String of Pearls Plant Care & Propagation

String of Pearls is named for its small oval, full green leaves, which are shaped like Pearls. String of Pearls are succulents with high ornamental value, which are very much loved by many flowers. It can not only purify the air, but also decorate the indoor environment very well. Under suitable condition, String of Pearls can grow quickly and is more suitable for growing in hanging pots. The care of String of Pearls is not as difficult as we thought, and it is very easy to grow. If care for appropriately, String of Pearls can become "green waterfall" half a year.

String of Pearls Info

Botanical/Scientific Name	Senecio rowleyanus
Common Name	String of pearls, string of beads, string of peas, rosary vine
Plant Type	Vine Succulent/String Succulents
Light Requirements	Full sun to part shade
Soil Requirements	Sandy, well-drained Soil
Bloom Time	Summer
Flower Color	White flower
Uses	haning plants, potted plants
Toxic	Toxic to humans and pets

String of Pearls Picture

String of Pearls Bloom

String of Pearls scientific name is Senecio rowleyanus, which a flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae. It is a creeping, perennial, succulent vine native to the drier parts of southwest Africa.
It has slender stems, white or brown flowers, and red slender buds. Generally, the string of pearls bloom in autumn, during which it can be watered more. It has long flowering period and white flowers, purple stamens, with a strong fragrance.

String of Pearls Sign

String of Pearls stands for simplicity, purity, etc. String of Pearls plant is like a dancing elf in the air, not competing with other plants, which signs a calm and peaceful society.

How To Care For String of Pearls

String of Pearls likes warm and humid, semi-cloudy environment. It is adaptable, drought - resistant, cold resistant. The plant likes loose fertile soil rich in organic matter. It grows best in warm, humid air and strongly scattered light. The optimum temperature for String of Pearls growth is 15-25 ℃, and the overwintering temperature is 5℃.

String of Pearls Light Requirements

String of Pearls is not a kind of plant that likes light, so do not put it in sunny place but in cool and shady environment with scattering light. If placed in a dark place for a long time, its leaf balls will grow very thin and slender. String of Pearls plant likes mild, weak light, not strong light. Therefore, it is more appropriate to put String of Pearls in the shade. For example, the balcony, windowsill and other places are ok. If there is very strong light, be sure to move it to shade. (Find more Vine Plants Indoor here.)
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String of Pearls Temperature Care

String of Pearls is not cold resistance, its most suitable growth temperature is in 15~25 degrees. If the summer temperature is too high, put it in a cool place, avoid strong light. Put String of Pearls indoor in winter with room temperature not less than 5 degrees Celsius, otherwise the plant is easy to be frostbite. However, the temperature should not be too high in winter, and do not put String of Pearls plant near the heater.

String of Pearls Watering

String of Pearls is a drought tolerant plant, because its balls can store water. Do not water regularly, water the plant thoroughly when the soil is dry. Also do not water the leaves but water the soil, otherwise the plant is easy to decay. Its waterlogging resistance is not very good. So, keeping basin soil slightly wet is enough and keep the soil slightly dry in winter.

• String of Pearls Watering in Summer

In summer, the climate is very special, sometimes it is very dry, sometimes it is very humid. This often changing environment makes the String of Pearls plant very easy to rot, so this time it can not be too frequent to water it. Generally, spray with watering cans around the leaves.

• String of Pearls Watering in Winter

Winter is the slow period of its growth. At this time its activities will become very slow, also its water absorption rate will be slow. So this time we should reduce the frequency of watering String of Pearls. Keep the soil dry to provide a suitable environment for its growth.

• String of Pearls Watering in Spring & Autunm

In addition to a very hot summer and cold winter, spring and autunm are String of Pearls growth seasons, especially in the spring. At this time, we should increase the frequency of watering String of Pearls to supply enough water for rapid growth.

String of Pearls Soil

The root system of String of Pearls is very shallow, and the most basic requirement of the soil when planting is loose and breathable. If it cannot be porous and breathable, the soil will easily harden. It is best to choose loose and fertile sandy soil with good air permeability, and you can choose river sand, garden soil and leaf mould soil as the matrix after mixing evenly. You can pad tiles in the bottom of the basin, so that the soil of String of Pearls is not easy to waterlog.

String of Pearls Fertilizer

If you want the String of Pearls plant to grow quickly, it is necessary to let it get sufficient nutrients, so that the leaves is large and mellow, and the ornamental value is very high. Apply String of Pearls with organic fertilizer half a month in growth period to make plant thrive and the leaves more plump. Usually add nitrogen and potassium dihydrogen phosphate in spring and autunm, This can provide rich nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium elements. In the winter, stop fertilizer String of Pearls.

