The String of Pearls plant, also known as the “pearls”, is a popular and easy-to-care-for succulent that can grow vigorously in a single season. To ensure its health, it should be placed in a well-draining potting mix, with direct sunlight in the morning and indirect light in the afternoon. Watering should be just enough to keep the soil moist during the growing season.
The plant’s preferred soil pH is neutral to acidic, and its bloom time is summer. Its native area is Africa, and its toxicity is toxic to humans and pets. To propagate and fertilize the plant, use a well-draining soil mix, which can be found at most garden centers.
The String of Pearls plant is hardy, fast-growing, and recognizable by its bead-like leaves that trail down each stem. To maintain its health, provide the right sunlight conditions, aiming for lightly-moist in summer and borderline dry in winter. Overwatering is a big no-no for String of Pearls plants.
To ensure proper growth, trim off dead stems and pearls, as well as stems that have lost a lot of their pearls. Pruning promotes a fuller plant, and plant the plant in a pot slightly larger than the rootball. Plant the plant into cactus compost or a 3:1 mix of soil-based compost and sharp sand.
Since String of Pearls plants are drought-tolerant, only water them when the soil is dry to the touch. It is essential to avoid overwatering and provide the plant with at least 6 to 8 hours of bright and indirect sunlight per day.
📹 SUCCULENT CARE TIPS | COMMON PROBLEMS OF STRING OF PEARLS | SENECIO ROWLEYANUS
The String of Pearls is one of the most fabulous succulents. While growing this succulent is not really hard, if not given suitable …
How to tell if a String of Pearls is overwatered?
Overwatering a String of Pearls plant can lead to various issues, such as translucent leaves, soft or mushy stems and beads, yellow leaves, mold or fungus growth, and foul smell due to rotting roots. This flowering plant is an ideal houseplant due to its unique aesthetics, low water requirements, natural purifier properties, and traditional medicinal properties. Proper watering is crucial for String of Pearls care, as overwatering is the most common problem with succulents. This guide will provide answers on how to water String of Pearls correctly.
What does an overwatered String of Pearls look like?
An overwatered String of Pearls can be identified by translucent leaves, soft or mushy stems and beads, yellow leaves, mold or fungus growth, and foul smell due to rotting roots. To fix this issue, reduce watering frequency to once every two weeks, allow soil to dry between sessions, and use the bottom watering method. A thirsty or underwatered String of Pearls can be identified by its swollen or wilted leaves.
Do String of Pearls need direct sunlight?
String of pearls plants require a combination of direct and indirect sunlight, with six to eight hours a day. They thrive in direct sunlight during the softer morning hours and can be moved to a diffused, indirect light or partial shade during the harsher afternoon hours. The plant prefers sandy soil, a cactus potting mix, or a three-to-one mixture of potting soil and sharp sand. To prevent root rot, plant them in containers with ample drainage holes at the base or in terra-cotta or clay pots.
Water the plant lightly during the growing season, then reduce it during winter. Flattening spherical leaves indicate increased water needs. Watering the plant once every seven to 14 days is recommended, with higher watering needed in hotter climates, outdoor areas, or porous terra-cotta pots. If the soil is dry to the touch, the plant is thirsty.
How do I make my String of Pearls fuller?
String of Pearls, native to Southwest Africa, grow up to 60-90 cm tall and require bright light with soft direct sun. Avoid direct sunlight or placing the plant against a window. Provide at least 15cm space between the glass and hanging position. Water the plant thoroughly, allowing it to dry out between waterings. String of Pearls are drought-resistant and do not tolerate soggy soil. Cut back on watering in winter, but water when the Pearls shrivel slightly.
Have an average to dry room humidity, with warm temperatures from spring through autumn and cool temperatures from winter. Use a cactus potting mix or a basic Potting Soil amended with Perlite, coarse river sand, or pumice for extra drainage. Feed a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month from spring through autumn.
Pruning the String of Pearls is essential for maintaining its appearance and size. Trim off dead stems and pearls, as well as stems that have lost a lot of their pearls. If the plant outgrows its pot, re-pot it in springtime using a pot with a drainage hole and fast-draining, sandy soil mix.
Propagate the String of Pearls by inserting 10 cm stem tip cuttings in moist potting soil, keeping the soil light moist.
Why can’t I keep my String of Pearls alive?
