons if the plant is:

• Growing up instead of out
• Getting bigger than you want
• Damaged or leggy

With sterile clippers, cut off the unwanted stems at the base. Keep the area dry until it callouses over in a few days. Continue to water the chalksticks like normal.

It’s recommended to prune young parts of the plant so they won’t scar.

Propagation

Curio repens grows in clumps of small plants. This makes for quick and easy division. Remove your succulent from its container and gently pull apart the clumps. Be careful not to damage the roots. Replant each clump in its own container or space.

You can also propagate from stem and leaf cuttings. During the growing season, cut a leaf or stem off the plant. If any piece of the leaf is left on the main stem, it may not grow. Dip the cuttings in rooting powder and let them dry out for a couple of days.

Once your cuttings are ready, stick them upright in moist, well-draining soil. Keep the soil wet until the cutting has rooted.

Common Problems

Curio repens, like most succulents, doesn’t have many issues with pests and diseases. You should always be on the lookout for symptoms though. Catching them early on could save your plant.

Etiolation

Perhaps the most common growing problem for succulents is etiolation. No one wants to see that their once full plant is now tall with spaced-out leaves. The only cure for this is to cut off and propagate the stretched branches.

Etiolation is caused by a lack of sunlight, which is easily prevented. The stems stretch out looking for light. If you place your Curio repens in the sunniest spot possible, the stems should be fine.

Pests

Mealybugs and scale are the usual culprits when it comes to pests. Mealybugs will cause a black, sooty mold. Scale insects will make the leaves turn yellow and fall off. Other symptoms include wilting, discoloration, and ant infestations.

To remove mealybugs and scale insects, gently wipe them off the plant with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol. You can also wash or spray the plant with insecticidal soap.

Prevent mealybugs and scale insects by misting your succulent with a neem oil and water mixture. Diatomaceous Earth also discourages insects from invading.

Diseases

Most succulents and cacti are vulnerable to root rot. Caused by overwatering or poor drainage, rotted sections turn brown and mushy. The roots are in the most danger, but leaves and stems can rot too.

Root rot is easily prevented by ensuring that the soil drains well so the succulent is never sitting in water. Also, make sure you’re letting the soil dry out completely before watering again.

If your chalksticks is already rotted, you’ll need to amputate the damaged sections. Use a sterile knife or scissors to remove rotted stems, leaves, and roots. Replant the succulent in a new container filled with dry soil. After a day or two of healing, begin to water it normally.

Frequently Asked Questions