String of pearls is a South African succulent with nearly spherical leaves. The species was recently relocated from the vast genus Senecio (which includes not only succulents but also common weeds like common groundsel) to the new genus Curio, but it is still commonly known as Senecio rowleyanus in literature and the horticultural trade. This delicate evergreen perennial of the daisy family (Asteraceae) is native to the dry plains of South Africa’s eastern Cape. A variegated variant with wide white stripes and parts is also available (which might actually be S. herreianus which has slightly larger, elongated and striped round leaves and is also called string of pearls or string of beads).
The plant grows from weak surface roots, producing three-foot-long trailing branches on the ground that can root when they come into contact with soil, forming dense mats. It like to grow beneath bushes or between rocks, which provide some shade from the sun. The water-storing leaves are the size and shape of little peas (each to 1/4″ diameter), with a small pointy tip on the end and a thin dark green stripe running down the side. When compared to a conventional thin, flat leaf, the round form of the leaves limits the surface area exposed to dry desert air, reducing evaporative water loss but also reducing the surface area where photosynthesis may occur. The restriction of darker, translucent tissue on the leaf’s side serves as a “epidermal window,” allowing light to enter the leaf’s core and therefore increasing the area available for photosynthesis. Several additional succulents from southern Africa, including the related Senicio radicans, as well as baby toes (Fenestraria spp.) and Haworthia cooperi, have adapted to arid settings by growing underground and exposing only the leaf tips.
String of pearls blooms in the summer, producing 1/2 inch daisy-like flowers with long red stamens and vivid yellow anthers on 1 1/2 inch long peduncles. The little blossoms aren’t particularly spectacular, but they are fragrant, with a sweet and spicy, cinnamon-like aroma. The flowers are followed by a large number of seeds, each with a white cottony pappus that aids in wind distribution.
In frost-free climates, string of pearls is often grown as a houseplant or as an outdoor decorative. The trailing stems are commonly cultivated in hanging baskets to let them to fall downward. It could also be planted in a flat dish, which would allow it to keep its natural trailing growth habit. Indoor containers can be transferred outside for the growing season, but they must be acclimatized gradually to avoid sunlight, shielded from excessive rain, and brought back inside before frost.
This plant, like other succulents, is low-maintenance, requiring simply bright light, well-drained soil, and seldom watering. Overwatering causes root rot, which is the most common cause of death. Grow in a well-draining soil mix, such as cactus mix, or add inorganic components to potting media, such as small pea gravel, sharp sand, poultry grit, or pumice (up to 1:1 mixture). Because the plants will not grow a large root system, use a shallow container (and if they are unable to quickly remove moisture from a large soil volume, they will be more susceptible to root rot). Clay containers are preferable to plastic or ceramic containers because the material allows for evaporation through the sides, allowing the soil to dry up faster. Allow the potting media to completely dry between waterings, and water the plant more frequently in the summer than in the winter when it is not actively growing. Providing a chilly (55-60°F) rest period during the winter. In the summer, dry weather may encourage blooming. When the leaves begin to shrink, the plants need to be watered. Repot every year or two, and lightly fertilize in the spring. Plants may be infested by mealybugs or aphids, but they have minimal insect concerns otherwise. The leaves are mildly poisonous; ingestion may cause vomiting or diarrhea, and the sap of the plant can cause skin irritation or rash in susceptible people.
Take 3-4 inch stem tip cuttings to propagate a string of pearls. Remove 3-4 leaves from the bottom of the cutting and set it in or on moist potting mix (lightly covering the last few bottom nodes), and roots should emerge at each node fast. Until the roots are developed, mist the soil surface to avoid overwatering. Although this plant can be produced from seed, it is not widely available.
How do you get a string of pearls to flower?
Tiny white blossoms with a cinnamon aroma grow on a string of pearls. Reduce watering and keep the plant at a steady temperature of 60 degrees during the winter to enhance spring blossoms. Summer blossoming is often aided by cool and dry winter conditions. It will take around a month for the flowers to bloom.
Why are my string of pearls flowering?
For many gardeners, seeing a string of pearls flower in the summer is a welcome sight because it contrasts with their otherwise dry appearance throughout the year.
The reason your string of pearls is flowering is completely normal; it’s for reproduction, just like any other plant.
During the same time period as your string of pearls flowers, seeds will be produced and dispersed throughout your garden.
Because some plants can be difficult to establish on their own, don’t be concerned about plants sprouting up all over your well-kept decorative garden.
From late spring through summer, a string of pearls will only be in bloom for around a month.
Should I let my string of pearls flower?
With its little green bubbles along a slender stem, the succulent string of pearls evokes the plastic pop-apart beads of childhood dress-up bins. It can’t help but be odd. Continue reading to learn everything there is to know about this unusual succulent.
