How to Grow String of Pearls
Curio rowleyanus
String of Pearls is a striking trailing succulent with bead-like spherical leaves, ideal for hanging baskets in bright indirect light. Water sparingly — the bead-shaped leaves store moisture, so let the soil dry out almost completely between waterings. Use free-draining cactus compost and keep above 10°C. Overwatering and direct summer sun are the two most common causes of failure.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Feed monthly with a diluted balanced liquid fertiliser from spring through summer. Reduce to every 6–8 weeks in autumn and stop feeding in winter.
Watch For
- Mealybugs (white cottony clusters at stem nodes)
- Root rot from overwatering
- Aphids on new growth
- Shrivelled pearls from underwatering or too much direct sun
Track your String of Pearls care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Bright indirect light; avoid direct midday sun.
Place near a bright window but shield from harsh summer sun, which scorches the bead-like leaves. A north-facing windowsill is too dark; south- or east-facing with a sheer curtain is ideal.
💧 Watering
Very sparing; allow compost to dry almost completely between waterings.
In summer water every 2–3 weeks; in winter reduce to once a month or less. Always check the compost is dry before watering — the spherical leaves store moisture and are extremely rot-prone.
🌱 Fertilizing
Monthly balanced feed in spring and summer; none in winter.
Use a balanced liquid fertiliser at half the recommended dose once a month from spring through summer. Taper off in autumn and stop entirely from November to February.
✂️ Pruning
Trim dead or bare strands to keep the plant tidy.
Cut back any strands that have lost their beads or become brown and shrivelled. Healthy cuttings of 10–15 cm can be laid on moist cactus compost to root.
🌿 Humidity
Average household humidity is fine; no misting.
String of pearls does not need high humidity and dislikes water on its leaves. Keep away from humidifiers, steamy kitchens, and bathrooms.
Growing Tips
The pearls tell you everything
Plump, firm beads mean the plant is happy. Shrivelled beads mean underwatering; mushy or translucent beads mean overwatering or root rot.
Hang it high, not in a window
Bright indirect light from a few feet back suits string of pearls better than a sunny windowsill — direct midday sun scorches the beads within days.
Repot only when rootbound
This plant thrives slightly pot-bound and dislikes root disturbance. Only repot every 2–3 years into a pot just one size larger with fresh cactus compost.
Toxic — keep away from pets
All parts of Curio rowleyanus are toxic to cats, dogs, and children. Display out of reach in hanging pots.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Mealybugs
Identification: White cottony deposits at stem nodes and where beads meet the stem; sticky honeydew may be present.
- Dab colonies with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol; repeat weekly.
- Spray with a diluted neem oil solution, ensuring coverage under the bead strings.
- Apply a systemic insecticide containing imidacloprid to the compost.
Pest Aphids
Identification: Small green or black insects clustering on new growth at stem tips.
- Blast off with a gentle stream of water, then spray with diluted insecticidal soap.
- Introduce or encourage natural predators such as ladybirds in a greenhouse setting.
- Spray with a pyrethrin-based contact insecticide.
Pest Vine Weevil
Identification: Notched leaf edges from adult beetles; sudden wilting and collapse from cream grubs eating roots.
- Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to the compost in autumn or spring when soil is above 5°C.
- Drench compost with a vine weevil killer containing imidacloprid or acetamiprid.
Disease Root Rot Pythium spp. / Phytophthora spp.
Symptoms: Mushy or translucent beads; blackened soft stems at the base; plant wilts despite moist compost.
Treatment: Remove from pot, cut away all blackened roots and stems, dust cuts with sulphur, and repot into fresh dry cactus compost. Withhold water for 2–3 weeks.
Prevention: Never let the plant sit in water; use a terracotta or unglazed pot for better moisture evaporation; allow compost to dry almost completely between waterings.
Disease Grey Mould Botrytis cinerea
Symptoms: Fuzzy grey mould on beads or stems, usually starting where moisture has collected.
Treatment: Remove all affected material, improve air circulation, and reduce humidity around the plant.
Prevention: Avoid misting, keep in a well-ventilated spot, and never leave water sitting in saucers.
Log String of Pearls in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
Start planning free