String of pearls, also known as Curio Rowleyanus, is a unique trailing succulent. If I had to name one plant that has my heart, it would be this one. I think this is the cutest house plant!
This plant originates from the southern tip of Africa, and its uniqueness makes this plant a favorite among plant parents. String of Pearls is a creeping succulent with green balls for leaves (they look like peas)!
In this post, I am going to share some tips on caring for a string of pearls. I will also share some other species of this plant family at the end of the post.
Related: Love plants? Learn how to care for jade plants, rubber trees, snake plants, Chinese mini plants, fiddle leaf figs, peace lilies, callatheas, spider plants, air plants, monstera plants, Christmas cactus, poinsettias and golden pothos.
Potting
When you find a string of pearls at the garden store, what happens next? You’ll need some well-draining succulent soil mix, which you can buy at most garden centers. It has a mixture of clay and sand.
Sand helps aerate the soil and allows water to flow more freely through the soil. I also like to add some extra perlite to my succulent soil.
Perlite is found in nature and is actually formed by volcanic eruptions. Perlite is also great for helping your soil drain faster.
For containers, get one that is about the same size (definitely not smaller) or slightly larger than the plastic container it came in (it will probably come in a plastic hanging basket). . I like to use terracotta pots or clay pots.
The most important aspect when choosing a pot is that it should have a drainage hole so that the water can escape. If the water can’t drain out of the pot, there’s a good chance the plant will die from waterlogging.
Next, mix your soil with a few scoops of perlite and it’s ready to go. Take your pot and add some soil to the bottom.
Next, carefully remove your string of beads from the pot by placing your hand over the plant, gently shaking the pot until the plant comes out.
You may lose a few pearls (leaves) in the process, but that’s okay! Place your plant in the pot and make sure the plant sits flush against the edge of the pot. I placed the studs about 1cm below the rim and the pearls are all above the rim.
Do not let the plant sit below the edge of the pot as water can collect on top of the leaves.
The plant likes to drink light and like to walk on the edge of the pot. Once you have planted the crown correctly, remove excess dirt and backfill from around the plant. I like to use a cop stick to push down the dirt around the plant.
Once you’ve backfilled the dirt, the wire or beads will need to be tangled (especially if you have a long one). Be patient during this process. If I pull a stem a little, it can break!
Carefully find the whole stem and gently twist it so that it hangs over the pot. I go around the whole plant until all the stems have been chased. You’ll probably lose a few more pearls during the process, but that’s okay!
Note: Although this plant has many wonderful properties, the strings of pearl plants are toxic to humans and pets if ingested. If any petals (leaves) fall from the stem to the floor, I will quickly pick them up so my dog doesn’t eat them.
the light
String of pearls love a bright and sunny environment in your home. An east or west facing window will work very well. I put mine right near the window so they can get a lot of light.
Try to keep it near any vents or drafty parts of your house (near the door that opens in the winter, etc.). It will not like any kind of extreme air temperature blowing over it. During the hot summer months, you can also place it under a sun porch or covered porch to get bright indirect light.
Direct sunlight can burn your plants, so try to avoid leaving them in the sun for hours or they will burn. When the temperature starts to drop, bring your plant indoors.
Before bringing it indoors, always check for bugs or insects. As I was bringing my succulents off my covered porch in late summer I found a baby black widow hiding under a leaf. It happened to me again a couple of years later!
My lesson was learned quickly so inspect any plant thoroughly before bringing it back into your home.
give water
Figuring out a watering routine and knowing your plant’s schedule will really pay off. Strings of pearls do not like to soak or sit in water for long periods of time. I like to say that I “wet” my pearls rather than watering them.
It helps to remind me that they don’t need too much water. The plant has a shallow root system, so usually the top half of the pearl pot needs water. I use a small pot that holds water and lightly water it all over the plant.
Overwatering the string of pearls will be the biggest killer for your plant. You can tell if a plant is overwatered by the leaves or if they lose their deep green color and become slightly translucent and soft.
Keep this in mind if you are buying a new string of beads. You want a plant with dark green pearls and soil that isn’t waterlogged.
