The String of Pearls, often known as the Curio Rowleyanus, is a singular trailing succulent. If I have been to call one plant that has my coronary heart, it might be this one. I feel it’s the most lovely houseplant!
The plant originates from the southern tip of Africa, and its uniqueness makes this plant a favourite for plant dad and mom. String of Pearls is a creeping succulent that has inexperienced balls for leaves (they appear to be peas)!
On this submit, I’m going to share some recommendations on caring for a string of pearls. I may even share another species of this plant household on the finish of the submit.
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Potting
Once you get a string of pearls from a backyard retailer, what’s subsequent? You have to some well-draining succulent soil combine, which you should buy at most backyard facilities. It has a mixture of soil and sand.
The sand helps assist in soil aeration and lets the water movement extra freely via the soil. I additionally wish to put some further perlite in my succulent soil.
Perlite is present in nature and is definitely fashioned by volcanic eruptions. Perlite is nice for serving to your soil drain the water out sooner, as effectively.
For pots, get one that’s about the identical measurement (positively not smaller) or a tiny bit larger than the plastic pot that it got here in (it is going to doubtless are available a plastic hanging basket). I like to make use of a terracotta pot or an earthenware pot.
Crucial facet when selecting a pot is that it will need to have a drainage gap so the water has a manner of escaping. If the water can not escape the pot, then there’s a good probability the plant might die as a result of being waterlogged.
Subsequent, combine up your soil with a few scoops of perlite and have it able to go. Take your pot and put a little bit soil within the backside.
Subsequent, fastidiously take away your string of pearls from the pot by gently putting your hand on prime of the plant, barely wiggle the pot till the plant pops out.
You may lose a couple of pearls (leaves) on this course of, however that’s OK! Place your plant within the pot and ensure the plant sits about even with the pot’s rim. I put the roots about 1 centimeter beneath the rim and the pearls are all on prime of the rim.
Don’t let the plant lay decrease than the pot’s rim as a result of water can pool on prime of the leaves.
The plant likes to drink up mild and path over the sting of the pot. After getting the crown of the plant positioned appropriately, take the additional filth and backfill across the plant. I like utilizing a chopstick to push down the filth across the plant.
When you’re accomplished backfilling the filth, the string or pearls will doubtless want untangling (particularly when you’ve got a protracted one). Be affected person throughout this course of. If I barely tug on a stem it might snap!
Fastidiously search for a complete stem and gently untangle it so it lays draping over the pot. I am going round the entire plant till all stems are untangled. You’ll in all probability lose a couple of extra pearls throughout this course of too, however it’s OK!
Be aware: Although this plant has numerous wonderful qualities, string of pearls crops are poisonous for people and pets if ingested. If a bead (leaf) falls off a stem onto the ground, then I’ll shortly choose it up so my canine doesn’t eat them.
Mild
The string of pearls likes a vivid and sunny atmosphere in your house. An east or west going through window will work nice. I place mine proper close to a window to allow them to drink up numerous mild.
Attempt to keep away from putting it close to any vents or drafty components of your property (close to a door opening up within the winter, and many others.). It won’t like every type of excessive air temperatures blowing on it. In the course of the hotter summer time months, you may as well put it beneath a solar porch or coated porch to absorb vivid oblique mild.
Direct daylight might burn your plant, so attempt to keep away from it sitting within the solar for hours on finish or they may get scorched. When temps start to drop, carry your plant indoors.
Earlier than you carry it indoors, at all times verify for pests or bugs. After I was bringing in my succulents from our coated porch on the finish of summer time, I discovered a child black widow hiding beneath a leaf. This has occurred to me once more a few years later!
My lesson was realized shortly so totally examine any plant earlier than you carry it again into your property.
Watering
Determining a watering routine and attending to know your plant’s schedule will actually repay. String of pearls don’t wish to get soaked or sit in water for lengthy durations of time. I wish to say that I “moisten” my string of pearls as an alternative of watering them.
This helps remind me that they don’t want extreme water. The plant has a shallow root system, so typically the highest half of my string of pearls pot wants water. I take advantage of a small vessel with water in it and frivolously water over the entire prime of the plant.
Overwatering the string of pearls would be the largest killer to your plant. You’ll be able to inform if a plant is overwatered by the leaves trying squishy or they lose their deep inexperienced coloration and grow to be a bit translucent and mushy.
If you’re searching for a brand new string of pearls, be aware of this. You’ll desire a plant with deep inexperienced pearls and soil that’s not waterlogged.
