Senecio Rowleyanus, sometimes known as the “String of Pearls plant,” can initially seem dangerous. I can attest that when I first held one of these beauties, I was intimidated. I was concerned about taking care of the plant and became alarmed when the leaves began to shrink. What to do next eluded me. Fortunately, I have worked out how to take care of these plants after some trial and error, and they are actually not that difficult.
So why do pearl strings shrivel? Watering problems are the most frequent cause of withered leaves in String of Pearls. Insufficient water supply is what I mean by “watering concerns.”
Their little round leaves serve as water reservoirs, and when the water supply is depleted, the round beads start to shrivel. String of Pearls that are younger and less established require more water than mature plants do. Grown-up plants may survive longer without water and still remain rounded and voluminous.
While too little water is the most frequent cause of shriveled leaves, too much water can also result in shriveled leaves, which can further complicate plant maintenance. How can you determine whether your String of Pearls plant is receiving enough, too much, or the right amount of water?
How do you tell if a strand of pearls is losing its luster?
- Symptoms: The pearl tree’s leaves have a mushy feel and turn brown or yellow.
- Stress brought on by excessive watering or by soil that retains too much moisture are the two main causes.
In its native habitat in Southern Africa, string of pearls grows in rocky soil frequently on hill sides.
As a result, it has evolved specifically to thrive in soil that is very porous and quickly drains.
Ordinary potting soil can trap moisture around the roots of a string of pearls, causing the leaves to turn brown or yellow and feel mushy rather than strong and healthy.
Due of their adaptation to drought, string of pearls exhibit signs of stress when repeatedly irrigated, such as turning brown or yellow and feeling mushy.
Pots without drainage holes in the base and the use of saucers and trays that stop water from evaporating from the pot’s base are other factors that contribute to soil that is excessively wet for string of pearl plants.
Why is my string of pearls plant not growing properly?
Insects have established a home in your string of pearls if you notice your succulent leaves becoming yellow, falling leaves, sooty leaves, aphids, or mealybugs. Use an insecticidal soap or a water spray to get rid of these insects to mend it. Given that ants may readily spread these bothersome pests, treatment may need to be repeated.
Your string of pearls can be harmed by insects, pests, inappropriate sunshine, bad potting mix, overwatering, and underwatering. As we discussed in our previous article, giving your succulent the right care can help it thrive.
To maintain your succulent plant healthy and happy, be sure to take immediate action if you notice any of the aforementioned issues.
Watch this brief video to learn the best ways to take care of a String of Pearls plant.
What would a string of pearls look like if it was overwatered?
A string of pearls that has been overwatered is simple to spot because of the external alterations it will undergo.
You’ll be lucky to catch the early warning signs through thorough observation and find a simple solution. Here are a few examples of how overwatering in a strand of pearls manifests physically.
Root Rot
This one is a little challenging because, obviously, you can never view a plant’s roots without first pulling the plant out of the ground.
However, you should begin examining as soon as you notice any yellowing or browning aboveground. These symptoms are typically present when roots are decaying.
The plant’s base is another feature you can see. When parts of the plant appear brown and mushy, root rot may be taking place below.
Shriveled and Mushy Appearance
A spring of pearls that has been overwatered would appear withered. Because there is so much water present, the leaves have burst off as a result. The damaged areas will feel mushy to the touch.
The leaves’ bead-like structure will be broken. Some strings could even seem flimsy and limp.
These are warning indicators that you couldn’t ignore because they reveal so much about the health of the plant.
Yellowing of Leaves
Another sign of overwatering is the yellowing of the leaves. The cells burst due to excess water within for the same reason that they shrivel. The plant’s cells eventually die as a result of this.
The cells are dead because of the yellowing. The extent of the injury determines the level of yellowing. It’s crucial to be aware of the early indications of yellowing.
Leaves Turn Brown
After some time, yellow leaves gradually turn brown. This indicates that a part of the plant will eventually decay. In severe circumstances, the entire plant may perish if overwatering has gone out of control.