This succulent, sometimes known as “string of beads” or “rosary,” is a perennial vine belonging to the Asteraceae family that is native to southwest Africa. It, like most succulents, takes little attention.
You may easily propagate new string of pearls plants (or make your existing one look fuller) by planting cuttings in soil and letting them to take root.
String of pearls can produce tiny white blooms with brightly colored stamens in addition to its distinctive leaves. (Some think the blossoms have a cinnamon scent.) During the winter months, reduce watering and relocate the succulent to a slightly cooler place (about 60 degrees Fahrenheit) to encourage spring blooming.
How long does it take for String of Pearls to bloom?
The scent of the blooms growing on bent stalks is quite appealing. They smell like a mix of carnations, cloves, and cinnamon to me. I now live in Tucson, Arizona, in the desert. The aroma was alluring on those mild January days.
This year, one of my String Of Pearls plants bloomed profusely, although it didn’t bloom at all the previous year. This period of blossoming lasted about two months. Although my plants in Santa Barbara bloomed, they weren’t as numerous as they were here this winter.
Do string of pearls like to be misted?
Water when the top half of the soil is dry; string of pearls plants can benefit from sprinkling their tiny beads every now and then. Plants that are younger require more water than those that are older. Overexposure to sunshine may also contribute to shriveling.
How often should I water my string of pearls?
The string of beads, like most succulent plants, requires little maintenance. While cultivating a rosary string of beads plant requires little upkeep, you will need to supply it with some attention.
This drought-tolerant succulent can go without water for long periods of time. In fact, the plant’s ability to store water allows it to be watered thoroughly one week and then disregarded for the next week or two. Root rot can be exacerbated by excessive watering. Allow the soil to dry out for at least half an inch (1 cm) between waterings. Reduce watering to once a month in the winter.
In order to maintain the size or appearance of your string of pearls, you may need to prune it from time to time as part of its upkeep. This is an easy procedure to follow. Trim away any dead stems and pearls, as well as any stems with a lot of ‘beads’ missing. Pruning will aid in the development of fuller, more compact plants.
The fact that you can share the plant with others is much greater than its ease of care. You can take advantage of the plant’s easy propagation whenever trimming is required. Simply plant a clipping or two in a pot of soil and watch them grow.
The houseplant with the string of beads is a great conversation starter. It will delight your family, friends, and neighbors just as much as it will delight you.
Note: Because this succulent plant is regarded to be hazardous, it is recommended that string of beads houseplants be grown with caution in households with pets or small children.
What do Overwatered string of pearls look like?
Appearance: Mushy A shriveled spring of pearls is one that has been overwatered. This is due to the presence of too much water, which caused the leaves to burst. When handled, the affected components will feel squishy. These are signals that you must not ignore because they are very concerned with the plant’s well-being.
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!
Should I Bottom water string of pearls?
The first is when you notice that top-watering your plants is ineffective due to the soil’s inability to absorb water. This might happen for two reasons: either your soil is hydrophobic or your succulent is root-bound.
- What is hydrophobic soil, exactly? Hydrophobic soil develops when peat moss-rich soil becomes so dry and compacted that it repels water. When your soil becomes hydrophobic, the water simply passes right through the drainage hole. In the dirt, nothing is left. Bottom watering is a very effective way to treat dry soil in this circumstance. However, it is important to avoid soil becoming hydrophobic by paying attention to the frequency with which you water your plants so that your soil does not become too dry.
- The second reason is that your succulents may have become root-bound or that there isn’t enough soil left to keep the moisture in when you give them a drink. If this happens, you’ll see that the water simply flows down the drainage hole into which you’re trying to irrigate your succulents.
Succulent gardeners may also prefer bottom-watering versus top-watering for the following reasons: For one thing, they’re concerned that the water will wash away the lovely farina on the succulent leaves. Two, with succulents like string of pearl or string of dolphin growing in tight clusters, it might be difficult to tell if the soil has dried up or not, even with a moisture meter. You can leave them bone-dry and water them from the bottom to avoid over-watering.
Are string of pearls toxic?
String of pearls has toxicity classifications 2 and 4 in humans, according to the University of California, Davis. Ingestion of string of pearls may induce minor disease such as vomiting or diarrhea, which is classified as Class 2. Contact with the plant’s juice or sap can produce skin irritation or a rash, which is classified as class 4. If your child eats a string of pearls, contact the Poison Control Center or your pediatrician right away. Drooling, diarrhea, vomiting, and lethargy are all possible signs of ingestion of the string of pearls plant in pets, including cats and dogs. Some people may have skin or oral irritation as a result of contact. If you think your pet has eaten this plant, call your veterinarian right away.