Some succulents accept unimaginative names that hardly fit them. But the string of pearls is non of those succulents. It has all the appearances of a chandelier of pearls dangling in mid-air. Only in this case, the pearls in question are green and are very much live.

Senecio rowleyanus

There's something to be said about the grace and elegance of the string of pearls spilling over the side of a hanging basket and swaying gently in your living room. The sight of the green orbs stringed together is enough to bring peace and equanimity in the most agitated mind.

Unlike many other succulents, the cord of pearls takes some work to get it growing successfully. If you accept experience with succulents, that prior knowledge volition come in handy. This guide walks you through the process of growing the string of pearls and troubleshoots the common problems people face with this captivating succulent.

String of Pearls at a Glance

A native of Southwest Africa, the string of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) is a drought-tolerant and hardy succulent. It grows well both indoors and outdoors every bit long as yous pick a shady spot that doesn't get out it under the mercy of the glare of the sun.

This vining succulent'south claim to fame lies in its green pearls. These are in fact just leaves that take the shape of an orb. There's a practical reason behind this metamorphosis. The spherical leaves become storage tanks that agree backlog water. When the rainy season ends and the soil dries out, the plant draws on its water reserves to continue going until the next rainfall.

The pearly leaves abound on stems that reach between two to 3 feetat a time. Simply that's non all the showmanship this succulent has in store. In the summer, it starts to flower, and just similar the leaves, the flowers will give y'all a reason to interruption and wonder.

The flowers of the string of pearls are a complex affair. They have a trumpet shape and the white petals ofttimes rest on a colorful stamen. Each flower is about one inch in diameter but since they grow in clusters, the overall visual effect along with the light-green orbs is breathtaking.

The flowers usually stay in bloom for up to 4 weeks and fill the air with a cinnamon-similar fragrance.

String of Pearls Varieties

As if all of that exquisite beauty arranged together nether the name of string pearls wasn't enough, at present there are varieties to choose from. This will be a tough selection to make and I recommend you try out all the following three varieties.

  • Curio radicans:It follows the same design concept of a abaft stem that carries curiously shaped leaves. The leaves in this case are shaped like fish hooks simply the plant is sometimes chosen a string of bananas.
  • Curio herreanus:Another variety with leaves shaped like melons. That's why it earned the nickname, the cord of beads. The stems are supple and dangle over the edge easily. They are covered with purple stripesfor an actress dose of color.
  • Curio citriformus: If it's difficult to choose from the to a higher place two varieties, this one with its teardrop leaves is a perfect show stopper. The white flowers stay in bloom longer than the other two varieties.

To make it easier for you lot, I recommend you grow all three varieties. For 1 matter, you couldn't go incorrect with strings of plump leaves hanging in your living room. Also, the different shapes of the leaves complement each other and compete for your attending. So from a decorative perspective, at that place's no reason why you wouldn't mix and match your string of pearl varieties.

How to Grow String of Pearls

Every bit is the case with succulents, there's more than than one fashion you can start the string of pearls. However, the easiest fashion is to use a cutting. This saves you a lot of work and you'll often take the plant growing in your home in no time. Here'due south how to grow the string of pearls in piece of cake steps.

  1. Choice a healthy stalk on the bottom of a mature constitute and cut about 4 inches of it using a sterile blade.
  2. Remove the leaves near the base of the cutting to arrive easier for you to plant it.
  3. Fill a planter or a hanging basket with a custom potting mix. For all-time results, nosotros recommend using a mixture of perlite, coarse sand, and cactus mix at a ratio of ane:one:ane. This well-drained soil is ideal for the succulent.
  4. Dip the end of the cutting in a powdered rooting hormone to increase the chances of growing roots. Shake off the excess powder before planting.
  5. Dig a hole in the potting mix about 2 inches deep and plant the cutting. Make sure no leaves impact the soil.
  6. Fill up the pigsty with soil and water information technology immediately.
  7. Continue the planter in a shady and well-lit place away from the direct sunlight. This protects the vulnerable cutting confronting sunburn.
  8. Mist the potting mix to get in moist for the adjacent couple of weeks until the cut develops roots.
  9. The cutting takes well-nigh a calendar month from the time yous plant it for new leaves to grow at the height.