Browning brought on by overwatering and browning brought on by drowning can be distinguished from one another. Stress factors like root rot or fungus may cause the string of pearls to become purple.
When handled, overwatering-induced browning will feel turgid and slimy. If it were underwater, the brown leaves would appear dried out and shrunken.
Edema (Oedema)
When there is a lot of water intake, some cells do not burst. The cell wall of every plant cell is elastic and may extend to make room for fluids. On occasion, the stretching leads the cells to grow excessively.
Edema is the medical term for these blister-like formations (oedema). These spots can occasionally result in the leaves becoming yellow and eventually dropping off the plant.
How do you tell whether a strand of pearls is under or overwatered?
People frequently kill their string of pearls by unintentionally due to overwatering. They can last longer than you might expect without water because they are drought-tolerant.
Overwatered pearls will turn black, mushy, and begin to have an odd rough feel. The pearls may even rupture on occasion.
When pearls start to turn yellow, it means that the soil around them has been too wet and they have been resting in it for too long.
In this situation, carefully remove your plant from the ground and examine the remaining roots. You can spread it out on a piece of paper towel to dry if it needs to for a few days.
As you work, go through each strand and clip off those that are yellow or starting to turn yellow. The decaying threads are beyond repair.
Your plant should be repotted with fresh soil, and the pot should have drainage holes at the bottom.
Even better, because shallow is what they prefer, pick a clay bonsai pot for your string of pearls.
The Pot is Too Big
Make sure the plant does not have a pot that is too big for it. If the pot is overly large, the plant may stay damp for an extended period of time and eventually rot. In contrast to other succulents, String of Pearls have relatively tiny stems, which might make them vulnerable to decay.
The Plant is Planted Too Deep in the Pot
String of Pearls plants don’t need a lot of soil and don’t have deep root systems. Too much soil can lead to root rot since it takes longer for them to dry out and keeps them wet for too long. Additionally, if a plant is inserted into a pot too deeply (more than an inch below), it will not receive enough air, which might encourage rot and fungal growth.
The issue with my plant was this. Despite the fact that I liked the way the pot appeared, I understood that String of Pearls would not be the ideal fit for it. The rim was too thick, and the pot was too deep. Both of these were poor decisions for this kind of plant, and the plant started to suffer as a result.
Over Watering
Unlike other succulents, String of Pearls have incredibly thin stems. Their stems do not contain a lot of water. The tiny circular leaves are where they store water. These leaves may absorb so much water when they are overwatered that they physically rupture.
When they are overwatered, they may appear shriveled and mushy. As much as possible, aim for the plant’s base rather than the crown while giving it a nice drink. Do not spray the plant. The weather is really dry where I reside.
During the warmer summer months, I water the String of Pearls once a week, or even more frequently during a severe heat wave. When the weather gets cooler, I reduce my watering to every 10 to 14 days. Since I keep my plants outside, I primarily rely on rainwater throughout the winter when it rains more. During the winter, if it doesn’t rain much, I water once every two weeks.
Based on the climate where you reside, you need to determine your watering requirements. Overwatering String of Pearls is more frequently problematic than underwatering. To measure the soil’s moisture content and the air’s humidity, there exist instruments like moisture meters and hygrometers.
Under Watering
A String of Pearls submerged underwater will be simple to identify. The leaves will seem dried up and withered. In general, an underwatering issue is simpler to resolve than an overwatering issue. I frequently drown my plants because of this.
Give the plant a good sip of water, and it should start to look and feel better almost immediately. If your String of Pearls seem shrunken, you might need to increase your watering. For instance, increase watering to once every two weeks if you water once a month and notice the leaves beginning to shrink. Then observe the results.
Should I Wear a String of Pearls in the Bottom?
