How to care for a string of pearls

How to Grow and Care for String of Pearls Plant

String of pearls plants are unique vining succulents that are easily recognizable by their tiny pea-shaped leaves. The leaves grow on trailing stems that gracefully spill over the sides of planters and hanging baskets much like the string of rubies succulent. You can use these stems to propagate the plant, which is a robust and quick grower—gaining about five to 15 inches per year—but does not live long without propagation.

Though typically cultivated globally year-round as a hanging plant, in its east African natural desert habitat, string of pearls plants are terrestrial and form a ground cover. You can plant it any time but will have the most success in the warmer months. In addition to its unique sphere-like leaves, the string of pearls produces white flowers in spring with a pleasant cinnamon-like scent; although, it rarely flowers indoors. This plant is toxic to humans and pets.

Click Play to Learn How to Properly Grow String of Pearls Succulents

Common Name	String of pearls, string of beads, string of peas, rosary vine
Botanical Name	Curio rowleyanus (formerly Senecio rowleyanus)
Family	Asteraceae
Plant Type	Succulent
Mature Size	1-2 ft. tall, 1-2 ft. long
Sun Exposure	Full, partial
Soil Type	Sandy, well-drained
Soil pH	Neutral to acidic
Bloom Time	Summer
Flower Color	White
Hardiness Zones	9-12 (USDA)
Native Area	Africa
Toxicity	Toxic to humans, toxic to pets

String of Pearls Care

The string of pearls plant is not particular about its conditions. Given enough light and fertilizer, it will grow quite vigorously in a season. A single plant will survive for about five years if properly cared for, but if you propagate new plants from stem cuttings, you can effectively keep it alive indefinitely.

To enable this plant to shine, consider growing string of pearls with multiple stems in a hanging basket. Its branches can also be intertwined, and you can also grow it in a dish, allowing it to form a terrestrial mat the way it does in the wild. String of pearls has no significant disease problems, and it doesn’t require much care. It does, however, need plenty of light all year.

The Spruce / Kara Riley The Spruce / Kara Riley The Spruce / Kara Riley

Light

String of pearls plants thrive on a combination of direct and indirect sunlight, totaling between six and eight hours a day. They're best when kept in direct sunlight during the softer morning hours, then moved to a spot that gets diffused, indirect light, or partial shade during the harsher afternoon hours.

Soil

Any regular succulent potting soil is acceptable for your string of pearls plants, but sandy soil is best. A good choice for this plant is a cactus potting mix. Alternatively, you can use a three-to-one mixture of potting soil to sharp sand. These plants are susceptible to root rot, so make sure their soil is well-draining. Plant them in a container that boasts ample drainage holes at its base. Terra cotta or clay pots can also help wick away excess moisture from the soil.

Water

Keep the plant's soil lightly moist during the growing season in the spring and summer, then reduce water during the winter months. If you notice the succulent's spherical leaves flattening, it's a good indicator that the plant needs more water. You will likely need to water your plant once every seven to 14 days. Plants in hotter climates, outdoors during the summer, or in porous terra cotta pots might need water closer to every seven days, all depending on rain frequency and temperatures. If the soil is dry to the touch down to the first one-half inch of soil, that's a good sign your plant is thirsty.

Water thoroughly; you're done watering once the water drains out of the bottom of the pot. Succulents need good drainage and be careful not to overwater your string of pearls plants. Succulents are drought-resistant but cannot survive with wet, soggy roots.

Temperature and Humidity

String of pearls plants thrive in warm temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit from spring through fall, and it grows best with winter temperatures, ranging from 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This plant prefers low humidity, so avoid placing it in any already-humid areas of your home, like a kitchen or bathroom.

Fertilizer

Feed your string of pearls plants biweekly during the growing season with a balanced liquid or water-soluble fertilizer, diluted to about half strength. During its dormant winter period, only feed the plant every six weeks.

Types of String of Pearls Plant

There are several closely related plants to String of pearls that feature differently shaped leaves, looking more like bananas, teardrops, or watermelons with stripes. These close cousins in the same daisy family include:

'Curio radicans': Fuller and not as trailing as string of pearls, this varietal has tendrils with banana-shaped leaves; commonly called string of bananas or string of fish hooks
'Curio herreanus': Commonly called string of watermelon or string of beads, this trailing plant has tiny melon-shaped leaves with purple striping.
'Curio citriformus': This varietal has both erect and trailing stems filled with plump, teardrop leaves and small white flowers that bloom between late summer and winter.

