String of Pearls

Round green pearls strung on thin stems, each bead with a tiny clear window line. It is one of the most asked for trailers I sell, and one of the most overwatered.

Light

Bright light, with direct sun on the top of the pot part of the day. That top light keeps it thick.

Water

Wait until the soil is dry and the pearls look a touch less plump, then water lightly and drain.

Food

I use a low nitrogen succulent food at quarter strength just a couple of times in spring and summer, and nothing in winter. Rich food makes the pearls soft, burst, and rot easy, so I keep it very lean.

Soil

I use a shallow, gritty but slightly rich mix, about 40 percent succulent soil and 60 percent perlite or pumice, with a bit of coarse sand. Shallow matters because the roots are fine and a deep wet pot rots them. I do not use heavy potting soil alone, pure peat, or fine sand.

Growing in Water

Cuttings only. A string can root in water if only the bare stem end is in, the pearls stay out, and I change the water every few days, but the plant belongs in soil. I prefer coiling it on gritty soil and pinning it, and I move any water start to soil once roots show.

Don't

• Don't water weekly just because it is small. Mushy pearls mean it got more than it could hold.
• Don't hang it with the crown in shadow. It balds on top, and that fixes slow.
• Don't bury the strings to tidy it. Lay them on top instead.

Good to Know

It is toxic to pets if chewed, so keep the basket hung high. Coiling a string on the soil roots it at many points and thickens the pot.