Between waterings, let the soil completely dry out, and check to make sure the container feels extremely light before another watering. If the plant is in a sunny area, it is acceptable to water directly through the foliage, but for more assurance, irrigate from the bottom up. Put the pot on a saucer of water so that it is covered by 25% of the water to ensure complete absorption and deep hydration. Every time you come to hydrate the plant, wetting the foliage will cause excess moisture to sit, turning the leaves yellow and rotten. For additional information, scroll down to “Common Issues.” Over-watering indications include quickly yellowing or shriveling leaves, mushy foliage, and eventually plant death. Deflated leaves, little to no growth, and a progressive loss in leaf quality are all signs of under-watering. Study the surroundings carefully; a position with too much sunlight can quickly dry up the soil and eventually blister the plant’s leaves. Find a place with less sunlight.
How frequently should string of pearls be watered?
1. Light
String of Pearls plants must be placed in a location where they may receive at least 6 to 8 hours of bright, indirect sunshine each day, whether they are planted indoors or outdoors. Again, though, you’ll need to cultivate this plant outdoors in an area that receives some shade.
If kept indoors, place your String of Pearls near an east-facing window or another location where it may get enough of bright natural light. If you reside in a hot, desert-like environment, you may also grow it close to a South or West-facing window as long as you keep the plant 5 to 10 inches away from the glass to avoid it from getting sunburned. To ensure they receive all the light they require each day, move them closer to a window or to a brighter location during the colder, cooler months.
The minimum number of hours of direct, strong sunlight that string of pearls plants require each day is six to eight.
If the lighting in your home is inadequate for your String of Pearls, you might want to put them 6 to 12 inches beneath a fluorescent light source for 12 to 16 hours a day to keep them happy.
The ideal indoor temperature for String of Pearls succulents is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the plant cool during the winter, at a temperature of about 5560 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid keeping them in places with drafts, air conditioners, or open windows since the cold air may cause the leaves to fall. String of pearls must be brought indoors throughout the winter since they cannot withstand frost.
3. Moisture
For String of Pearls to flourish, only moderate humidity is necessary. In actuality, since this succulent is native to arid regions, dry air won’t hurt it. Additionally, it can be used in virtually any typical household humidity situation (about 40 percent relative humidity).
4. Ground & Pot
Like any succulent, pearl plants require well-draining soil to flourish. Therefore, the first step to making your spring of hearts happy is picking a well-drained pot. Due of their exceptional drainage, terracotta and unglazed ceramic pots are the two most preferred options.
Another critical element in choosing the ideal container size for succulents is soil fertility. If the container is too big for the plant, the soil will remain wet for too long and the pearls lying on that wet soil will rot. Therefore, the pot must be large enough to allow them to fill it to the brim. Additionally, String of Pearls don’t require a deep pot because their roots are so shallow.  
The crowns of the pearls must remain level with the top of the pot or no more than 0.5 to 1 inch lower than the top; otherwise, the aeration will decrease and, in combination with the wet soil, the crowns and stems of the plant will rot more quickly.
You may practically start with any type of succulent potting soil because string of pearls are so easy to care for, however sandy soil is recommended. Follow this mixture with three parts high-quality potting soil and one part sharp sand.
5. Water
Be careful not to overwater String of Pearls because they are extremely sensitive to it. It is advised to do so every two weeks. The soil should be at least half an inch (1.2 cm) dry before the next watering to prevent overwatering. Reduce watering to once a month throughout the winter.  
Even though string of pearls are frequently planted indoors, they may still make wonderful outdoor plants. Depending on how hot the region is, you can modify the frequency of watering the plant or you may let the rain take care of it for you for outdoor String of Pearls.
Fertilizer, no. 6
Typically, succulents don’t require a lot of fertilizer, and too much fertilizer can also be fatal to pearl succulents. In the spring and mid-summer, they might receive fertilization once every two or four weeks while they are growing. Additionally, fall and winter do not require fertilizer. In addition, the fertilizer needs to be diluted so as not to overload the plant.