String of Pearls Humidity Care

String of Pearls is a kind of succulent plant that the water content in leaf is very high, so the plant is drought resistant. It is better grow in a dry environment than in a wet environment with high humidity. Do not water String of Pearls too much even in a dry environment.

Indoor Ventilation Care

When growing and caring for String of Pearls indoors, we must pay attention to open Windows regularly for ventilation, especially in summer. If the ventilation is not good, String of Pearls is easy to get black rot, or even directly die. So in summer, when it is particularly hot and stuffy, you can turn on a fan to speed up air convection indoors.

Repotting String of Pearls

The growth rate of String of Pearls plant is relatively fast compared with some other hanging plants. The soil in the pot will become more and more barren, and the root system will grow longer and longer when the plant grows. So it is necessary to repot String of Pearls. We can choose to repot itl in early spring. At this time, the temperature is relatively low, so it will not cause damage to its roots. Trim its roots and cut off the excess root, so that it can grow more quickly and will not consume some excess nutrients. Generally speaking, repotting String of Pearls once every two or three years is more appropriate. (Find more best indoor hanging plants here.)

How To Propagate String of Pearls

String of Pearls Cutting Propagation

String of Pearls is a kind of succulent plant with air roots, as long as we put this air roots into the soil inside can survive, so String of Pearls cutting propagation is very simple. 
Spring and autumn is the peak growth season of String of Pearls, at this time the survival rate of cutting propagation is higher. And cold winter and hot summer are not suitable for string of pearls cutting propagation, when the conditions are not conducive to cutting roots.
String of Pearls root is shallow, so the ability to absorb nutrients is not strong. Fertile humus soil is the most suitable for propagation. The mixture of garden soil, river sand and humus soil in the ratio of 5:3:2 can not only meet the growth nutrient needs of String of Pearls in the early stage, but also ensure good soil permeability and drainage.
Before cutting propagation, it is best to sterilize the soil at high temperature, or mix proper amount of sterilization in the soil to remove the weeds seeds and the eggs of pests in the soil, so as to improve the survival rate of the String of Pearls cutting.

• Use a scissor that has been disinfected to cut robust branches as cuttings from the mother plant of String of Pearls. The length is about 5 ~ 7 centimeters, containing 2 ~ 3 young and tender buds best. Cuttings above the air root of the String of Pearls plant will root slightly faster.
• In order to maintain the water content of String of Pearls cutting branches and increase the survival rate, it is better to cut branches after the soil is configured. If the cuttings of the String of Pearls plant are cut before the soil configuration is complete, they need to be wrapped in clingfilm to storage in a cool place.
• Insert the String of Pearls cuttings not more than half the depth of the soil. Inserting too deep will make it difficult for  the cuttings to take root. Or put the cuttings on the loose and breathable soil, and cover the internode of the leaves with soil. By this method, the String of Pearls cutting is not easy to rot.
• Place potted String of Pearls cuttings in a cool and ventilated place, and do not water immediately. Water a small amount of water  2 ~ 3 days later and keep the pot soil slightly wet. Then wait until the soil is completely dry to next watering. Frequent watering is easy to cause root rot of String of Pearls cuttings. As long as the temperature is maintained at about 20 ~ 28℃, cuttings will take root quickly, grow, until exploded into a new pot of String of Pearls. (Read more about the string of pearls propagation.)

String of Pearls Division Propagation

The String of Pearls can be propagated by division. It can be performed in all seasons except winter when the temperature is too low. When repotting the 2-3 years potted plants, remove old culture soil and divide the String of Pearls plant into two to several clusters, respectively potted into new plants.

Growing String of Pearls From Seed

The propagation methods of String of Pearls are generally division propagation, cutting propagation and seed propagation. Compared with the other two propagation methods, seed propagation is rare, because the string of pearls seeds are extremely small and rarely used. Here are steps on growing String of Pearls from seed.

• Put the String of Pearls seeds into the warm water, bubble about half a day or so, and then bury the seeds in wet and good air permeability soil.  They germinate after a period of time after watering, but remember not to water too much. 
• The best temperature of String of Pearls is between 20 and 28 degrees Celsius. If in the state of high and low temperature, although it can grow normally, but almost in a dormant state, the growth is very slow.
• In the hot and dry season, you can often spray water to the leaves and branches of the String of Pearls plant, so as to keep the whole plant grow green.
• In the spring and autumn when the String of Pearls plant grows vigorously, attention should be paid to the repeated application of thin fertilizer. Nitrogen fertilizer with concentration of 1-3‰ and potassium dihydrogen phosphate should be sprayed on the leaf surface of the String of Pearls plant, so as to make the plant more plump and more ornamental.

