Senecio Rowleyanus is a well-liked evergreen trailing succulent with tiny, ball-shaped leaves. Curio Rowleyanus has been referred to as String of Pearls, String of Beads, and Pearl Necklace, among others. Its original home is the southwestern region of Africa. Each string may have dozens or even hundreds of leaves if it grows to a considerable length (a few meters).
A string of Pearls is a magnificent hanging plant that looks great in a wide variety of novelty and hanging pots, and as a result, it has gained a lot of popularity in recent years.
Succulents may be easily propagated from both leaves and seeds, as many of you who are passionate about these plants already know. What about String of Pearls, though?
It is possible to propagate Senecio Rowleyanus from its seeds and leaves, but doing so is extremely challenging and should be avoided. The majority of the leaves wither away, and usually, just a few seeds take root.
About Senecio Rowleyanus
The leaves of the Senecio Rowleyanus plant develop a pearly sheen around their tips, making them appear almost transparent. In appearance, they are emerald green and lagging in growth.
If you plant them so that their strings dangle over the side of the container or basket, they’ll seem like a cascade of green pearls. It’s quite a sight to see a large hanging basket stuffed with threads.
A plant’s eventual height and width are determined in great part by the available soil volume and string length. Plants, like many other living things, tend to grow in proportion to the size of their containers. If planted, the strings will continue to trail endlessly, spreading out roots wherever they may find soil.
Although growth slows slightly in the winter, String of Pearls may be enjoyed year-round. White flowers with a little pinkish hue bloom on short stems. Petals that curve backward, and individual flower heads that are packed with tiny blooms, each with its own pistil, forming a little swirl.
The blossoms of the Senecio plant are a favorite food source for many kinds of insects, including helpful predators like the ladybug and the hoverfly, which feast on the pesty aphid.
Propagating The Senecio Rowleyanus
A single Senecio Rowleyanus plant may propagate a large number of strings in a very short amount of time by cutting propagation. At our little nursery, we let the plant get to a respectable size with multiple strings before removing the longest of the bunch.
You can cut them into four or more pieces and let them air dry for a full day. The strands are then gathered into a bouquet, and the potted succulents are set on the soil. During the growth season, roots typically form after about 3 weeks, and new shoots begin sprouting after about a month.
While it is possible to try growing a new String of Pearls plant from a seed or a leaf, you should not put too much stock in the outcome. It is not impossible for leaves to propagate, but in our experience, they do not do it very well. In order to produce a new branch, they must first develop a strong root system.
The little branch must be rooted in the potting soil and given occasional watering. It also takes a long time to grow a new String of Pearls plant from a single leaf. Most leaves will eventually decay, so be careful.
Senecio Rowleyanus leaf, unlike most succulents, must be planted to survive. If you want to plant a leaf, just the stalk that joins the leaf to the main vine should go into the soil.
The flowering heads need to be pollinated so that new plants can propagate from the seeds. We saw that when a flower is pollinated, its cap opens into a huge puffy ball that is easily picked up by the wind. Those that won’t develop into adults keep their fluffy appearance but never bloom.
The seeds from the closed heads never sprouted, no matter how many times we planted them. The germination rate was significantly higher for the fluffy ones. The seeds should be planted immediately into the moist, succulent potting mix and watered regularly.
Wrapping the pot or tray in a plastic bag and tying it off will help keep the potting mix moist for longer if you don’t have time to water it every day. Senecio Rowleyanus has a germination time that varies from a few weeks to two to three months. In the spring and summer, the seeds germinate more quickly.
We advise only purchasing Senecio Rowleyanus seeds from a trustworthy seed retailer. In addition, I’ve seen commercials for Blue String of Pearls on other trading websites. There is no such thing as a blue Senecio Rowleyanus, so don’t bother spending your money on them. A string of Fishhooks and Senecio Blue Falls are the only two hanging succulents that even come close to being blue.
Location and How To Care For Senecio Rowleyanus
In spite of its demand for light, Senecio Rowleyanus prefers partial shade and should not be grown in direct sunlight. For optimal growth, this plant requires either direct sunlight or intense, indirect light.
Our pearls are nurtured in greenhouses outfitted with 30% shade cloth. A covered balcony, tree-shaded veranda, or similar setting may also go nicely.
Plants of this type do not appreciate direct sunlight and thrive best in a somewhat shaded outdoor location during the summer months. Although Senecio Rowleyanus can take some direct sunlight in the morning and even a bit more in the winter, its leaves and branches are susceptible to sunburn in the summer. The plants can endure temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius if they are shaded.
Even though Senecio Rowleyanus is not frost-hardy, it can survive in temperatures slightly above freezing (32F). Due to the high water content, they will be completely frozen from the inside out if it frosts.
Senecio Rowleyanus may be grown in a bright, window-side location if brought indoors. There is no need to worry about the pearls being damaged by the window’s light. To accommodate their preference for fresh air, you should regularly open the window.
Plant a String of Pearls in a container with a drainage hole since it will decay if it sits in water for an extended period of time. They should thrive in outdoor conditions, even longer periods of rain, provided the potting mix is high quality and allows excess water to drain away.
Until growing plants inside, water just when the potting mix becomes dry to the touch, or about once a week. They require more water indoors than outdoors since the potting mix doesn’t dry up as quickly, and there is no wind.
Pests
To make matters worse, Senecio Rowleyanus is a favorite target of several pests. This plant is host to aphids and mealybugs. The foliage and the flora are vulnerable to the mealy bugs.
Furthermore, snails, slugs, caterpillars, and grasshoppers have all been seen munching on our plants. Even while we’ve never seen it for ourselves, we’ve also heard that birds eat String of Pearls. If given the chance, possums in Australia will consume this plant to the ground.
Toxicity
Ingestion of Senecio Rowleyanus is said to be harmful to both people and animals, while only mild irritations have been documented. When ingested, it might potentially trigger nausea, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Senecio Rowleyanus ‘String of Pearls’ is a unique and interesting plant that can be propagated easily from both seeds and leaves. This makes it a great plant for anyone looking for something different to add to their collection. With a little care and patience, you can soon have your own String of Pearls plant to enjoy.