Hi, I'm new to succulents and think I may have killed my little String of Tears. I watered it thoughly when I got it. Two weeks later it was really dry and light as a feather so I watered it again. But a week later it was bone dry again so I watered it and let it sit in a tray of water for about 30 minutes so it could soak up water. Bad idea? Do you think it will come back? Any advice is welcome. TIA!!

Some of the stems are green at the base, so it should survive. It didn't rot, it got too dry for too long too often. They are succulents but they dislike extreme dryness. they prefer the dry side of moist with only occasional severe dryness.

To give you some perspective: It would be hard to kill a plant like this, given the care you have described, after three weeks, unless there was something very wrong in the first place. This species is pretty tough and it tolerates a fair amount of abuse, or drought, or occasional wetness, as long as you don't make a habit of the above mistreatments.

I see one stem that looks totally fine and it should grow out from here.

Some general care tips for new succulent growers ...

Light is very important. The more, the better indoors.

Watering every 1-2 weeks should be fine in a very bright indoors location, provided the water goes away afterward and the pot is not sitting in a puddle. Watering from below (as you have described, for half an hour in a plate full of water) is totally fine as long as you make sure the water drains out afterwards. So empty the saucer a couple of times and that's 100% kosher. What's important is that the soil goes properly wet (saturated) and then has a chance to go dry or mostly dry before the cycle repeats.

to the forum!

Thank you so much! I generally have a green thumb but these guys are new to me so any advice helps. Fingers crossed for my little friend!