The String of Pearls, also referred to as the Curio Rowleyanus, is a singular trailing succulent. If I have been to call one plant that has my coronary heart, it could be this one. I believe 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 mother and father. 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 will even share another species of this plant household on the finish of the submit.
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Potting
Whenever you get a string of pearls from a backyard retailer, what’s subsequent? You will have some well-draining succulent soil combine, which you should purchase at most backyard facilities. It has a mixture of soil and sand.
The sand helps assist in soil aeration and lets the water circulate extra freely by means of the soil. I additionally wish to put some additional perlite in my succulent soil.
Perlite is present in nature and is definitely shaped by volcanic eruptions. Perlite is nice for serving to your soil drain the water out sooner, as properly.
For pots, get one that’s about the identical dimension (undoubtedly not smaller) or a tiny bit larger than the plastic pot that it got here in (it is going to possible are available a plastic hanging basket). I like to make use of a terracotta pot or an earthenware pot.
A very powerful side when selecting a pot is that it should 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 attributable to 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 bit soil within the backside.
Subsequent, fastidiously take away your string of pearls from the pot by gently inserting your hand on high of the plant, barely wiggle the pot till the plant pops out.
You would possibly lose a number 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 underneath the rim and the pearls are all on high of the rim.
Don’t let the plant lay decrease than the pot’s rim as a result of water can pool on high of the leaves.
The plant likes to drink up gentle and path over the sting of the pot. After you have the crown of the plant positioned appropriately, take the additional dust and backfill across the plant. I like utilizing a chopstick to push down the dust across the plant.
When you’re achieved backfilling the dust, the string or pearls will possible 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’m going round the entire plant till all stems are untangled. You’ll most likely lose a number of extra pearls throughout this course of too, however it’s OK!
Be aware: Despite the fact that this plant has a number of 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 rapidly decide it up so my canine doesn’t eat them.
Mild
The string of pearls likes a shiny and sunny setting 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 a number of gentle.
Attempt to keep away from inserting it close to any vents or drafty elements of your private home (close to a door opening up within the winter, and so on.). It is not going to like every form of excessive air temperatures blowing on it. In the course of the hotter summer time months, you may also put it underneath a solar porch or lined porch to take in shiny oblique gentle.
Direct daylight might burn your plant, so attempt to keep away from it sitting within the solar for hours on finish or they are going to get scorched. When temps start to drop, deliver your plant indoors.
Earlier than you deliver it indoors, at all times verify for pests or bugs. After I was bringing in my succulents from our lined porch on the finish of summer time, I discovered a child black widow hiding underneath a leaf. This has occurred to me once more a few years later!
My lesson was realized rapidly so completely examine any plant earlier than you deliver it again into your private home.
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 usually the highest half of my string of pearls pot wants water. I exploit a small vessel with water in it and calmly water over the entire high of the plant.
Overwatering the string of pearls would be the greatest killer to your plant. You may inform if a plant is overwatered by the leaves trying squishy or they lose their deep inexperienced shade and change into a bit translucent and tender.
In case you are looking for a brand new string of pearls, be aware of this. You’ll desire a plant with deep inexperienced pearls and soil that isn’t waterlogged.
Undecided when to water your string of pearls? It actually is dependent upon the place you reside and humidity ranges. Dryer climates would require extra water and vice versa.
You may take a look at 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.
Be certain that your water temp is lukewarm to chill (consider rainwater temp). The string of pearls is not going to tolerate excessive chilly or scorching temps when watering.
They like to be watered ceaselessly 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 will you inform when it’s bone dry? The dust 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 dust drying out an excessive amount of.
If this occurred a number of occasions, it might have an effect on your leaves and plant’s root well being. One other side 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 finally rot and die. It may be a really unhappy and sluggish dying for a string of pearls.
In the event you suspect that your plant has been sitting in water for too lengthy and it might 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 possible has root rot.
If it’s not too far gone, you possibly can attempt to snip the useless roots off and go away the wholesome, agency ones. Putting the plant in recent (not waterlogged soil) will assist as properly.
What’s the finest form of water to make use of? In case you are utilizing faucet/metropolis water, you possibly can go away your faucet water out in an open container for twenty-four hours so among the chemical compounds 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 (in case you can) is a superb choice, too!
When you have properly water, then your plant will love that. My pals who’ve properly water have THE finest crops.
Propagating
You may propagate the string of pearls 3 ways! The primary manner is by utilizing water. First, discover a wholesome stem. I like to make use of stems which are at the very least 4-5 inches.
Utilizing clear scissors or slicing shears, minimize 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 minimize on the top of the stem can type a callus. Be certain that it stays out of any daylight throughout this therapeutic interval.
After 24 hours, place your recent slicing in water. The aspect of the slicing with the eliminated leafs could be positioned within the water. Preserve the remaining pearls above the water line.
Make sure you 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 dust. 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 calmly and your plant ought to begin rising.
The subsequent technique to propagate is by utilizing dust. Utilizing the identical strategies as above, you’ll snip your plant, wait 24 hours, and as an alternative of inserting it in water, place your plant in soil (properly draining, succulent soil).
Use a chopstick (or pencil) to create a recent gap on your new slicing, tuck the dust 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 technique to propagate your string of pearls is by layering. I discover this method to be the best. Take a recent pot of succulent soil, mist it, after which take a very good lengthy slicing out of your string of pearls. Swirl or coil the slicing excessive of the dust on the pot.
Fertilizing
I wish to fertilize my plant as soon as a month throughout the rising season (spring and summer time) utilizing a balanced fertilizer. I exploit half of the producer’s advisable fee after I combine my fertilizer.
I 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 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