String of Pearls Care

And that'south all the piece of work y'all need to go the cord of pearls started in your home. The only caveat in that otherwise straightforward process is to protect the tender cut from the sun every bit it develops new roots and leaves. Simply even after you got the succulent to a roaring start, you still need to shield information technology from directly sunlight.

Soil

When it comes to the right soil for the string of pearls, you lot need to consider not just the soil but the container as well. Whether information technology'due south a hanging basket, a terra cotta pot, or a planter, information technology has to take plenty of drainage holes. The soil itself should be loamy or a custom potting mix. Either mode, it has to exist well-drained with pH levels around half dozen.0. If you don't have loamy soil, then y'all tin use a cactus mix with equal portions of perlite and coarse sand. And make sure the stems of the succulent don't affect the soil to avert rotting.

Water

Succulents are notorious for their complex watering needs. And the cord of pearls is no unlike. If anything, this plant has a loftier sensitivity to excess water in the soil than many other succulents. So always allow the acme one inch of the soil dries out earlier you h2o it. Also, since the succulent stores h2o in its pulpous leaves, you won't have to h2o it that oft. In the summer you lot should water it once every couple of weeks. In the winter, cut back on irrigation to about once a month.

Low-cal

Another issue you might have with the string of pearls care and maintenance has to do with providing adequate light. The ideal light for this delicious is brilliant but indirect. This is why it'south easier to grow it indoors where you can pull a sparse mantle over the window to cut down the glare of the sun. If you still want to grow it outdoors, then cull a spot that gets partial shade especially in the afternoons.

Fertilizer

Usually, you won't demand to fertilize your string of pearls. It gets all the nutrients information technology needs from the custom potting mix you institute it in. Even effectually flowering time, the plant can produce an abundance of dazzling white flowers twelvemonth in year out without the need for food supplements. However, if the soil itself is poor and yous observe the plant could exercise with a boost, and then use worm castings, rabbit manure tea, or banana compost. Apply the fertilizer once a year in the spring or summertime. Concord back fertilizing during the fall and wintertime.

Common String of Pearls Issues

In addition to watering and low-cal, yous might too come beyond other problems pertaining to the growing and care of cord of pearls. Here are some of the near common issues and what you can do to set them.

  • Crown Rot: 1 of the problems that people face with cord of pearls is crown rot. That leaves volition turn black and the stems wilt and become mushy. The reason has to practice with high humidity, lack of air circulation, and misting. This delicious doesn't demand misting since it has all the h2o it needs right inside its plump leaves. You can use a dehumidifierto improve the air quality around the plants and prevent crow rot.
  • Sunburn:Nosotros already mentioned the demand to shield the establish from the directly sun. But sometimes a constitute kept behind drinking glass will likewise get sunburn fifty-fifty if it is not exposed to sunlight. The drinking glass unremarkably traps the heat inside which increases the temperature in the room and causes sunburn. You should amend ventilation and monitor the temperature of the room around the plant.
  • Root Harm:The well-nigh obvious culprit for root damage is overfertilizing or using the wrong fertilizer. In general, your succulent doesn't demand fertilizer. Only in cases of poor soil or lack of flowering, you can employ organic compost in the jump.
  • Leafage Rot:This trouble is related to crown rot although for a unlike reason. Hither the leaves would rot because the stem rests on the soil and doesn't hang over the edge of the planter. This often happens equally a result of either using a planter as well big for the succulent or you lot accept planted it way too deep inside the hanging basket. Always plant the string of pearls nearly the edge to elevator the stems and leaves off the soil.
  • No Blooms:Another common trouble that is the issue of inadequate lite or water or both. You should pay attention to the decreasing light atmospheric condition during the autumn and winter. This delicious needs vivid light all year circular. So motion it about a south- or west-facing window to become enough low-cal all 24-hour interval. Some other cause for the lack of flowering might be the poor soil. Consider using a phosphorus-rich fertilizer in the spring to encourage richer and brighter flowers.