The eye-catching and graceful String of Pearls houseplant (Senecio rowleyanus).
Growing, Caring, and Propagating the String of Pearls Houseplant
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A true treasure of a plant, string of pearls are unique and easy-care succulents with graceful, trailing stems and rounded, bead-like leaves that look like glistening green pearls strung on a string. Perfect for adding vertical interest to home decors, string of pearls are relatively easy to keep, and they always impress when their long stems are displayed in hanging baskets or pots placed on a high shelf. If you’re ready to add these gems to your collection, this guide will dive into the basics of how to grow, maintain, and propagate string of pearl plants!
About String of Pearl Plants
Also known as string of beads, string of peas, or rosary vines, string of pearls belong to the Asteraceae or daisy family and they come from the Cape of South Africa. In the wild, string of pearl plants grow as ground covers on dry, rocky soil, and their spreading stems root when they touch the earth and form dense mats over time.
As houseplants, string of pearls are usually displayed in hanging baskets indoors or pots, but they can be grown in wide trays if you want to mimic their natural habitat!
When well-maintained, string of pearls grow quickly, and their stems can grow up to 15 inches per year and stretch over 3 feet long! These plants also occasionally bloom in summer and produce white daisy-like flowers that emit a heady cinnamon-like scent. Unfortunately, blooming is rare indoors, but string of pearls still demand attention with their distinct, pea-shaped leaves that come in green or variegated shades.
Like other succulents, string of pearls use their fleshy leaves to hold onto moisture and resist drought, and they don’t need to be watered often. In fact, string of pearl plants can quickly develop root rot in soggy soil and die away. To avoid issues, grow these plants in bright light, water sparingly, and keep them away from your “furry friends”—they’re toxic to pets!
Growing
String of pearls are short-lived plants that only live for about 3 to 5 years. However, you can keep these plants around a lot longer by propagating new plants from stem cuttings and providing your plants with the right balance of light and water.
Light
Like other succulents, string of pearls need at least 6 to 8 hours of bright light per day to grow, but direct sun can sometimes damage their leaves. Keeping these plants in west- or south-facing windows that receive bright sun in the morning and filtered light in the afternoon is ideal. They do well under grow lights too.
Water
String of pearls are highly susceptible to root rot and overwatering them is the surest way to do damage. To avoid overwatering, keep these plants in well-draining pots and only water them about once every 2 to 3 weeks or when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil feels dry. If possible, water your plants from the bottom to keep their leaves dry, dump out plant saucers after watering, and water your plants more if their leaves look wrinkled or flat.
Fertilizer
Although string of pearls have a fast growth rate, they don’t need much fertilizer. Just provide them with a monthly dose of organic, liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength in spring and summer.
Humidity
One of the best things about string of pearl plants is that they don’t need a humidifier, and they’re perfectly content with standard indoor temperature and humidity levels. In fact, these plants don’t like high humidity and they shouldn’t be misted!
Seasonal Care
String of pearls can be placed outdoors in filtered light in summer, but they should be brought back inside before temperatures dip below 50°F. These plants need more attention during the active growing season and they should be watered sparingly and not fertilized at all in fall and winter. Throughout the year, prune away damaged, discolored, or sparse stems with sterilized pruners and trim overgrown stems, if needed, to keep your plants more compact.
Although string of pearls rarely flower indoors, you may be able to trigger blooming by placing your plants in a frost-free and well-lit spot that stays at around 40°F during the winter. When the weather warms in spring, provide your plants with a dose of fertilizer, and they may just bloom!
Propagation
String of pearls only live a few years before they die away. But you can keep your plants growing by propagating their stems to create new string of pearl plants. This is also the best way to salvage plants with root rot!
- Take 4 to 5 inch long stem cuttings, ideally in spring or summer.
- Make your cuts at a leaf node, carefully remove the lower leaves on the stem cuttings, and allow the cuttings to dry for a day or two.
- Plant the cut stem ends about 1 inch deep in pots filled with damp, well-draining potting mix. Keep the leaves above the soil line.
- Move your cuttings into bright, indirect light and wait a few days to start watering. Then, water your cuttings just enough to keep the soil damp, but not soggy, and they should root in about 3 to 4 weeks!
There are variegated string of pearls for variation.
If you love the curious look of string of pearls, you’re in luck. These plants are closely related to other “string plants” that look just as pretty in hanging baskets or pots!
- String of dolphins have a similar vibe to string of pearls, although their fleshy leaves are longer and look like dolphins in mid-jump.
- String of bananas are another succulent option with elongated leaves and trailing stems that stretch up to 3 feet long.
Lauren Landers
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