A lovely hanging succulent, string of pearls thrives in a warm, dry climate. They’re easy to care for as an interior houseplant, but they’re also a great succulent to grow outside, especially in zones 9 and up. However, in some zones where the temperature often drops below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s preferable to grow the String of Pearls in a container so that they can be quickly transported indoors for protection.
Can I grow string of pearls outside?
Although String Of Pearls grow on the ground in their natural habitat, they are a hanging plant for us. Mine is around 30 long and still growing in Tucson. About a year and three months ago, I planted it in a large pot with a String Of Hearts plant and a few String Of Bananas cuttings.
It’s amazing how much it’s grown! In Santa Barbara, one of my String Of Pearls plants was nearly 4 long. I utilized the other plants for cuttings on a regular basis, and they never grew to be more than 2 long.
Exposure
Outdoors, a String Of Pearls plant prefers bright light but must be shaded from direct, hot sunlight. Mine flourished in the early sun at Santa Barbara, which was occasionally obscured by fog. Any direct sunlight is prohibited in the desert. Mine is in a protected place on my covered patio, where the light is wonderful and bright yet the plant is safe.
Watering
When it’s cooler in Tucson, I water my String Of Pearls plant every 7-10 days, and twice a week during the hot summer months. As previously said, the patio is covered, so it does not get wet. They received less water in my Santa Barbara garden. Because I don’t know your growing conditions, it’s difficult to say how often you should water yours.
Because the stems of String Of Pearls plants are so thin, I find that they require more frequent watering than most succulents. They’re prone to root rot, so don’t overwater them. On the other hand, don’t allow them get completely dry for days.
Temperature
I’ve heard they can withstand temperatures as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit. In Santa Barbara, I never covered mine. This winter, we had one night with a low of 28 degrees and a couple more with temperatures hovering just above or slightly below freezing. Along with the other “fleshies,” I covered my String Of Pearls plant. As I mentioned in the video, the pearls appear plumper and happier now (late winter) than they did in late June when the temperatures were well above 100F. Is it possible to blame them?!
Can string of pearls grow in full sun?
String of pearls plants require a combination of direct and indirect sunshine for six to eight hours every day to thrive. During the milder morning hours, keep them in direct sunshine, then relocate them to a position with diffused, indirect light or partial shade during the harsher afternoon hours.
How cold can string of pearls tolerate?
Exposing your String of Pearls to excessive cold is another method to kill them. How low can the temperature go before your plant needs to be protected?
The String of Pearls is not a frost-resistant plant. It can withstand temperatures as low as 20°F (-6.67°C). Anything less, or any sustained frost, necessitates bringing your plant indoors or protecting it from the cold.
Be prepared to bring your plants inside for the winter or protect them from freezing temperatures if you live somewhere with harsh winters. Here are some tips for avoiding frost damage.
This past winter, my String of Pearls survived the outdoors in Northern California for the entire season. We do have frost and cold temperatures here, but nothing compared to other parts of the country where winter can be brutal. During the day, we have plenty of sunlight to keep the plants warm and happy.
Can I put string of pearls outside in the summer?
In zones 912, string of pearls is tough. It can be cultivated outside all year in zones 9 and warmer. It can be grown either in the ground to produce a carpet or in a container to drape over the sides. It’ll need some protection from the sun. Choose a location that only receives sunlight in the morning. This plant requires well-drained soil to avoid root rot. The best soil is sand. If growing in a container, use a cactus-specific potting soil.
You don’t have to water this desert plant if it’s growing in the ground because it’s a desert plant.
Allow the soil to dry out between waterings if you’re growing it in a container.
If the container is in a saucer, empty the saucer of any water.
Allowing your plant to sit in water is not a good idea.
Do string of pearls need drainage?
- Keep the strand of pearls at room temperature, around 72 degrees Fahrenheit, and keep them away from drafts.
- String of pearls, like most succulents, can withstand drought. Make sure you plant it in a pot with a drainage hole and a cactus-friendly potting mix. When watering, make sure to soak the soil completely, then let the topsoil dry completely before watering again.
A potted plant lends a touch of whimsy to a space. See our previous posts for more ideas on how to use houseplants as focal points:
Finally, our String of Pearls: A Field Guide will provide you further suggestions on how to effectively plant, cultivate, and care for string of pearls.
Are you looking for more succulents or cacti? With our Succulents & Cacti: A Field Guide, you can learn more about how to plant, nurture, and care for a variety of succulents and cacti.
Why are my string of pearls mushy?