Undecided when to water your string of pearls? It actually will depend on the place you reside and humidity ranges. Dryer climates would require extra water and vice versa.
You’ll be able to check the soil by sticking your finger in part of the soil to verify moisture ranges or elevate your pot to see if it has any weight from holding water.
Ensure your water temp is lukewarm to chill (consider rainwater temp). The string of pearls won’t tolerate excessive chilly or scorching temps when watering.
They like to be watered steadily within the spring and summer time months (throughout its rising season), however again off on frequent watering within the fall/winter months. The string of pearls likes to dry out however not be bone dry.
How are you going to inform when it’s bone dry? The filth across the circumference of the pot will draw back from the pot. If this has occurred, no worries, give it a watering and attempt to water your plant sooner subsequent time to keep away from the filth drying out an excessive amount of.
If this occurred a number of instances, it might have an effect on your leaves and plant’s root well being. One other facet of root well being is root rot. This may be detrimental to your plant.
Root rot occurs when the roots stand in water too lengthy and so they ultimately rot and die. It may be a really unhappy and gradual loss of life for a string of pearls.
Should you suspect that your plant has been sitting in water for too lengthy and it may need root rot, pull it out of the pot to examine the roots. If the roots are agency and grayish white, that’s nice. If they’re mushy and look blackish, then your plant doubtless has root rot.
If it’s not too far gone, you may attempt to snip the useless roots off and depart the wholesome, agency ones. Putting the plant in recent (not waterlogged soil) will assist as effectively.
What’s the finest type of water to make use of? If you’re utilizing faucet/metropolis water, you may depart your faucet water out in an open container for twenty-four hours so a number of the chemical substances evaporate. After 24 hours, the water is cleaner and more healthy on your plant!
Fluoride and chlorine can construct up in your string of pearls root system, so this technique of leaving your water out will repay in the long term. Utilizing filtered water or collected rain water (if you happen to can) is a superb choice, too!
In case you have effectively water, then your plant will love that. My associates who’ve effectively water have THE finest crops.
Propagating
You’ll be able to propagate the string of pearls 3 ways! The primary manner is through the use of water. First, discover a wholesome stem. I like to make use of stems which can be at the very least 4-5 inches.
Utilizing clear scissors or slicing shears, reduce your stem. Take away any beads about 1.5-2 inches from the underside of the slicing.
Go away the stem laying out for twenty-four hours so the recent reduce on the top of the stem can type a callus. Ensure it stays out of any daylight throughout this therapeutic interval.
After 24 hours, place your recent slicing in water. The facet of the slicing with the eliminated leafs may be positioned within the water. Maintain the remaining pearls above the water line.
You should definitely change water anytime it will get cloudy and rinse out your vessel. Place in a sunny spot in your house. After 3-4 weeks you need to see little roots sprouting from the slicing!
Wait till the roots are at the very least 1 inch lengthy earlier than you plant it in filth. As soon as it is able to be potted, use a small terra-cotta or clay pot with good draining cactus/succulent soil.
I like to make use of a chopstick to create little holes for the newly rooted plant. Moisten frivolously and your plant ought to begin rising.
The subsequent approach to propagate is through the use of filth. Utilizing the identical strategies as above, you’ll snip your plant, wait 24 hours, and as an alternative of putting it in water, place your plant in soil (effectively draining, succulent soil).
Use a chopstick (or pencil) to create a recent gap on your new slicing, tuck the filth across the plant. I wish to mist my plant to maintain the soil barely moist and never bone dry.
After about three weeks, I give the plant a really light tug to see whether it is rooting. If the brand new slicing stays in place, then I do know new roots are forming. That is at all times thrilling! In case your plant has began to type roots, then it’s prepared for a watering.
One other approach to propagate your string of pearls is by layering. I discover this strategy to be the best. Take a recent pot of succulent soil, mist it, after which take a great lengthy slicing out of your string of pearls. Swirl or coil the slicing excessive of the filth on the pot.
Fertilizing
I wish to fertilize my plant as soon as a month in the course of the rising season (spring and summer time) utilizing a balanced fertilizer. I take advantage of half of the producer’s really helpful price once I combine my fertilizer.
I really like liquid fertilizer as a result of it mixes so simply with the water and I don’t have to fret about it not being evenly distributed in my crops.
One factor I really like about this species of plant is the totally different varieties. Pictured above is “String of Turtles”—the turtles appear to be little turtles backs. “String of Watermelons” are plump and their leaves resemble a watermelon (pictured beneath).
Aren’t they distinctive and kooky? I hope you take pleasure in these crops as a lot as me! -Janae
