String of pearls care: water, soil & light requirements

Edward
Edward
Edward
Edward

With a passion for growing installed at an early age, I have always been happiest outdoors in nature. After training as a professional gardener and horticultural therapist, I currently run horticultural therapy and community kitchen gardens in the UK, helping others access the many physical and mental health benefits of growing vegetables, fruit and plants.

Favourite fruit: apples and pears
Favourite vegetable: asparagus

String of pearls are low-maintenance succulents that are quite easy to care for. However, providing these plants with the correct amount of moisture can be tricky as, if overwatered, string of pearls can sulk and the roots may begin to rot.

String of pearls close up.
The string of pearls plant is easy to grow and care for. [Photo: MariaNikiforova/Shutterstock.com]

String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus), or string of peas or string of beads as they are also known, are relatively easy-care plants. As long as you meet their growing conditions, they are not too high maintenance. Once this succulent is in a suitable location, it requires little water and nutrients. Read on to learn more about repotting and watering string of pearls and what to do when your string of pearls is drying up.

Watering string of pearls

Less is more when it comes to how often to water string of pearls. As these plants originate from South Africa, they are accustomed to minimal rainfall and dry soil. And just like other succulents, string of pearls store water in their foliage. Hence, they are more drought-tolerant than most other houseplants and can easily go 2 to 3 weeks without being watered. They are far more likely to struggle if overwatered.

When it comes to watering string of pearls, wait until the top 2 to 3cm of soil is dry to the touch. Use room temperature rain water if possible, but soft, room temperature tap water is fine too. If growing string of pearls in a shallow pot, you can water from the base by placing the pot in a bowl of water for a few minutes or until the soil is moist. After a few minutes, remove the pot and allow any excess water to drain away freely. When using a taller container with a thick drainage layer of rocks at the bottom, watering from above is best to ensure the soil can access the water.

During the growing season, this succulent only needs watering once every 10 to 14 days, depending on the conditions. In winter, reduce watering down to about once a month.

Close up of string of pearls plant
String of pearls plants are highly sensitive to overwatering [Photo: itscaramel/Shutterstock.com]

Fertilising string of pearls

Like any plant, string of pearls occasionally need nutrients to grow. However, as they are light-feeders, they rarely need fertilising. If you have just repotted your string of pearls and given it fresh soil, you will not need to feed it at all for another year. After that, fertilising about every 8 weeks during the growing season should suffice. There are special cactus and succulent fertilisers available that meet string of pearls’ nutrient requirements. Refrain from fertilising this plant in the winter.

String of pearls in hanging pot
Refrain from fertilising too much to keep your string of pearls’ foliage green and plump [Photo: Daydreamr Digital Studio/ Shutterstock.com]

Which soil for string of pearls?

String of pearls are light feeders and dislike heavy soil that is prone to waterlogging. For this reason, the best soil for string of pearls plants is a well-draining mix that is low in nutrients. A succulent or cactus compost is ideal. Alternatively, simply mix some sand or perlite into a low-nutrient and well-draining compost. Our peat-free Plantura Organic Herb & Seedling Compost is ideal for string of pearls as it is low in nutrients and well-draining, allowing air to circulate the roots. As these plants develop a rather shallow root system, they perform best when grown on a thin layer of soil with good underlying drainage.

Organic Herb & Seedling Compost, 20L
Organic Herb & Seedling Compost, 20L
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(4.8/5)
  • Perfect for herbs as well as sowing, propagating & transplanting
  • For aromatic herbs & healthy seedlings with strong roots
  • Peat-free & organic soil: CO2-saving composition
£12.49

Repotting string of pearls

String of pearls need repotting either before they start to become root bound or every 2 to 3 years, whichever comes first. Signs that it is time to repot your string of pearls include the roots growing out of the bottom of the pot, the soil no longer holding moisture and the soil level dropping. It is also a good idea to repot string of pearls when any root rot has occurred or if it is infested with fungus gnats.

Repotting string of pearls plant
String of pearls plants require a well-draining soil [Photo: Violeta Carlos Fabuel/Shutterstock.com]

Due to its shallow root system, we recommend repotting your string of pearls into a shallow pot or bowl. If using a taller pot, you will need to create a thicker drainage layer at the bottom. Terracotta or unglazed ceramic pots are ideal for growing string of pearls plants, as they are porous and absorb water, so help prevent waterlogging. Plastic pots are fine too, but may require a more well-draining soil mix to help increase airflow to the roots and allow water to drain away.

Whichever pot you choose, ensure it has drainage holes and create a drainage layer of rocks or gravel to further aid drainage. Then, fill it about one third of the way with a suitable growing medium. Gently remove some of the old soil from the roots and place the plant into the new pot at roughly the same depth it was previously planted at. Next, fill any gaps around the plant with soil, gently pressing down as you go. Be careful not to plant your string of pearls too deeply as these plants prefer to be grown nearer the top of the soil. Finally, water your plant and allow any excess moisture to drain off.

Tip: string of pearls are frost-tender succulents and will struggle in temperatures below 10 °C. That said, if you want to encourage your string of pearls to flower in spring, keep it somewhere at temperatures of around 13°C to 15 °C over the winter months.

Why is my string of pearls dying?

Sometimes a string of pearls may start to look like it is drying up, shrivelled and unhappy. The natural response may be to assume it needs more water, yet the opposite may actually be true.

Hanging string of pearls plant
String of pearls can be placed outdoors during the summer months, but need to be brought back indoors to overwinter [Photo: Jessica Ruscello/Shutterstock.com]

Here are some of the most common string of pearls care mistakes and how to remedy them:

  • Overwatering: watering too frequently or not allowing excess water to drain away can result in the soil becoming waterlogged. This can cause the plant’s roots to rot, which in turn leads to the foliage flattening, wilting or turning mushy. If the plant has been overwatered, either leave the plant to dry out or repot it, cutting away the dead roots in the process. If your plant looks too far gone, then it may be worth taking some string of pearls cuttings from any healthy-looking stems to propagate replacement plants with.
  • Underwatering: too little water may also cause the plant’s foliage to dry out and shrivel up. However, being fairly drought-tolerant, this is less likely than being overwatered. If you suspect you have underwatered, give the plant a good soak until all the soil is moist, before letting the excess water drain away.
  • Too much direct sunlight: while string of pearls need at least 6 hours of indirect light a day, they do not like direct sunlight, especially from the midday sun. If it receives strong direct light, brown spots may begin to appear on the foliage until eventually the whole leaves turn brown. If this is the case, reposition the plant to somewhere better suited to your string of pearls’ light requirements. This may mean moving it somewhere with more diffused light or away from a window where the leaves may get scorched.
Young string of pearls plant
String of pearls plants can be propagated by cuttings [Photo: Bilalstock/Shutterstock.com]

String of hearts (Ceropegia woodii) is another decorative houseplant with a trailing growth habit, but with colourful heart-shaped foliage. Read all about how to grow and care for this semi-succulent in our separate article.

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