String of Pearls: How to Grow and Care for Them

In no way intending to discredit any other succulents. The string of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) is one of the most striking. It’s a stunning piece that draws attention with its cascading vines and pearly, frothy leaves, whether it’s draped across a desk or bookshelf or hung in a bright window. Despite their fragile appearance, succulents are a hardy and low-maintenance species of plants. Put this one in a prime location besides your window, and you won’t be disappointed. What follows are instructions for nurturing this unique plant.

String of Pearls: What you need to know

Senecio rowleyanus, often known as string of pearls, is a succulent plant that is found in the southwestern part of the African continent. It can withstand dry conditions and thrives when hung in a sunny window because to its pea-shaped leaves. As long as there is some light shade, it may also be grown outside.

Related tending is required for String of Beads (Senecio herreianus), another similar houseplant. While the leaves of the String of Pearls plant are spherical, those of the String of Beads plant is more in the shape of teardrops.

Keep this plant in a location that is inaccessible to cats and dogs; it is toxic to them and can cause moderate skin irritation in people as well.

How To Care For String Of Pearls

If you must keep your string of pearls indoors, put them beside a south-facing window or somewhere else that receives lots of natural light. They do well in a somewhat shaded environment during the warmer months and inside during the colder ones.

Like other plants, string of pearls can suffer in the presence of drafts, so be sure to keep them somewhere warm and dry. A possible indication of frost damage is leaf drop.

Over-fertilizing your string of pearls in the spring and summer will damage your plant, so be careful. During the dormant periods of fall and winter, when plants are less intent on growing, you should stop doing this.

Given its drought tolerance, string of pearls does best when left to dry out between waterings. If the top half an inch of soil is dry, then it needs watering; if it is wetter than that, you have overwatered. These bulbs will retain their juiciness and shape if the pearly, little leaves are receiving enough supply of water. Over or under-watering can cause a change in form.

Our recommendation is to use succulent potting soil or to create your own by combining three parts potting soil and one part sand. It’s not only the pearls themselves that matter, but the box they’re kept in.

Terra cotta is ideal because it allows water to drain easily, but the pot must also be large enough to allow the vines to cascade over the edge. So that the vines don’t have to stretch up and then flow down, your plant’s soil should be practiced at the same level as the top of the pot. You should try to make things simple for them.

You want the vines to trail out of the pot, not rest on the soil, so once you’ve got the height right, make sure there isn’t too much area between the center of the plant and the overflow.

Propagation of String of Pearls

Propagating a string of pearls is similar to propagating other succulents in that it requires little effort. Slice off a section of the vine that is around four inches in length. If you push the cutting into potting soil and leave it there, roots will sprout from the bottom.

A few months may pass before the roots begin to show, so in the meanwhile, keep the cutting in a bright, indirect light spot and spray it once or twice a week. As soon as the top inch of soil is dry, that’s all the water they’ll need after the first few weeks.

What you need to do to make your string of pearls bloom

It takes time, effort, and luck for a pearl necklace to bloom. It blooms for approximately a month in the summer, but how well it was looked for during the winter determines how productive that flowering period will be.

During the fall and winter, water less often and aim for a constant 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The little white blooms will bloom more profusely in the summer if the weather is colder and drier in the winter.

String of pearls: potential problems

If your pearl-like leaves start appearing a touch shriveled, they might be responding to their water levels—you’re either overwatering or underwatering. In addition to regular watering when the soil is dry, spraying the string of pearls plant every once in a while helps keep the tiny beads from drying out. Younger plants generally need more water than older ones.

Overexposure to the sun is another possible cause of shriveling. Although they are a beautiful hanging window plant, if they are receiving too much sunshine, they could wilt or start to appear burned, so consider transferring them to another spot.

If their leaves start falling, they might be reacting to a drafty environment, so take care to maintain their temperature steady. Make the pearl strand the center of attention in your succulent collection, giving others something to strive for.

Conclusion

Growing and taking care of a string of pearls is not as difficult as it may seem. With the proper knowledge and tools, anyone can do it! Just remember to give your plant plenty of bright light, well-draining soil, and moderate watering, and you’ll be on your way to growing a beautiful string of pearls plant of your own.

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