The Spruce / Kara Riley

Pruning

Using sterilized scissors or pruners, trim off any dead stems and pearls, as well as any stems that have lost a lot of their leaves. If your plant is getting leggy or too long, you can trim those branches and propagate new plants from the cuttings. Pruning will promote fuller, bushier plants.

Propagating String of Pearls Plant

String of pearls plants propagate easily via stem cuttings. To keep your plant alive for years, you'll want to take cuttings and make new plants. Spring, summer, or early fall (in warmer climates) are good times to propagate string of pearls plant. It can take three to four weeks for the plant to take root. You can also plant seeds, although it is often less successful. Here's how to grow plants from cuttings:

To propagate string of pearls plant, you will need sterilized pruning snips or scissors, a four- or six-inch pot, and cactus or succulent soil.
Cut several four to five-inch stems just below a leaf node. Remove the last two leaves. Lay out the stems for about one to two days before planting. The cut ends and areas where the leaves were removed need to callous over and get dry.
Fill a pot with soil. In the center, make a hole where you will plant the stems.
Place the cut ends into the hole at least an inch deep. All leaves should be above the soil. Pack the dirt around the stems. Wait a few days before watering thoroughly.
If indoors, place it in a bright spot. Outdoors, the plant does better in partial sun. Water the soil when it dries up.

How to Grow String of Pearl Plant From Seed

One of the reasons why strings of pearls plant is difficult to grow from seeds is that the flower heads need to be pollinated to produce seeds that will germinate. A big unknown is whether the seeds are viable, which you won't know until you plant them.

Plant the seeds in a fast-draining succulent or cactus potting mix. Make sure you never let the soil dry up. If you don’t think you can maintain soil moistness, put a clear plastic bag around the growing pot. The germination rate of the seed can be a few weeks to two to three months, and seeds germinate quicker in spring or summer.

Potting and Repotting String of Pearls Plant

The ideal time to repot your string of pearls plant is at the beginning of spring. Use a fast-draining succulent or cactus soil mix. Get a well-draining pot with ample drainage holes. Terra cotta and unglazed ceramic pots are ideal for succulents. The pot should be the next size up from the pot you currently have, usually two to three inches larger and deeper. Add the soil to the bottom of the pot, gently remove the root ball from the old pot and center it on the bed of fresh soil. Fill the soil around the root ball up to one inch below the lip of the pot.

You can repot these plants annually but only a few times before they eventually begin to die back. After a few years, it's better to propagate a plant from new cuttings rather than trying to preserve and replant an older plant.

Overwintering

If you live in zone 8 or below, bring your string of pearls plant indoors during the winter; it will not survive a freezing winter outdoors. If you want your plant to eventually bloom, you will want to give it a cool-down period with temperatures just above freezing between 35 to 44 F. Keep the plant in a non-heated room that gets at least six hours of light, providing it the cool period it needs. Water very rarely—about once per month during the dormant period.

Common Pests

Aphids, mites, whiteflies, gnats, mealybugs, and ants are common bugs attracted to string of pearls. Insects often overtake it if the plant is unhealthy. Poor drainage, high humidity, overcrowding, and insufficient light can weaken a string of pearls plant's defenses. Avoid overwatering, mist the plant with neem oil solution, move the plant to a well-ventilated area, and inspect your plants regularly for pests. Neem oil and insecticidal soap are two organic pest control methods for insects on your plant. Try these methods before going the route of synthetic pesticides.

How to Get String of Pearls Plant to Bloom

Overwintering is essential if you want to see your succulents bloom. String of pearls bloom in summer, producing one-half-inch daisy-like white flowers with long red stamens and bright yellow anthers. The small flowers are not showy but are fragrant with a sweet and spicy, cinnamon-like scent. Give the plant a cool-down period, leaving it relatively dry in the winter months. Once the growing season begins in spring, fertilize twice a week. Although it rarely flowers when kept indoors, it can bloom if it's fed regularly and has sufficient water and light. A bright windowsill with several hours of direct sun is adequate. When it flowers, its blooms last a month or so.

Common Problems With String of Pearls Plant

String of pearls plants rarely have issues with pests and diseases, making them great to keep. The biggest problem this plant has is usually related to too much or not enough water.

