String of Pearls
4.4 out of 5 (340 experiences)
Fast grower
Survivor
About String of Pearls
String of pearls evolved their signature shape as an adaptation to store water in dry environments. In place of leaves, cells in the green pearls perform photosynthesis to feed the plant. Translucent crescents act like windows to allow sunlight to reach cells on the inside of the pearl and increase their ability to capture the sun! 🪟☀️
Taxonomy
Curio rowleyanus
Curio
Asteraceae
Asterales
Also known as
Senecio rowleyanus and String of Tears
How to care for String of Pearls
How often to water your String of Pearls
every 9
String of Pearls needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
9
Finding light for String of Pearls in your home
a window
String of Pearls love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.
Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
String of Pearls does not tolerate low-light 🚫.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of String of Pearls in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize String of Pearls
Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your String of Pearls after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
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Any ideas on what is going on with my poor pearls?? Ive only had her for a week and all of a sudden noticed black all on top and then the pearls started dying! Any help much appreciated!!
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New pot yesterday for my String of Pearls! I might just spend my Saturday walking in and out of the room to look at it 😂 #StringOfPearls #PlantsMakePeopleHappy
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SOP dying My SOP was great when I got it. It’s on a desk in a room that receives adequate light and I’ve watered based on instructions. Just seems awful now. Can anyone advise on what I should try next to save this poor plant? #SucculentLove #
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One of my SOP flower buds has finally bloomed 😻😻😻 The entire room is full of such a lovely fragrance, just from this little bundle of tiny flowers... 🫶 #sop #stringofpearls #succulentsquad #succulentlove #succulents #bloomingsuccs #socalsuccs #tuesdaysuccs #happyplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantaddict #WickedValkyrie #socalgreg
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I’m experimenting with bottom-watering some of my plants and am wondering what your experience has been if you’ve tried it. What works? What doesn’t? Favorite pots and trays? Etc… Thank you! (Pic of Zeus, who does seem to enjoy bottom watering ☺️)
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Over watered or under? Change in weather over here in NZ is doing a number on my poor plants 😩 do these pearls look over watered?
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My string of pearls keeps shrinking #StringOfPearls my sting of pearls seems to be shrinking. Any thing I should be looking out for? I was top-watering it but just saw some of the notes on here to bottom water it. Would that be it?
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It seems dehydrated but I water it twice a week… any advise?
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I think I unalived another one. I watered it when I shouldnt have. Put in dryer soil to try to help will it come back? #StringOfPearls
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I love this little plant and I hope it grows well and long
String of Pearls is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!
💦 Water Needs
String of Pearls prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
☀️ Sunlight Needs
String of Pearls requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.
🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity
String of Pearls is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.
💨 Humidity
String of Pearls prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.
🪴 Soil
String of Pearls is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!
💩 Fertilizer
String of Pearls grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!
❄️ Dormancy
It’s common for String of Pearls to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.
🌎 Native Region
String of Pearls is native to Southwestern Africa.
🌸 Flowers
Yes, you may see your String of Pearls bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.
⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern
String of Pearls has long, trailing foliage which makes them a great addition to a hanging planter. The newest growth will emerge from the tip of the stems.
🌦️ Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
String of Pearls can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-12a. Find your local hardiness zone here.
🌱 Propagation
String of Pearls can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:
- Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
- To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.
🧐 Troubleshooting
When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.
Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.
Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.
Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.
Care Summary for String of Pearls
String of Pearls
Greg recommends:
Water
0.5 cups every 9 days
Placement
< 1ft from a window
Nutrients
Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
What other plant parents say
Fast grower 195
Survivor 133
Easy to propagate 121
Browns easily 21
Blooms easily 19
Large, lush leaves 16
Pest magnet 10
04/02/2022
it's very picky
02/25/2022
Beautiful hanging plant
Easy to propagate
02/14/2022
they unfortunately die very easily and are very picky in my experience
01/31/2022
Very slow growing. Very finicky about being dry or damp. Fun to look at but not if you’re looking for a plant that’s going to display a lot of personality.
01/29/2022
Don’t overwater
Easy to propagate
01/25/2022
They are easy to g
Easy to propagate
Fast grower
01/13/2022
Pearl is trailing 2-3 feet now even after a couple trims. Hanging in a NE window, she seems quite content to just keep growing. I find they need more water than you’d think, but Greg mostly sorts it out. Snip off a trailing piece and lay it on a small pot of well draining soil and you’ll have giftable babies in no time.
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
Survivor
01/04/2022
This plant can be a bit finicky, but I’ve found it thrives on mild neglect and is happier outdoors than indoors unless it’s below 40 degrees Fahrenheit on a regular basis. (I found this out when it was dying and I put it outside as a last ditch effort - thinking it wouldn’t last cause I get a LOT of hot Sun in summer - and it started growing like wild).
Survivor
12/28/2021
In my personal experience, my string of pearls has been very easy to care for. She’s planted in a hanging pot hung by the window, and her growth has been steady since I got her 6+ months ago.
Survivor
Fast grower
12/27/2021
This is an amazing plant that grows easy with the exact right care. But they are extremely finicky and aren’t that forgiving. They don’t like to be moved and can be a pain in the ass. They need extremely high light and the right conditions to thrive. Without that they may only last up to a year.
Fast grower
Blooms easily
12/22/2021
I love string of pearls although they can be temperamental sometimes. They do not like being repotted.
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
Survivor
12/12/2021
Don’t over water, lots of direct sun.
Fast grower
12/12/2021
This is such an easy plant to grow and so fun to watch get bigger and longer strings. One of my favorite plants and I’ve been able to give each of my roommates a propagated baby from mine! A big hit with everybody!
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
Survivor
12/01/2021
New to me but I’ll let you know.
Easy to propagate
Survivor
12/01/2021
It’s so pretty, easy to spritz, and not many plant owners have this cute little vine
11/29/2021
I've been obsessed with this plant and finally got my own. The nursery worker told me it shouldn't be repotted, but I'm glad I did. It was suffering in the nursery pot and receiving no water. Unfortunately, the soil is pretty compact right at the heart of the roots so fungus gnats love to hide there. Keeping it on a regular watering schedule is really great but be careful of overwatering! I'm really impressed at the plants growth speed. Living in the north had me concerned for the darker months, but it seems to be doing great without grow lights. I would still purchase grow lights for efficient nurturing. I personally have no interest in propagating, but it is a succulent. They're generally fairly easy.
Fast grower
Pest magnet
11/26/2021
Such a cutie
11/20/2021
Looks so cute!
11/09/2021
We got this little guy about a month ago and he’s grown so much! It’s like every time I water it, it grows more! I can’t wait to get a little face pot for it once it gets a little bigger.
Fast grower
Survivor
11/09/2021
Not actually difficult to care for. Thrives on neglect! Use toothpick to check soil when bone dry- water throughly and let dry in well ventilated area so the Pearls don’t sit in wet. Then should be good on water for a few weeks 😊
Easy to propagate
Fast grower
Survivor
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