String of Pearls require proper sunlight conditions, aiming for lightly-moist summers and borderline dry winters. Overwatering is not recommended, as they handle being too dry better than too wet. When watering, give the pearls a thorough drench until water runs out the bottom and let them fully drip dry. Avoid using a spray mister and water gently. Feed the pearls when watering, but water according to your own conditions.
Water when the soil is dry, but don’t leave them dry too long, as this may result in shriveled or wrinkly peas. Leave the soil dry to the bottom of the pot, as this means the roots up top have been without water for longer.
How to make a String of Pearls happy?
It is essential to select an appropriate pot size and depth for the plant in question, taking care to ensure that the plant is not planted too deeply or at a distance greater than an inch from the pot’s rim. Furthermore, it is crucial to guarantee the presence of adequate drainage holes.
Is it better to bottom water String of Pearls?
The string of pearls thrive in well-drained, aerated, sandy soil and doesn’t require much watering. To prevent waterlogging and rotting, bottom water the bottom potted part for 45 minutes at least once a month. This helps prevent moisture build-up and fungal disease. Plant them away from walls, fences, and other plants, and use a terracotta pot for container growth. Wait for topsoil to dry between watering and keep the soil slightly moist during dormant winter months. If growing outside, ensure it’s in an area with equal sun and bright shade to prevent overexposure to direct sunlight, which can cause crispy, charred, and shrunken leaves.
What do overwatered strings of pearls look like?
Overwatering can cause shriveling of String of Pearls leaves, causing them to burst and give the plant a mushy appearance. To prevent this, reduce the watering frequency to once every two weeks, as the recommended amount for String of Pearls. Additionally, check if the soil mix is at least half an inch dry before the next watering to ensure proper watering. If your String of Pearls is overwatered, reduce the frequency accordingly.
Should I mist my String of Pearls?
To ensure the continued health of the string of pearls plant, it is recommended that a half-strength liquid fertilizer be applied once a month during the spring, summer, and autumn seasons. Additionally, it is advised that the plant be avoided during misting. Any straggly ends should be trimmed in order to maintain a tidy appearance. It is recommended that the plant be repotted every few years in the spring, and that cuttings be propagated in the spring or summer.
How do you care for String of Pearls indoors?
Senecio rowleyanus is a low-maintenance, beautiful, and easy-to-care-for indoor plant that thrives in partial shade and low humidity. It can be grown indoors in zones 8 or below, and can be placed in an east-facing or sunny west-facing window for intense sunlight. For outdoor growth, Senecio rowleyanus can be grown in zones 9 and warmer. The plant prefers well-drained soil, direct sunlight in the morning, and some shade. It can be planted in a container or in the ground, making it a versatile addition to any garden.
To ensure proper drainage, avoid overwatering and maintain a well-drained soil mix. Senecio rowleyanus can also be prepared with its own potting mix. Overall, Senecio rowleyanus is a versatile and beautiful addition to any garden.
How often should you water a String of Pearls?
String of Pearls are a unique and striking succulent plant with long beaded tendrils that can grow up to a meter long. They are perfect for hanging plants and trailing plants, with their growth typically ranging between 30-60cm long. To ensure healthy growth, it is recommended to water String of Pearls once every two to three weeks during spring and summer, and less during winter. They don’t require heavy feeding and thrive in free-draining soil, especially when growing in limited areas. Choose a potting mix like Tui Indoor Plant Mix for the best start.
📹 String of Pearls Care Guide // Garden Answer
ABOUT MEMy name is Laura and I, along with my husband, make gardening videos. I live in Eastern Oregon and garden in …
Hi. Love your articles and information. I want to share a repotting tip that I saw on another YouTube website (can’t remember which). If you put a pot of the same size as the original one that the plant is currently in into the new pot you are moving it to and then pack soil around the empty pot you can then remove the empty pot and there will be an almost perfect hole that the plant will fit in so you don’t need to potentially damage the plant packing soil around it. Your soil will need to be damp so it holds its shape but otherwise you can just drop the plant into the hole and you are basically done. I thought that was an awesome idea.
I highly recommend to repot or reroot plant into your own soil succulent mix, I used Happy frog,it’s quick draining and has nutrients,you can always had a little bit like a quarter mix,in a shallow hanging container,not by choice it grows in a east window,gets sun in the growing season.Doesnt take long to root them in water if your useing this method,it’s good to monitor them before adding soil,watching their health,roots grow long,I like perusal them making sure they don’t shrival like in the soil trying to root them in soil could be the downfall by far!