String of Pearls Plant Propagation In Water

String of Pearls can be propagated in water. First you need to prepare the container required by hydroponic, preferably transparent glass container. The size of the container needs to choose according to the size of the plant. When propagating String of Pearls in water, you can put some medical stone at the bottom of the container, which can play a role in fixing the root system. Then fill the container with water and cover about a third of the root system. If the water is too much, the root system of String of Pearls will not breathe properly. It is best to plant them in soil when they grow to a certain extent.
When propagating string of pearls in water, it must be appropriate to change the water, which is also very important. Not replacing the water will make the String of Pearls lack of nutrients. At the same time, regular replacement of water can also prevent some insect pests, so that the String of Pearls plant grows better in water.

Common Problems With String of Pearls Plant

Overwatered String of Pearls

String of Pearls is very afraid of too much water and too wet environment, so it must use good drainage soil. If your String of Pearls plant is overwatered and you don't know when to water, wait until the leaves are slightly wrinkled.
This ensures the overwatered string of pearls survive. Like many succulents do, if you let them dry for a few days, they won't die, but if you water them too much, they can easily rot.
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Underwatered String of Pearls

The String of Pearls plant also needs water for its normal growth. If it is underwatered for a long time, or it is not watered thoroughly all the time, it will lead to insufficient water storage in the leaves. The leaves of underwatered String of Pearls will dry up, which affects its ornamental value.
Usually, water String of Pearls thoroughly when the soil is almost dry. When watering, pour water into the pot slowly, so that the roots can absorb water slowly and supply water to the leaves.

How Fast Do String of Pearls Grow

Under the condition of sufficient nutrients, the growth rate of String of Pearls plant is very fast, and the stems and leaves will continue to grow, which requires a lot of nutrients to maintain growth. If nutrients are not available, there will be poor growth, thin stems and beads, soft phenomenon. My String of Pearls plant has been kept for one and a half years. When I first bought it, it was only about twenty centimeters long. Now it is one and a half meters long.

String of Pearls Turning Purple

The reasons for your String of Pearls plant tuning purple is that you have given it too much light or the plant is just variegated.
If too much light, you can move this String of Pearls plant to a less lit location while still letting this plant have plenty of light just not much full sun. Over time the pearls will return to their normal color.
If the String of Pearls is just variegated then there is nothing that needs to be done, enjoy your variegated string of pearls succulent.

Is String of Pearls Plant Toxic to Cats

String of Pearls succulent is poisonous for cats and dogs. The toxicity level of String of Pearls is 2 to 4. However, the String of Pearls is perfect for growing at home. It is a good indoor ornamental. And, its purification effect is also very strong, which can make the air fresh.
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How To Replant String of Pearls

Spring and autumn are the best seasons for String of Pearls transplantation. The plants should be sterilized and cleaned. Keep soil clean, and good light and humidity conditions are ensured after the plant is transplanted.

• String of Pearls Transplantation Time

The choice of time is critical for how to replant String of Pearls. Among the four seasons, spring and autumn are usually the only seasons suitable for transplanting String of Pearls. In spring and autumn, the temperature is moderate and the precipitation is not large, which can ensure the survival rate of String of Pearls transplanting. The temperature in winter is low and in summer is too extreme, the ability of the String of Pearls plant to adapt to the environment after transplanting is greatly reduced, which may cause the death of the String of Pearls plant.

• Plant Treatment

Take out the String of Pearls plant from the basin soil, gently shake the soil on the root whisker, carefully straighten the whisker on the root to ensure the complete root structure. After cleaning the roots with water, soak them in disinfection solution to avoid microbial or egg residue. Dry the surface moisture in a shady environment and wait for transplanting to a new pot.

• Replant String of Pearls

The process of replanting string of pearls is also very simple. You only need to dig a hole in the basin soil with the same depth as the root and stem, insert the String of Pearls plant, and then bury the soil to ensure colonization. The transplanted String of Pearls needs a period of time to adapt to the new environment. When watering, the soil should be slightly wet and the temperature should be controlled within 20~24℃.

Sunburnt String of Pearls

String of Pearls plant can not burst in the sun, especially in summer. The hot sun is easy to sunburn String of Pearls. It can be put on the windowsill, which gives appropriate light,  but do not stick to the glass, the heat on the glass will also let String of Pearls burn. If String of Pearls sunburnt, move the plant to a shaded area with scattered light, spray water on the plant's leaves, and wait until it recovers.
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