String of Pearls

To start new plants, remove 4 inches (10 cm.) of terminal plant material.

Cut in between the pea-like leaves to make a cutting that is now about 2 inches (5 cm) long.

Make sure the stem is green, unblemished and not desiccated or otherwise damaged.

Use a good succulent potting mix or make your own with a 50/50 mixture of compost and horticultural sand.

Moisten this lightly but thoroughly.

You can insert the cutting by removing the bottom leaves and covering the cleared end in soil or simply coil the cutting on top of the soil, lightly pressing it into contact with the growing medium.

Rooting string of pearls can take several months.

During this time, keep the container in bright, indirect light in a warm location.

Mist the container every few days to keep the top of the soil where the cutting is in contact lightly moist.

Be careful not to over water, which can cause the end of the cutting to rot.

After about a month, reduce watering to just when the top of the soil feels dry.

After 6 months, during the growing season, feed the plant with liquid succulent plant food or a balanced all-purpose houseplant food of 12:12:12, diluted to half strength every other week.

Suspend feeding during the dormant months.

In time, your cuttings will send out new stems and fill in.

You can repeat the propagation process over and over and create as many of these charming plants as you can

A String of Pearls plant can be grown outdoors, but it can also do really well indoors with the correct soil, watering and light situation.

Being a succulent, the pearls store water inside.

This is good because it means it can even handle a little neglect.

String of Pearls Plant Care Tips

The String of Pearls plant is very easy to care for. Start out having the basics right, soil, light, and water.

Your String of Pearls will grow long and full in no time.

Soil for a String of Pearls plant

The most common reason for a String of Pearls plant to run into problems is root rot, caused by overwatering.

So make sure your pearls are in a fast draining succulent potting mix. You can take it a step further, by adding some pumice or perlite to the soil.

Light

The Sting of Pearls plant likes a lot of light. It can handle a spot on a sunny window sill.

Direct light is ok, but preferably not all day.

If you can, give your plant a few hours of direct morning sun, followed by bright, indirect light for the rest of the day.

Water

When to water your String of Pearls plant.

Look at your pearls. When they start to shrivel, and the soil feels dry, it is time to water.

How to water the String of Pearls depends on the season you’re in.

During summer the pearls are in their growing mode, water when you notice the soil starts to dry out.

In winter the plant is resting. So it needs less water. Water sparingly just enough to moisten the soil.

Wait until the soil is nearly dry throughout before you water again.