Hi Laura! Thank you thank you for this article. My husband got me a string of pearls a couple of weeks ago. I have been wanting one for so long. I propergated and put it with succulents on my dining table center piece with a lot of bright light and so far is doing awesome. I just learned how to fertilize so thank you. Your string of pearls is beautiful!
I have been trying to grow this String of Pearls for a few tries now with no luck!!! I am SO glad that I found your article, I learned that I have been watering WAY too much and without ANY fertilizer!! Also, I finally just bought a small pot of more already established plant and life was good…UNTIL I DROPPED IT TODAY!!! I didn’t do too much damage but want to make the most out of the few strings that broke off, but wasn’t sure the correct transplant rules. Now I know…thank you for this informative and simple article!!! 🙂
YAAAS!!! Please do more of these types of articles for different plants/succulents because as pretty as they are and as much as I try and take care of them, I end up killing them. 🙁 This format and the topics covered is extremely helpful. Thank you for your perspective and time in creating these gems for wanna-be gardeners like myself. 🙂 <3
These are my favorite! I looked all over for one and found this little local succulent shop and noticed he had one plant. He said it wasn’t for sale but he ripped a piece off for me and said “stick it in succulent dirt”. I did but it shriveled, turned brown and died. I was so sad! This is so informative. Hopefully I can find one in the future
Thank you so much for this great article! You inspire me!!! I bought crassula a few months ago and now it’s starting to bloom! Could you please share a few tips on how to take care of a crassula after blooming and encourage new pups! Thank you again for these very informative articles! Love them😍😍😍😍 you are the best!!!
String of pearls and alot of other strings are winter growers. I fertilize in January… I just twice and at no other time of year. 70% grit with 30% soil/perlite/peat moss mix. I water 2xs month during winter months. I water every 10 days in the summer months. Keep turning the tendrils into circles (like a bite of pasta) on the top of the soil and each node will root. This has been my experience here in thr Northeast and mine is THRIVING. 5 to 6 HOURS of sun on the top of the pot daily. Thanks for the repotting demo, thats one thing i am nervous about doing…mine is sooo long.
I recently got a sting of pearls and I’m so excited to see it grow! Only, it started to shrivel up and I realise now that I think it’s because I haven’t watered it enough after accidentally over-watering it lol. I’ve also moved it into the windowsill to give it more light so hopefully it’ll perk up a bit!
Perfect timing! I have 4 of these coming in the mail any day now. I killed my first one, and I think it’s because I had it in an arrangement with some other succulents and let the soil get too dry. So I’m excited to try again now that I know how to better take care of them! Thanks for all the helpful and inspiring articles!! ❤️🌵
Putting it into a much larger pot doesn’t actually”shock” it. It seems to delay growth bc when it goes into a much larger pot the plant will take time to produce/grow/concentrate on more root development to fill the pot and then it will grow its foliage. The same kind of thing does happen in the ground also. There are lots of rocks, roots, and other large chunks of things in the ground which can mimic the”feeling” of a pot for the plant. Since the ground has no real size limit the plant can grow larger faster.
This was extremely helpful thank you! I just bought a couple for outside and live in tropical Australia so it will be interesting to see how this works for the plant. One way the article could be improved is by also adding in a metric when you talk about things such as temperature. We don’t use the imperial system anymore so I have to stop the article and do a calculation on line. Apart from that, I love the way this information has been presented and I look forward to seeing more of her articles!
I actually cut a smallish square of shade cloth from some old ones I have lying around, then place this over the hole. I then cover this with about 1 to 1.5 inches of gravel in the base of the pot, to assist with drainage. It works a treat – since I’m not a coffee drinker! 😉 Loved this article but would’ve liked you to have shown us the watering (and fertilising) process.
Thanks for the great tips. I’ve had my string of pearls for about a year now and I just noticed in the last few weeks that the crown seems to be balding a bit and I’m hoping I didn’t over water it and cause any rot. That being said, this plant has been really healthy and still has tons of new growth. What do you recommend I do? How long does it take root rot to kill a plant? I’m hoping itll be okay. I usually water every 2-3 weeks.
