String of pearls care guide

String of pearls is a trailing succulent with strands of round, pea-sized leaves. It looks like a beaded necklace spilling from a pot. It needs bright light and little water, and most problems come from getting one of those wrong.

Light

Give it bright light with a few hours of gentle sun. Right in an east window is ideal. A spot a few feet back from a south or west window works too.

In low light, the strands get thin, the pearls space out, and the top of the plant goes bare. Hot afternoon sun can scorch the pearls.

Hang it where the top of the pot gets light, not only the strands.

Water

Water when the soil is dry almost all the way down. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer.

In spring and summer, that is often every one to two weeks. In winter, it may be every three to four weeks.

Look at the pearls. Round, firm pearls have enough water. Pearls that wrinkle or flatten, or grow a tiny pucker, need water. Soft, mushy, or see-through pearls mean too much water. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Use cactus and succulent mix with extra perlite or pumice.

The roots are shallow. Pick a wide, shallow pot with a drainage hole. Terracotta helps the soil dry out.

Repot only every two to three years, in spring. Strands snap off with a light touch, so handle it as little as you can. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Dry room air is fine. Keep it between 16 and 27°C (60 and 80°F). A cooler, drier rest in winter, around 13 to 16°C (55 to 60°F), helps it flower.

Feeding

Feed two or three times in spring and summer with a balanced or cactus fertilizer at half strength. Skip fall and winter.

Pruning

Trim strands that get too long, or that have gone bare. Cut just above a pearl.

Fixing a bare top

The top of the pot often goes bare as the plant ages. To fill it in, coil a few long strands back on top of the soil. Press them so they touch the soil. They root where they touch and grow new strands.

Flowers

In late winter or spring, it may grow small white flowers with a sweet, spicy scent, a bit like cinnamon. A cool, dry winter rest helps it bloom.

Propagation

String of pearls roots fast from cuttings.

1. Cut a strand 10 cm (4 in) long.
2. Pull the pearls off the bottom 2 cm (1 in).
3. Let it dry for a day.
4. Lay it on top of dry cactus mix, or push the bare end into the soil.
5. Mist the soil every few days. Roots grow in two to three weeks.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Wrinkled, flat pearls, dry soil	Too dry
Wrinkled pearls, wet soil	Root rot. The roots cannot take up water.
Soft, mushy, or see-through pearls	Too much water
Bare top of the pot	Not enough light at the top, or old age
Thin strands with pearls far apart	Not enough light
Brown, dry pearls	Sunburn

When in doubt, check the soil. Shriveled pearls in wet soil need less water, not more.

Pests

Mealybugs and aphids can show up along the strands. Fungus gnats mean the soil stays too wet. Read how to get rid of fungus gnats in houseplants.

Pet safety

String of pearls is toxic to cats and dogs. The ASPCA says eating it can cause vomiting and lethargy. The round pearls tempt cats. Hang it high, out of reach.

Varieties

• Variegated string of pearls has pearls splashed with cream and pink.
• String of bananas has banana-shaped leaves and is easier to grow.
• String of dolphins has leaves shaped like jumping dolphins.
• String of hearts looks similar but is a different plant, and it is safe for pets.