String of pearls, also called string of beads, is a succulent known for its delicate pearl-like leaves that adorn viney stems. This plant is a must have variety in any succulent lover’s collection and looks stunning in a hanging basket where its vines can drape down the edge of a pot.
While string of pearl looks like a high-maintenance plant, it actually thrives on neglect and is often quite literally killed with kindness. Our head grower has some suggestions for keeping your string of pearl looking its best. As with all of our care suggestions, these are general guidelines for what has been successful in our greenhouses. If your plant is thriving in different conditions, there is no need to change up your care routine; however, if you are encountering some struggles, check out the tips below and
see which of them you might benefit from.
Tips From A Grower:
Sun
String of pearls like bright but indirect light. When growing outside in the summer, it’s best to shade them from midday sun. Indoors, east or west facing windows without obstruction are ideal placements. This plant may grow well in a north facing window but would need to be close to it, and yet also kept away from cold drafts.
Water
Overwatering is a common issue with this plant. As it is a succulent, the soil needs to dry before it is watered again. Our suggested irrigation method is to thoroughly water the plant, allowing excess water to drain from the bottom of its pot. This ensures water is making it to the root system and will enable you to go up to two weeks before a subsequent watering.
Important! While the soil may look dry on top, it could still be wet under the surface. It’s best to put a finger into the soil to feel if it is dry under the top couple inches of the surface before watering again.
As with most plants, less frequent watering is needed during the winter.
Temperature
String of pearls thrives with warmer temperatures. Keep it indoors during autumn and winter and be sure that it is far from cold drafts. In the winter, if it must be located in a cool area (55 – 60 degrees Fahrenheit, 15.5 degrees Celsius) your plant should be considered dormant and the soil must remain dry given the temperatures. This could mean even waiting for 2 months to water the plant.
Soil
String of pearl plants need soil that has good drainage. When repotting, a well draining peat moss based soil that contains perlite or sand is best.
Fertilizer
String of pearl plants don’t require a lot of fertilizer. During the late spring and summer, when the plant is putting on extra growth, a shot of all purpose fertilizer once a month is enough. All fertilizer products are different so be sure to follow the label instructions before using.
Shedding
While it is normal for this plant to lose the occasional pearl, keeping it it mostly stationary is helpful for maintaining as much foliage as possible. As a young plant, it can be a little brittle; however, as the plant matures, it becomes strong and durable. Throughout its life span, string of pearls has shallow roots. It’s easy to uproot the plant when moving it around so care should be taken.
Should you have any other questions, stop by our Garden Centre to chat with one of our customer service plants representatives.
Happy planting!