Thank you so much for all the info! I just got my first string of pearls plant after much searching. I am in South Georgia and it is very humid and very sunny. I have it hanging on my porch where it gets morning sun only, wish me luck. I am hoping to see a good bit of growth, I think I will buy the fertilizer that you suggest.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for this article. I’ve watched it multiple times and learn something new each time! I have a question…. ?????Should you always re-pot a new string of pearls??? I have mine in the original container, doesn’t seem to be doing great. A little sad looking. I was scared of shocking it, if I repotted it too soon.
Thank you so much for this learning article on string of pearls. I appreciate so much the amount of information and care you share with us. I have always loved the string of pearls, I don’t have one at this time, which is a surprise, but I am not having any luck finding one at the stores that I have checked. I looked up the site that you linked but they were sold out!! I’ll keep trying, but I appreciate this learning article, thank you so much. God bless you.
This is such a helpful informative article! Thank you! I just purchased a String of Pearls about a week ago and I love it so much! I wonder if you could answer a question for me. Maybe you don’t know, but I thought I’d ask! Mine has a bloom on it. Just one thus far. I read somewhere that repotting a plant right before flowering can shock it and it won’t flower. Should I wait to repot it till after it’s done blooming? (And how long does that take? I can’t see any signs of new buds but maybe I just don’t know what to look for!) Thanks in advance! Love your article! I’m definitely going to check out more of them!
This is great. I hope you’ll do more on indoor plants. Especially one on string of hearts as I just bought one and I didn’t have much luck with my string of pearls at first, and want to make sure the hearts one will do better. Question: should you always untangle the strings when you first bring it home? I noticed that all the string plants at the garden center had their strings laying on top of the plant. Also what’s up with the long “spikes” that aren’t flowers? Thanks!
Thank you. I am needing help with my string of pearls plant. I’ve always wanted on & finally got one. It looked new with lots of new growth when I got it. I’m doing something wrong. The pearls are turning black. Did I give it too much direct sunlight? The water is hard to tell on this one because so many new pearls on it aren’t round yet.
Interesting. Good information. Thank you. I am going to have to find one of these and try growing it. Regarding succulents at large: I find it a little frustrating that most succulent plants in nurseries don’t list their temperature tolerances. I find that some of them will overwinter outside in north Texas, but I have to sacrifice a few to find out. Do you have a Desert Rose? It’s not really a succulent but it would go nicely with all your indoor succulent plants. It’s my most high maintenance plant since it won’t tolerate temps lower than 50. But, I just like it and there is a 10 foot beautiful one growing in a local Vietnamese nursery that I aspire to (not sure how I would get it in and out of the house, but will think about it later). Thanks again.
hello ! a couple months ago I bought 2 little string of pearl plants and for some reason when ever I water the plant, the water just sits at the top and then my plant gets moldy and dies a little. The potting soil I used is cactus and succulent soil so I don’t know why it is dying. Any ides how I could get my little string of pearls to be better ? love your Chanel by the way !!
Just found this! One question: once the circle of SoP cutting that you put in the smaller planter roots, does each node become another branch of the SoP, or will it just grow from the “down” end of the cutting, like how Sanseveria only grows from the end closest to the original root? Sorry if that doesn’t make sense
A couple years ago, I was at my local Tower Hill Botanic Gardens for the day, with friends, to see the daffodils. In the gift shop, they sell a few interesting houseplants. Decided to treat myself to a small String of Pearls. I’d grown to love them for years., but never saw any for sale, in my travels, so picked a real beauty up. Plopped the small 3″ pot into a footed ceramic vase /flower pot, & let the tiny strands hang down. It’s a container that has that soft green glaze, typical of its era, & found a spot on a large oval, dark stained wood table – in a spot around the edge where it got a good blast of morning light, & looked so pretty there. I’d envisioned it growing in that spot where I could easily see & admire it, where it’s tendrils could hang down, unobstructed, as it grew over the years. At some point – within a week or so, I started noticing it was losing strands. Eventually I realized it was being eaten by a mouse – or mice in my house! I moved it, but they found it. I moved it again, & they were still able to jump up there & finished it off within a couple of days. So a word to the wise – it may be a toxic plant, but I guess, a tasty treat to mice! I hope to find another one soon. I’d thought as a succulent, it would prefer a strong sun location, & had put it in a spot of bright indirect light, as it was new & didn’t want to give it full sun until it was well established, but had planned on hanging it in an East facing window, which might’ve been too much direct sun for it – especially in spring & summer, so glad I learned from this vid to protect the next one.
i bought a string of pearls in december but sadly i lt died very quickly in my home… :/ not sure what i did wrong. it was facing a southwest window and i sprayed it about once a week because i thought that the soil i so dry. but the pearls shrank and crumpled very quickly until there was no pearl left on the strings… maybe not enough light in winter? we had weeks of no sun, only cloudy and rainy. and unfortunately i have no morning light/ east facing window. i think i‘ll retry in the spring & summer months and buy a bigger plant that‘s already very strong and healthy 🙂 thanks for your tips!