Shriveling Leaves

If your plant's leaves are wilting or withering, it can be a sign of underwatering or overwatering. If you've frequently been watering and the soil feels soggy, you are watering too much, or the plant needs better drainage. Water once every seven to 14 days; the top inch of soil should feel dry before watering again. If the round leaves flatten, it's a sign you should increase water frequency.

Yellowing or Graying Leaves

Yellowing or gray-colored leaves are often caused by insect activity. Regularly treating the plant with neem oil should keep insects at bay.

Mushy Stems and Leaves Turning Purple

Overwatering is another reason for mushy stems and leaves; it causes the root to rot, making it easy for soil-borne fungus to set in. Root rot can kill the plant. Prevent this condition by watering on a regular schedule. To save the plant, you can let the plant dry out and see if it recovers. If the plant is too far gone, you can cut off any remaining healthy stems and propagate them in a small pot with clean soil. Discard the infected soil and root. Sterilize the pot before using it again.

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

String of Pearls, Senecio rowleyanus. University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension
Are Succulents Safe to Have Around Pets? ASPCA
Senecio rowleyanus. Missouri Botanical Garden.

Tips for Caring for String of Pearls

This post will teach you how to care for string of pearls plants. Caring for string of pearls—that’s the succulent that looks like peas—isn’t that difficult if you follow just a few steps.

How to Care for String of Pearls

The string of pearls plant—or Senecio rowleyanus, and also referred to as a string of beads or string of peas plant—is a succulent with stunning strings of round, bead-like leaves. The leaves actually look a lot like green peas, but the long, skinny stems the leaves grow from make it look a bit like a pearl necklace.

A string of pearls plant is easy to take care of if you give it the right growing conditions. Unlike the more common houseplants pothos plants and snake plants, string of pearls can be a bit more demanding about their lighting conditions. However, if the plant is happy where it is, it will grow quickly and beautifully!

(If you’re looking for hardy houseplants, see my guides for how to care for pothos plants and how to care for snake plants. I also have a post on my top 6 indoor succulent care tips for plant killers!)

Light Requirements

String of pearls plants need bright light, but they don’t need bright light all day. As long as they receive a few hours a day of direct sunlight, they are fine with indirect sunlight the rest of the day. However, more direct sunlight won’t hurt them. In fact, it will help them flourish!

I will confess that I killed a string of pearls many years ago. I thought it would be fine in my sunny plant corner, but it wasn’t getting enough direct light. Now that I have my string of pearls in a windowsill in our bathroom, it has exploded with growth.

Best Soil for String of Pearls

Use a simple well-draining cactus or succulent potting mix. These soils differ from regular houseplant soil in that they facilitate drainage much faster through the addition of things like sand and perlite. Keep in mind that succulents are generally happiest when they have plenty of drainage via a drainage hole in the bottom of their pot.

If you’re wondering how to plant in pots without drainage holes, it can be done. I simply add a layer of small pebbles or perlite to the bottom of the planter. Both are effective. I usually choose one or the other based on what I have on hand or any weight concerns I have about a planter that will be hanging.

This drainage layer prevents the roots from sitting in wet soil if you over-water. Of course, you have to be extra careful not to over water when your planter doesn’t have a drainage hole.

How Often to Water a String of Pearls

Much like its succulent brothers and sisters, string of pearls plants do not need frequent watering. They can retain moisture in their leaves quite well, so they only need a good watering 1–2 times a month. You can reduce this to once a month in the winter when they aren’t actively growing.

Watering your string of pearls too frequently can lead to root rot. It’s best to let the soil become dry before you water it again. If you wait too long to water, you might notice some wilting or flattening/shriveling of the leaves. This can usually be reversed with a good watering if the plant hasn’t been suffering for too long.

Should I Fertilize a String of Pearls?

I don’t fertilize my string of pearls or any of my succulents, and they seem to be doing fine. However, you can fertilize yours during its active growing season (spring/summer) with a diluted houseplant fertilizer occasionally, and it won’t harm it.

Temperature and Humidity Requirements

String of pearls plants are not too picky about humidity. They do well in average conditions. String of pearls also generally tolerates a range of comfortable indoor room temperatures and then some—from 55 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

It can live outdoors in the summer, but keep it in a shaded area during peak sun/heat hours. Keep an eye on how it’s doing and move it if necessary. I have burned a string of pearls by putting it right into direct sun, and it wasn’t pretty!

