String Of Pearls Curio rowleyanus (syn. Senecio rowleyanus)

Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this

A trailing succulent whose slender stems are strung with dozens of plump, pea-sized 'pearls,' each leaf shaped to a sphere to hoard water and limit sun exposure. Cascading from a hanging pot, it's a living strand of beads — striking, fast-trailing, and famously fussy about water.

Light

String of pearls wants bright light to keep its pearls plump and its strands full. Indoors, an east window with gentle morning sun or a spot just back from a bright south/west window is ideal; it will take a few hours of soft direct sun but harsh midday glare through glass scorches the beads, leaving translucent or shriveled pearls. Too little light is the more common problem in a hanging pot — strands stretch, gaps open between pearls, and growth pales and slows. Because it trails downward, the lower strands often sit in shadow, so rotate the pot or hang it where light reaches the full length. A grow light keeps strands dense through dim winters.

Watering

This is where most string of pearls plants are lost. Use the soak-and-dry method: water thoroughly until it runs from the drainage holes, then let the soil dry out almost completely before watering again — roughly every two to three weeks in growth and far less in winter. The pearls themselves are your gauge: firm and round means hydrated, while soft, flattened, or wrinkled pearls signal real thirst. Overwatering bursts and rots the beads from the inside, turning strands to mush, and the shallow, delicate roots rot fast in soggy mix. When unsure, wait — a slightly thirsty plant recovers in a day; a drowned one rarely does.

Soil & potting

Use a gritty, fast-draining cactus or succulent mix, or cut standard potting soil heavily with perlite, pumice, or coarse sand so it dries quickly and never stays sodden around the fine roots. String of pearls has a shallow, modest root system, so it does well in a wide, shallow hanging pot rather than a deep one that holds excess water at the bottom. Always choose a container with drainage holes — terracotta helps wick moisture away. Repot only every couple of years; it actually flowers and trails best when slightly snug, so resist sizing up too far.

Humidity & temperature

String of pearls is a dry-air succulent, happiest at 65–80°F in average to low household humidity — it does not want the muggy conditions tropical houseplants enjoy. It tolerates warmth well but is not frost-hardy; protect it from anything below about 40°F, as a freeze turns the pearls to translucent mush. In Zones 10–12 it can trail outdoors year-round in part shade, but elsewhere it's grown in pots and brought in before frost. Give it good air circulation and keep it off cold winter windowsills, where chilled glass can damage the strands nearest the pane.

Fertilizing

String of pearls is a light feeder that needs very little. During spring and summer, apply a balanced succulent or cactus fertilizer diluted to quarter or half strength roughly once a month, watering it in so the salts don't sit against the delicate roots. Stop feeding entirely in fall and winter while growth slows. Over-fertilizing pushes weak, leggy strands and soft pearls that rot easily, so err well on the side of too little. Fresh mix every couple of years supplies most of what the plant needs, making heavy feeding unnecessary.

Pruning & maintenance

Pruning keeps string of pearls full rather than bald at the top — a common look as it ages. Trim back overly long or sparse strands with clean snips just above a pearl; the cut strand branches and the plant bushes out. Don't discard the trimmings: each is a ready-made cutting. Pinch off any mushy, rotted, or shriveled sections promptly to stop rot spreading down a strand. To fill a thin crown, lay a few cuttings back onto the soil surface of the same pot so they root in and thicken the top.

Propagation

Few succulents root as easily. Snip a healthy strand a few inches long, strip the pearls from the bottom inch, and let the cut end callus for a day. Then either lay the strand flat on top of dry succulent mix and press the bare section into contact with the soil, or coil it on the surface — roots form at each spot a pearl was removed. Keep the mix barely moist until rooted in two to three weeks, then water normally. Laying several cuttings into the parent pot is the fastest way to a lush, full strand.

Common problems

Shriveled or mushy pearlsPlump, firm pearls mean healthy — shriveling is thirst, mushy translucence is overwatering.→Leggy strands with sparse pearlsLong gaps between pearls almost always mean not enough light.→

Through the year

Spring

Growth resumes — return to regular soak-and-dry watering, begin light monthly feeding, and trim and re-root strands to fill out the crown.

Summer

Peak trailing season — give bright light, water only when the soil fully dries, and watch for scorch if midday sun hits the strands directly.

Fall

Growth slows — stretch the time between waterings, stop fertilizing, and bring any outdoor pots in before the first frost.

Winter

Near-dormant — water sparingly, keep it bright but above 40°F, and move it off cold glass to protect the strands.

Recommended supplies for String Of Pearls

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