Is string of pearls considered a succulent?
String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus, sometimes sold as Curio rowleyanus) is a sought-after hanging succulent house plant. Its trailing stems have pea-like leaves that look like beads – hence its common name.
String of pearls is a delicate hanging succulent that thrives in a warm and dry environment. They are very easy to care for as an indoor houseplant but are also an ideal succulent to grow outdoors, especially if you live in zones 9 and warmer.
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 3-to-1 mixture of potting soil to sharp sand. These plants are susceptible to root rot, so make sure their soil is well-draining.
Because they have shallow roots, they should be kept in shallow pots and watered thoroughly ONLY when completely dry (the little pearls will start to pucker). If your plants are in terra-cotta or clay pots, or if they are under a bright light, you will need to water your indoor plant more frequently.
Yes, string of pearls can root in water, and it's very quick and easy. But they can be more delicate, so they need to be transitioned to soil as soon as they develop roots 1” long.
How long can string of pearls plants live? String of pearl plants are short-lived plants. They only live about three to five years before they start losing vitality and begin to die back. They are easy to propagate by stem cuttings to create new plants, allowing the plant to live on indefinitely.
To make your String of Pearls look fuller, trim the plant down and add the cuttings to the top of the plant. The stem cuttings will root in a few weeks and will start growing like regular plants. You can keep doing this whenever your plant grows really long.
If your string of pearls is bushy, we recommend bottom watering to avoid build-up of water and moisture on the leaves, which can lead to fungal disease and root rot. We recommend you plant your string of pearls in a well-draining potting mix and into a pot with drainage holes at the bottom.
String of Pearls plants enjoy bright, indirect light. They would love a window with an eastern or southern exposure! They love a spot that gets more direct light in the mornings and then more indirect light later throughout the afternoon. Make sure they get about 6 to 8 hours of sun a day to keep them thriving!
Don't mist. Check the soil is light, airy and free draining. Repot if needed into better soil. String of Pearls handle being too dry much better than too wet, so best to act fast and do what you can so you don't lose the plant.
Can string of pearls grow in small pots?
A String of Pearls plant doesn't have a big root system. Repotting 1 into a small pot is better than a big pot. For this reason, I repot mine every 5-7 years or so sometimes just to freshen the potting mix. Planting one in a pot that's too big can cause the soil to stay wet which leads to root rot.
How Often to Repot A String Of Pearls Plant. Because String Of Pearls plants have a smaller root system, they can stay in the same pot for a long time. Repotting once every 5 years (give or take) should be fine. If yours is looking stressed or the potting mix appears old, repotting may be in order.
The String of Pearls is a succulent and does well in bright light. For this reason, consider placing this plant on a sunny windowsill in your bathroom if you have one. If your bathroom doesn't get much bright sunlight, locate the plant under a fluorescent light during daylight hours, Gardenista suggests.
Adding perlite is very important if you're going to keep your plant in a plastic or ceramic pot. These materials don't let the soil dry out as fast as succulents need it and as terracotta pots would let it. Perlite helps accelerate the drying of the soil which makes your String of Pearls happy.
String of pearls does well in bright light. Consider placing it on a sunny windowsill or, if bright sunlight is limited, leave it under a fluorescent light during daylight hours. Make sure there's plenty of room for your plant to sprawl. Consider displaying it in a hanging basket so tendrils can cascade downwards.
String of Pearls plants enjoy bright, indirect light. They would love a window with an eastern or southern exposure! They love a spot that gets more direct light in the mornings and then more indirect light later throughout the afternoon. Make sure they get about 6 to 8 hours of sun a day to keep them thriving!
String of pearls are drought tolerant plants that need watering with a good soak around once every 14 days. Wait until the soil around the roots has dried out completely before watering again. Water no more then once every 3 weeks, during string of pearls Summer dormancy to avoid root rot.
Growing String of Pearls Indoors
Plant your succulent in a cactus potting mix to improve drainage. Avoid overwatering and keep the soil moisture-free. These plants prefer full sun in the morning hours so you can place your cactus in an east-facing window or sunny south-facing window where it will get intense sunlight.
succulent, any plant with thick fleshy tissues adapted to water storage. Some succulents (e.g., cacti) store water only in the stem and have no leaves or very small leaves, whereas others (e.g., agaves) store water mainly in the leaves.
References
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