Not sure when to water your string of pearls? It really depends on where you live and the humidity level. Dry climates will require more water and vice versa.
You can test the soil by sticking your finger in a patch of soil to check the moisture level, or by lifting your pot to see if there is any weight from holding water in it.
Make sure your water temperature is mild enough to cool (think rainwater temperature). Pearl string will not tolerate extreme cold or hot temperatures when watering.
They like to be watered frequently in the spring and summer months (during their growing season), but shy away from frequent watering in the fall/winter months. String of pearls likes to dry but bone does not.
How can you tell when a bone is dry? Dirt around the circumference of the pot will be removed from the pot. If this has happened, don’t worry, water it and next time try to water your plant sooner so the dirt doesn’t dry out too much.
If this happens repeatedly, it can affect the health of your leaves and plant roots. Another aspect of root health is root rot. This can be harmful to your plant.
Root rot occurs when roots sit in water for too long and eventually rot and die. It can be a very sad and slow death for a string of pearls.
If you suspect that your plant has been sitting in water for too long and its roots may be rotting, take it out of the pot to inspect the roots. If the roots are strong and grayish white, it is very good. If they are mushy and look black, your plant may have root rot.
If it hasn’t gone too far, you can try cutting off dead roots and leaving healthy, strong roots. Keeping the plant in fresh (not waterlogged) soil will also help.
What is the best type of water to use? If you are using tap/city water, you can leave your tap water in an open container for 24 hours to allow some of the chemicals to evaporate. After 24 hours, the water is clean and healthy for your plant!
Fluoride and chlorine can build up in your pearls’ root system, so this method of leaving your water outside will pay off in the long run. Using filtered water or collected rainwater (if you can) is also a great option!
If you have well water, your plant will love it. My friends who have well water have the best plants.
To preach
You can stretch a string of beads three ways! The first method is the use of water. First, find a healthy stem. I like to use at least 4-5 inch stems.
Using clean scissors or pruning shears, cut off your stem. Remove about 1.5-2 inches of beads from the bottom of the cut.
Leave the stem for 24 hours to allow the freshly cut callus to form at the tip of the stem. Make sure it stays out of sunlight during this healing period.
After 24 hours, place your fresh cutting in water. The cut side can be placed in water with the leaves removed. Place the remaining beads above the waterline.
Be sure to change the water and rinse your pot whenever it becomes cloudy. Keep in a sunny place in your home. After 3-4 weeks you should see little roots sprouting from the cutting!
Wait until the roots are at least 1 inch long before you plant them in the dirt. Once it’s ready to pot, use a small terra cotta or clay pot with well-draining cactus/succulent soil.
I like to use a chopstick to make small holes for the new rooted plant. Moisten lightly and your plant should begin to grow.
The next method of propagation is to use dirt. Using the methods above, you would cut your plant, wait 24 hours, and instead of placing it in water, place your plant in soil (well-drained, succulent soil).
Use a chopstick (or pencil) to tuck the dirt around the plant to make a fresh hole for your new cutting. I like to water my plants to keep the soil slightly moist and not bone dry.
After about three weeks, I give the plant a very gentle tug to see if it is taking root. If the new cutting stays in place, I know new roots are forming. It’s always interesting! If your plant has started to form roots, it is ready to be watered.
Another way to expand your string of beads is by layering. I find this method the most effective. Take a fresh pot of succulent clay, mist it, and then take a nice long cutting from your string of beads. Roll or coil the cutting over the top of the dirt on the pot.
Fertilize
I like to fertilize my plants once a month during the growing season (spring and summer) using a balanced fertilizer. When I mix my fertilizer, I use half the manufacturer’s recommended rate.
I like liquid fertilizer because it mixes so easily with water and I don’t have to worry about it not being evenly distributed among my plants.
One thing I love about this type of plant is the variety. Pictured above is a “turtle string” — the turtles look like the backs of small turtles. “Watermelon strings” are plump and have leaves that resemble watermelons (pictured below).
Aren’t they unique and whimsical? I hope you enjoy these plants as much as I do! –.to go n