If it’s straight peat moss most like plant will choke if dried out from warm sun,too fast drying out plant roots won’t make it of soil mix tightens up like straight pest moss,if you wanted the plant so much I wod suggest change out the soul soon as possible into a real succulent mix before the plant disacant itself.I had to reroot mine in water then replant into Happy frog soil mix in a small hanging pot.
Is the care for baby versions of succulents different than the care for a large plant? I have a little 3.5″ pot of String of Pearls. Will my little one need the same frequency of fertilizer as your big plant, for example? Just wondering if baby succulents need more food or water… I’ve always wondered this
Love the article your son is beautiful congratulations I wanted to make a plant wall and wanted to know if you had any suggestions on plants that take low-light two medium I went it to be very Lush and we all know you are the queen of lush I want lots of greens but a bit of color any suggestions I would appreciate it
Could you give me advice? I have two young string of pearls plants that are in hanging pots indoors. I wanted to know how I could make it bushier than long. An ideal trail would be 8-12 inches. The reason is because i have two cats and don’t want them to be able to reach them. I have two other toxic houseplants that they don’t touch, but they are kept on counters and grow upward. Can you give me some advice on what to do? Thank you.
When I was first getting back into house plants after about 30 years away from them (I had maybe 4-6) I saw many articles with people going crazy over them and I though “eh kinda ugly!” But now I want one so badly! Ha! It took me about 6 months to get there but I really want one. I am looking and I’m assuming they will be very expensive.
How about having an empty pot at hand the same size as the pot you want to replace? add compost to the bottom of the new pot, put the smaller size into the pot then fill the empty space around the small pot and it doesn’t matter if some goes into the small pot, take it out after you’ve pushed the new compost down a bit, then put the plant without its pot into the new pot and hey presto, job done. Good luck. 😉
Thanks so much for this tutorial, I’ve always loved this plant but never really had great success with it. Now I know why, was doing it all wrong. Even propagation technique. Everyone advises don’t fertilize, but all living things need what they need to thrive. Now I feel confident to invest in a larger plant, and be able to properly care for. Thank!
I noticed your string of pearls shaking/moving in the article. And i first got interested in the plant from a Facebook comment that said they did that. But I can’t find any info on it – anywhere. So I since thought the person was wrong or something…. But now that I saw the very thing they described on your pearls….. can anyone tell me if that’s a thing they do or not??
I love your articles and appreciate the forethought that goes into each one. Don’t love that they’re ‘sponsored’ because I value your opinions, rather than those filtered through a sponsor’s lens. I’d love to make one suggestion, very respectfully submitted. I spent years coaching executives and on air talent on their presenting skills. You have a wonder demeanor, very charming nature and a great approach to structuring your presentations. But like most women, you use ‘a lot of words’ and you speak quite quickly. No harm there, but you inhale and literally keep talking without pause or modulation until the breath has totally been expended. Try talking a full inhale and exhale after every ‘paragraph’. It gives your listeners a minute to pause, as well. Many presenters think they have to be saying something every second that eyes are on them. But you don’t, and listening to such uninterrupted output can get exhausting for the listener. Just try it! You’re doing such a great job.
After propagating or repotting do yo dampen the soil at that time or do you wait a few days for the plant to adjust then water? Ive had a problem propagating succulents from cuttings where i have research and the say to water and even tnough i only watered the plant once, in a week it looks like ive overwatered. Please help! And thanks!
Can u pls answer this I have a succulent and I was propagating them and 1 of it’s leaf I pulled it out and the leaf had a small chunk of the mother plant on it and I’m REALLY worried that the mother plant will die because it’s so big(well it’s still in the pot) it has sooo many babies I would be sooooooo saddddd if the mother plant dies So can u pls tell me if it will die or not and so I can stop worrying And if it dies can u pls tell me what I can do to save it P.S. PLS Tell meeeee😖😫😭🥺😭😭😭😭😭😭.