String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus, also marketed as Curio rowleyanus) is a popular trailing succulent often grown indoors. Its cascading vines carry round, bead-like leaves that resemble tiny green pearls, giving the plant its familiar name. During the spring, it sometimes blooms with small, white flowers that carry a hint of cinnamon fragrance.
In its native habitat of western Africa, a string of pearls spreads across stony, arid ground. Inside the home, it creates a striking display when draped from shelves or hanging pots. This plant grows quickly, with vines that may stretch up to a meter in length. Because its fleshy leaves store water, it makes an easy option for beginners or those who occasionally forget to water—typically it only needs a drink every couple of weeks.
Be mindful, though: every part of this succulent is mildly poisonous if eaten, so it’s best to keep it out of reach of kids and pets.
How to Grow String of Pearls
Place your string of pearls in a location with plenty of bright but indirect light. This succulent prefers being slightly underwatered rather than overwatered, since its fleshy leaves store moisture. Wait until the top couple of centimeters of soil feel dry before watering, ideally by setting the pot in a shallow dish of water for about 30 minutes. This method helps prevent the crown from becoming waterlogged. During the growing months, feed with a diluted houseplant fertilizer, and repot every few years in spring.
Best Location for String of Pearls
Choose an area that gets bright, indirect sunlight for most of the day. The plant can thrive in temperatures as low as 10°C, but for the best chance of blooms in spring, keep it in a cooler space between 13°C and 16°C during winter. Steer clear of draughty areas, as sudden temperature changes can stress the plant.
Planting String of Pearls
Choose a pot that is bigger than the root ball. Use cactus compost, or mix soil-based compost with sharp sand in a 3:1 ratio for good drainage. If placing it in a hanging basket or planter, handle the vines carefully, since the delicate bead-like leaves detach easily.
Caring for String of Pearls
String of pearls is quite fragile, so when you care for string of pearls, handle them with extra gentleness. Their bead-like leaves can fall off with even the slightest bump.
Water thoroughly once the top inch of the soil feels dry (you can test by pressing your finger into the compost). The best way to water is from the bottom: set the pot in a shallow tray of water and let the soil soak up the moisture. This prevents the pearls at the crown from staying wet or sitting in soggy compost. Make sure to drain away any excess, and in winter, cut watering back to a bare minimum.
During the growing season, feed once a month with a diluted liquid fertilizer at half strength. Avoid misting, as this plant doesn’t benefit from extra humidity.
Trim back any long or untidy stems to keep the plant neat and encourage fuller growth. Since the string of pearls has shallow roots, it only needs repotting every few years, ideally in spring.
How to Propagate String of Pearls
String of pearls is one of the easiest succulents to multiply, especially in spring or summer.
Step 1
Snip a healthy tendril about 10 cm long. If you’re pruning your plant, you can use the offcuts. Leave the cutting for a couple of days so the end can callus over.
Step 2
Prepare a small pot with cactus compost, or a mix of regular compost and sharp sand. Dampen the mix so it’s moist but never soggy.
Step 3
You can either lay the tendril across the surface of the soil, gently pinning it so it touches the compost, or strip off a few lower beads and plant the bare section directly into the mix.
Step 4
Keep the pot in a bright location out of direct sun. Mist the soil lightly every few days to prevent it from drying out while the roots are forming.
Troubleshooting
Shriveled Beads
Your plant isn’t getting enough water.
Beads Dropping Off
The plant is likely too cold.
Yellow, Brown, or Mushy Pearls, or Blackened Stems
This signals overwatering—either the compost is staying too wet or watering is too frequent. Since the stems are very fine and prone to rot, let the soil dry entirely and trim away any damaged growth.