While string of pearls is tolerant to some levels of heat, it does not like the cold. Don’t leave it outdoors once temperatures start dropping down into the low 50s. It will probably revolt and begin dropping leaves, which is not a cute look.

How to get a String of Pearls to Bloom

String of pearls plants can bloom! Though, full disclosure, mine never have—boo hoo. If you keep your string of pearls in cooler temperatures during its winter resting season and cut back on water a hair, it may help to promote blooming in the spring. You can achieve cooler temperatures by keeping the string of pearls on a windowsill and away from heat registers; even if the window is closed, it’s still likely one of the cooler spots in your home.

Growing String of Pearls

String of pearls plants can have a long, sleek look if you let their stems grow down uninterrupted. They can grow to be 2–3 feet long and still look beautiful and healthy! However, if you’d like to encourage your string of pearls to be fuller, you can stick the ends of stems back into the soil to create a little loop.

String of pearls plants do not need to be pruned. However, as with all houseplants, a little grooming never hurts! You can easily cut off any stems with leaves that don’t look very healthy. It will not hurt the plant. You can also trim the ends of stems that are beginning to look a little scraggly.

Pests Problems

String of pearls plants are not especially vulnerable to pests. However, they are vulnerable to minor pests that you often find in houseplants: fungus, mealybugs, and aphids. You can prevent many pest infections by controlling infections in nearby plants that are more vulnerable to houseplant pests. You can also avoid over-watering.

Repotting and Propagating String of Pearls

You should repot your string of pearls when it becomes root bound. Repotting will help prolong the health of your plant by replenishing the nutrients in depleted soil and giving it more room to grow. Make sure to use a well-draining soil as outlined above.

String of pearls can be easily propagating through rooting cuttings in water or rooting cuttings into moist soil. They will begin to root quickly and sprout new growth. I wouldn’t recommend propagating string of pearls through division of an existing plant. The plant’s leaves can be fragile and separating the roots could shock it a bit.

String of Pearls Toxicity to People and Pets

String of pearls is toxic to people and pets if ingested. It can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea—all of that fun stuff. No thanks. It should be kept out of reach and admired from afar by pets and children who might try to eat it for fun.

Don’t miss my indoor planter DIYs to help you decorate with plants and be sure to read how to plant in pots with no drainage holes!

Pin my tips about how to care for string of pearls!

How to care for pearls, cleaning rules from MAYSAKU in Moscow

Pearls are 90% calcium carbonate, 5% water and 5% organic matter concholine, which performs a cementing role. The organic matter present in pearls dries up and breaks down over time, so pearls have a certain lifespan, then they fade, delaminate and break down. However, with proper storage and care, pearls do not lose their beauty for several hundred years.

Pearls are adversely affected by four main factors:

high temperature;
high humidity;
significant light intensity;
air pollution level.

It is also detrimental to the excessively dry skin of its owner. In room conditions, the surface layer of pearls usually dehydrates slowly, but if your home is constantly hot, this process can be accelerated.

Zhemchug does not feel well even in excessively damp rooms. On the street for pearls, the most dangerous are industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust gases in the form of so-called "acid" rain. Harmful fumes and acids can dissolve the iris of pearls. As a result of such an impact, the pearls seem to melt.

Tobacco smoke is harmful to pearls, which can cause them to turn yellow and fade. No less dangerous are all kinds of household and cosmetic products in aerosol packages, such as deodorants, hair sprays, antistatic agents for clothes, aerosol cosmetics for clothes and shoes.

Street and house dust is just as unpleasant for the life of pearls. Dust particles, settling on the surface of the pearls, damage them with their sharp edges and thereby gradually lose their luster.

In sunlight, especially in hot weather, pearls gradually fade, fade, sometimes turn yellow, losing their iridescence and brilliance.

You should not wear pearls in a sauna, bath, shower or pool, open beaches and ponds.

Perfume and eau de toilette must be used by the wearer of the pearl necklace in advance of putting it on. Therefore, it is worth observing a simple rule: you put on pearls last, and take them off first.

The thread on which the pearls are strung should be changed (given to the master for dressing) every 3-5 years, depending on the intensity of use, as it tends to stretch and may even break.

There are many special formulations for pearl care on the market today, but this is just another way for entrepreneurs to make money. Pearls can be washed with plain water and wiped with a soft cloth. Pearls are durable. But, since they began to consciously cultivate it only in 1901, it has yet to be precisely determined the duration of its life. If the shell is thick and without cracks, then your pearls will be enough for both children and great-grandchildren. Natural pearls live 200-300 years, pearls are known that are 400 years old. There is even one 800-year-old.

