How to Take Care of String of Pearls?
Best Ways To Ensure Its Wellbeing!

Introduction

The string of pearls plant is an elegant, beautiful, cascading succulent that will change any house’s look. It can grow very fast and is easy to propagate, but you must know how to take care of the String of Pearls plant to ensure it thrives in your home.

The String of Pearls plant requires partial shade, well-drained soil which is watered once the topmost soil is dry. It prefers temperatures between 50°F and 80°F (10°C-27°C) while it grows well in average humidity. It needs semi-regular pruning and little fertilizer.

String of Pearls 101

This delicate-looking succulent of the Asteracea family is known to have originated from Southwest Africa and was named after Gordon Rowley, the British botanist. The String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) is elegant and distinctive, with almost spherical leaves.

It is arguably one of the most popular houseplants with round leaves that look very much like peas.

The String of Pearls is usually displayed in hanging baskets with leaves trailing and cascading over the container’s edge. It is consistently grown indoors and can also do well outdoors according to the United States Department of Agriculture, in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 to 12.

Brief Summary of String of Pearls Plant

Subject	Description
Common Name	String of Pearls
Scientific Name	Curio rowleyanus
Other Name	String of Beads
Family	Asteraceae
Origin	Southwest Africa
USDA Hardiness Zones	9-11
Toxicity	Toxic to Animals and Humans
Pests That May Attack	Mealybugs, Aphids
Color of Foliage	Green
Soil Type	Sandy, Porous, Rocky
Light Needed	Bright, but indirect light.
Where to Plant	Both Indoor & Outdoor
Suggested Use	Ground Cover, Rock & Container Gardens
Type of Plant	Perennial Succulent

How Do You Care for a String of Pearls Plants?

Here are a few things you have to take care of to ensure good health for your plant:

Light Requirements

The String of Pearls plant needs a combination of direct and indirect sunlight to thrive. To achieve this, the best thing you can do is place it on a sunny windowsill.

If your plants are placed outdoors, place them under partial shade so that they can enjoy a little bit of direct sunlight without getting sunburned.

If you are struggling with providing sufficient light to your string of hearts plant, you may even consider getting a grow light! After all, it will aid the growth of your plant.

Ideal Temperature and Humidity

The String of Pearls plant will flourish in temperatures between 50°F and 80°F (10°C-27°C). However, it has low frost tolerance so don’t let it suffer because of harsh winter conditions.

Your plant doesn’t like too much humidity so avoid placing it in the kitchen or the bathroom.

Watering Requirements

To take care of the String of Pearls, you need to water it once in two weeks. But you will need to reduce the frequency in the wintertime to once every month. The plant classifies as succulent and stores sufficient water in its leaves. Please don’t make the mistake of overwatering it, as it will react poorly.

Though the String of Pearls is often grown indoors, it can also make an outdoor plant. But you will need to adjust the watering frequency according to how hot your location is.

Wait for the topmost soil in the pot to dry before watering again.

The best way to water your plant without overdoing it ensuring the top two inches of the soil is dry. If you aren't careful, you can lose your plant to root rot, so be careful!

The Right Amount of Fertilizer

Fertilize the string of hearts plant once every two to four weeks during the growing season between Spring and Summer. Otherwise, avoid feeding it in the dormant season as the plant won’t tolerate it well.

This succulent will appreciate being fertilized with a water-soluble fertilizer that is diluted to half its strength.

Pruning

You need to constantly prune your String of Pearls plant to maintain its health and aesthetics. You will cut off both dead leaves and stems. All stems that have lost a lot of beads must also be trimmed off.

Pruning will benefit your String of Pearls plant by allowing it to grow back in a better way while improving and maintaining its appearance and size.

Soil and Pot

Choosing a well-draining pot that is neither too small nor too big for the plant is essential. Unglazed ceramic and Terracotta Pots are the two most often used pot materials for this plant because the succulent needs good drainage to prosper.

You can start with any succulent soil because the plant isn’t fussy. You can even use a good cactus soil mix with confidence.

Go For The Right Pot.

The String of Pearls grows well in a pot with good drainage. Unglazed ceramic and terracotta pots are the best choice because they drain well

How Do You Get Your String of Pearls to Bloom?

Yes, you can help the plant blossom if you give it good care. The plant will produce tiny white flowers with bright stamens. To help the plant bloom, you can provide it with sufficient sunlight, adequate water, and the right climate. Don’t overwater it and lightly feed it during the growing season.

The blooming period starts around late summer to early fall, and usually ends in a month or two when wintertime arrives.

WARNING!

The String of Pearls'toxic nature can cause slight skin irritation to you and your household. Ensure that the plant and its fallen beads are out of the reach of your family and pets.

How to Propagate String of Pearls?

It will take roughly about 3 to 5 weeks for the root to grow and develop after propagation. Ensure you mist your cutting a few times a week and leave the propagated stem in a location with abundant indirect light. Only water it when you notice the topmost soil is dry.

You have to get a cutting from the plant, which is around three to four inches long. Then push it down in the potting soil and carefully press the cutting into the soil. Another trick is to allow the scab on the cut end to heal for a few days before replanting it.

It is straightforward and easy to propagate this plant.

What is the Best Time to Repot Your String of Pearls?

It is good to do this in the first month of spring. It is time to repot the plant if it begins to outgrow the container, becomes rootbound, and you see roots stick out of the potholes.

You don’t need to repot this plant frequently.

Once you repot the plant, you need to avoid watering it for a week. Once this period ends, you can begin hydrating your plant.

What Are Some Issues Faced by String of Pearls?

The most significant threats faced by this succulent are underwatering and overwatering. If you give it too little hydration, the leaves will look flat and dry. If you see such a sign, do your plant a favor and water it. If the leaves appear too mushy, and there is apparent root rot, you have surely overwatered the plant. The remedy of such a situation is salvaging the plant by removing damaged parts.

Where to Buy?

You can get String of Pearls succulents’ plants on Amazon.

Conclusion

The String of Pearls needs some care as required by most succulents’ plants. It can survive for an extended period without water because it is drought tolerant.

Overwatering can result in root rot. Ensure the top part of the soil is dry before the next watering. Cut back watering to once a month in wintertime.

Trim the dead part of the stems and pearls and those who have lost a substantial number of beads to take care of a String of Pearls and keep it thriving and alive.

Also, look out for symptoms and signs of String of Pearl’s problem to implement the propagation and repotting guidelines as illustrated in this article.

If you want to learn more about taking care of different plants, I recommend you head over and read our post about taking care of cacti plants!

Posted in: Indoor Succulents Gardening Tips String of Pearls Plant Toxic Succulents Trailing Succulents Asteraceae