The most common cause of a string of pearls plant dying is overwatering or too much moisture in the soil, which renders the pearls brown or yellow and mushy. To avoid root rot, string of pearls require the soil to dry out between watering sessions.
Strings of pearls, on the other hand, frequently shrivel and die because to drought stress caused by watering too lightly, not watering frequently enough, or because the soil has baked and repels water from the top, preventing water from reaching the roots effectively.
A dying strong of pearls plant can also be caused by excessive heat, too much sun, or insufficient light.
To revive a string of pearls plant, mimic the circumstances of the plant’s native environment by watering with a good soak and letting the soil to dry before watering again, and by planting string of pearls in porous and well-draining succulent and cactus soil to minimize root rot.
Continue reading to learn why your string of hearts plant is dying and how to bring it back to life…
Where should I put my string of pearls?
If kept indoors, string of pearls appreciate bright, indirect light, such as that provided by a south-facing window or a sunny part of your home. If kept outside, they prefer to be kept in a moderately shaded area during the summer and brought inside during the winter.
Can you grow string of pearls from a pearl?
Also, keep in mind that more light means your plant’s soil will dry up in a decent amount of time, which I’ve already mentioned is critical for these plants.
If you live in or near a desert, you should keep your plants away from windows facing west or south.
In most cases, these plants prefer a few hours of direct sunlight.
Grow Lights for String of Pearls
Unfortunately, I don’t have any bright windows where these plants can thrive. This is especially vital in the dark winter months! By putting a grow light, I was able to remedy the problem.
I had great results with the Sansi 70W Full Spectrum LED Grow Light I bought on Amazon.
My pearls hung about a foot below the light, which I suspended from the ceiling.
If you’ve had trouble growing these plants indoors because you lack the intense light they require to thrive, consider investing in a Sansi 70W Full Spectrum LED Grow Light.
It made a huge difference in my life.
Once you have enough light, you’ll be astonished at how easily they are to grow!
The Sansi 70W Grow Light, best of all, emits white light.
Not the dreadful purple light emitted by many LED lights!
You will not be sorry!
Winter
With less light in the winter, there is less growth. As a result of the lowered growth, watering is required much less frequently. In the winter, let your String of Pearls dry out a lot more.
However, keep an eye on the plant to ensure the pearls don’t shrivel or dry up.
You don’t want to go too far in the opposite direction and dry out the plant.
Do you want to buy a string of pearls? Etsy is one of my favorite and most convenient one-stop-shops for buying almost any plant. Today, have a look at the String of Pearls collection (link to Etsy)!
Propagation
It is fairly simple to propagate a string of pearls. You can either try water propagation and then pot them into soil once they’ve rooted, or you can plant them directly in the ground.
Sometimes you’ll be lucky, and you’ll see that your plant is already sprouting aerial roots, as shown in the photo below.
During the summer, I kept this plant outside.
Remove a few pearls from one end of each cutting for water propagation, and set that section of the strand in a vase with water.
It should have no trouble rooting.
When it comes to soil propagation, you have two options.
The first step is to simply bury a few inches of each strand in the soil mix.
Remove a few pearls from one end of the strand and bury it in the ground.
The other soil option is to simply coil each strand and place it on the earth’s surface.
Use a large staple or a paper clip to secure the strand in place so that it makes adequate contact with the soil.
For the optimal rooting, the soil should be kept somewhat moist.
I love water propagation since the roots can be seen and you can tell if it’s growing.
However, this is really a matter of personal preference, and either way will suffice.
If your string of pearls plant is towards the end of its life and you only have a few strands left, it is unlikely to survive in its current state and will continue to deteriorate.
The pot will most certainly be far too big for the remaining strands at that moment.
If your plant is dying, it’s advisable to cut your losses and take cuttings from the remaining threads.
BUT NOW IS THE TIME TO LEARN FROM YOUR FAILURE and figure out what went wrong so you don’t do it again.
To begin, plant the strands in a very small pot once they have been rooted.
When watering, keep in mind that you want the pot to be properly hydrated, but you also want it to dry rapidly!
Utilize the right potting mix recommended in this page, provide enough light for your plant, and use small pots to do this.
Still Struggling With String of Pearls?
If you’re still having trouble with String of Pearls, you might want to look into another option. String of Bananas has banana-shaped leaves and is MUCH more forgiving and easy to grow than a banana plant.
Hopefully, this post has taught you something new that will help you build String of Pearls once and for all!
Can I propagate string of pearls in winter?
When Should a String of Pearls Be Propagated? The Sting of Pearl’s growth slows dramatically during the winter months. Propagating these plants is best done in the spring or summer. If you live in a warmer climate, early October is also acceptable.