Here are some practical tips to help restore your pearls to their original brilliance:

Rub lightly with potato starch to remove excess moisture and impurities.
Wash the pearls in salt water
Wash them in a weak solution of soapy water and then polish with a soft cloth

Other methods of treating "sick" pearls were known in Rus'. One of them recommended the following: pearls, without removing the thread, should be sprinkled with salt, put in a clean canvas bag and rinsed in warm water until the salt dissolves. Then the pearls should be dried in a light, dust-free room away from the sun's rays.

Do not forget that pearls are created with the help of living beings - mollusks. Their life was not in vain if you appreciate and keep their offspring - a precious pearl.

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Pearls. Safety - Private Collection

Inna Pulikova

Pearl jewelry is now at the peak of popularity. Earrings with a pearl, a thin pearl choker have become a must have in any jewelry wardrobe. But do not forget that pearls are a unique creation of nature and require special treatment.

“.. from touching my body pearls come alive. All Parisian beauties bring me their necklaces, and I wear them in the morning…” , says the protagonist of Jean Anouilh’s classic play “Ornifle or Through the Breeze”, and in his words is one of the main rules that owners of pearl jewelry should remember .

MOISEIKIN pearl ring
MOISEIKIN pearl pendant
Carat pearl earrings and ring

This is a precious biogenic formation containing aragonite, calcite and indeed conchiolin in its composition0075 loves the warmth of the human body . Therefore, the first and easiest way to maintain and restore the radiance of pearls is to wear them more often, finger them, stroke them like a living being. So he gets natural and comfortable hydration.

But in order to “live with pearls” correctly, you need to follow simple rules that apply equally to natural and cultured pearls.

How to wear?

Wear pearl jewelry when cosmetics, creams and perfumes have been applied and absorbed into the skin. Pearls are harmed by contact with these substances.

Pearl accessories (especially necklaces) are best worn directly on open skin, on silk or other delicate fabrics. Contact of pearls with a rough textured or fleecy surface can lead to abrasion of mother-of-pearl.

Pearl loves sunlight and warmth - but not heat and not the dazzling sun. Therefore, you should not wear pearls on the beach: "sunstroke" will make the surface of the pearls fragile and can cause cracks. Too cold air dulls pearls - so try to provide your pearls with a comfortable, moderate temperature regime.

Pearls are sensitive to moisture levels (a situation well known to art owners). In too dry air, pearls dehydrate and aragonite can flake off. But if there is too much moisture, then the pearl becomes cloudy.

On a hot day or in winter during the heating season, it is worth putting his personal humidifier, a small container of water, next to the pearl box.

Do not wear jewelry with pearls in the pool, in the bath and sauna: chlorinated water and excessively hot atmosphere are detrimental to pearls.

Household chemicals, greasy kitchen fumes are harmful to pearls. Of course, cooking dinner in a beautiful kitchen in an elegant dress and jewelry is beautiful. But if you plan to do housework or cooking, take off your pearl jewelry.

Pearls do not tolerate tobacco smoke very well. If you do not want your pearls to turn yellow, you should avoid smoky rooms.

How to store?

Wash your hands with soap and water before putting on or taking off jewelry - pearls will appreciate it.

In films about the life of pirates, heroes often take out beautiful pearls from bags that serve as their wallets. But even if you are a pirate and pay with pearls, it is best to store and carry pearls in caskets or boxes with a solid base and soft upholstery inside. Ideally, such a storage would be large enough so that the pearls do not rub against each other and do not create micro-scratches.

Do not store pearls in plastic bags or other airtight packaging: pearls suffocate in them, suffer from lack of moisture and become cloudy.

Do not store pearls in close proximity to other minerals. This can injure it, creating scuffs, chips and scratches on its surface.

Pearl thread

When buying, it is better to prefer a thread with pearls separated by thread knots. They insulate each bead, reducing the possibility of abrasion.

Monitor the condition of the thread on which the pearls are strung. Depending on the activity of use, it can wear out and stretch. Contamination can accumulate in the gaps between the beads, which injures the pearls. Rinse the thread and take precautions in time - it is better to re-string the pearls on another thread in time than to look for beads that have rolled across the floor from a broken thread.