How to Grow and Care for String of Pearls

Curio rowleyanus

The string of pearls plant, Curio rowleyanus, is a cool succulent vine with rounded leaves that appear to be strands of pearls or peas. Previously categorized as Senecio rowleyanus, additionally it is generally referred to as string of beads.

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Native to South Africa, it’s suited to out of doors cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 12 and grows as a houseplant in all areas.

And as with many decorative species, it’s poisonous to folks and pets, so don’t eat it and put on gloves to guard delicate pores and skin from contact dermatitis.

In case you are as intrigued by C. rowleyanus as I’m, learn on for all you could know to develop it indoors.

Right here’s what we’ll cowl:

Let’s begin with just a little background.

German botanist Herman Jacobsen recognized C. rowleyanus in 1968, naming it for famed British plant hunter, botanist, assortment curator, and author Gordon Douglas Rowley.

With out their efforts, string of pearls may not be obtainable to residence gardeners worldwide right now.

The pearl-like leaves of our topic species are plump water storage vessels. In contrast to some succulents, the stems will not be engorged with moisture however are slender and considerably fragile.

Every leaf has a noticeable darkish inexperienced line that appears like a slit. It is a fenestration or epidermal window geared up to obtain optimum daylight for photosynthesis.

C. rowleyanus copes with its arid setting by creeping horizontally, pushing roots into the soil, and forming a thick inexperienced floor cowl. Because it grows, it seeks shelter from the scalding solar and is usually present in rock crevices and beneath timber.

Small white blossoms with a cinnamon-like perfume could bloom within the summertime, though that is extra possible with out of doors flora.

When the flowers set seed, every has a fluffy “pappus,” like an aster or dandelion, that nature’s breezes would readily disperse in out of doors settings. Houseplant flowers are typically unpollinated and the seeds are unlikely to germinate.

Does string of pearls sound like a worthy contender for a brand new or current succulent assortment? Learn on for steerage on propagating a plant of your personal.

How you can Develop

When selecting a container, verify for ample drainage holes. If there’s a matching drip tray, nice. If not, discover an previous dish or lid that may catch extra water. Bear in mind to empty it.

As succulents have shallow roots, depth is seldom an issue. Nonetheless, it’s smart to pick a pot with a reasonably cosy match.

A diameter that’s one inch wider than the foliage width permits room for the watering can spout. A pot that’s too large could keep moist for such a very long time it causes roots to rot.

Soil

Use a potting medium that’s mild, ethereal, and well-draining. One formulated for cacti and succulents meets these specs and sometimes has the suitable barely acidic pH of about 6.0 that succulents favor.

A wonderful alternative is Tank’s Professional Cactus and Succulent Combine.

Tank’s Professional Cactus and Succulent Combine

This product is made with coconut husks, compost, and pumice for water retention, drainage, and optimum progress.

Tank’s Professional Cactus and Succulent Combine is obtainable from Arbico Organics in packages containing one and a half cubic toes of medium.

Bear in mind to set rooted leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, and nursery crops on the similar depth they had been of their authentic containers, no deeper than half an inch from the pot rim.

Fertilizer

Fertilize them with a liquid cactus and succulent meals diluted to half power. Feed month-to-month all through the rising season.

A product chances are you’ll like is Dr. Earth® Succulence® Cactus & Succulent Plant Meals, 1-1-2 NPK.

Dr. Earth Succulence Cactus & Succulent Plant Meals

This environmentally sound formulation is created from natural grocery store meals waste and helps succulent well being.

Combine one gallon at half power, or use 4 pumps of meals per gallon of water, to have available for biweekly purposes. Apply with a watering can.

Dr. Earth® Succulence® Cactus & Succulent Plant Meals is obtainable from Arbico Organics in 16-ounce pump bottles.

Water

Water about as soon as each two weeks or when the soil fully dries out. In the event you like, buy a moisture meter to information you. As mentioned, it’s higher to err on the aspect of too dry than too moist.

Don’t use a mister. Moist leaves are vulnerable to rotting, similar to roots. Additionally, a mister will increase the ambient humidity, which is ok for tropical flora however not for a desert succulent.

Throughout dormancy, from fall to spring, you’ll discover that you simply solely must water about as soon as a month to maintain the soil from fully drying out. Discontinue fertilizer purposes throughout this time, however proceed to supply satisfactory daylight.

Humidity

Succulents choose family humidity between 30 and 50 p.c. It is a wholesome residence vary to have as a result of, along with supporting desert plant well being, it inhibits mildew and dirt mites, two frequent allergens.

An excessive amount of moisture can result in rotting, whether or not from poor drainage, overwatering, or extreme humidity.

Mild

Caring for string of pearls is straightforward with routine. Mark your calendar or backyard planner with the approximate instances to water and feed, so that you don’t overlook.

The place to Purchase

String of pearls is offered from numerous sources, together with low cost shops and on-line distributors.

String of Pearls

The CTS Air Crops Retailer presents three starter sizes:

• One 4-inch pot
• Two 2-inch pots
• One 6-inch hanging pot

Discover string of pearls from the CTS Air Crops Retailer through Amazon now.

The variegated string of pearls, C. rowleyanus ‘Variegata,’ is an alternative choice.

Variegated String of Pearls

It has inexperienced and white leaves with mottled and striped markings for an much more putting addition to succulent groupings. Variegated foliage could develop slower and be extra delicate to mild than inexperienced.

Discover variegated string of pearls now on Amazon, in four-inch pots.

Upkeep

Even with the very best of care, a succulent often requires extra tending.

For instance, if you’re utilizing your plant to make new ones, chances are you’ll discover that the ends of the tendrils department off to kind two or extra offshoots as an alternative of a single strand of leaves.

In the event you don’t like this look, snip off these you don’t need just under a leaf.

Oversaturation is probably going if the leaves seem shrunken, squishy, and yellow. You might be able to dry a pot out by withholding water, however the harm could also be irreversible. In the event you can, salvage a number of good stems or leaves to propagate.

And within the occasion of a pest infestation, which we’ll talk about shortly, prune off badly affected foliage to revive well being and visible enchantment.

To encourage blooming, some people put their succulents in a cool, dry 55 to 60°F location throughout winter dormancy to imitate nature and stimulate the method.

One other kind of care you possibly can present entails time spent outdoor in the summertime. Progressively acclimate crops to the outside a number of hours every day and keep away from scorching direct daylight.

If humidity or rainfall are extreme, return them inside. Contemporary air is rejuvenating for indoor flora and should invigorate underperformers.

Observe that out of doors pollination could produce viable seeds. You may attempt to accumulate the little seed wisps earlier than they drift off to sow on the floor of a calmly moistened cactus and succulent potting medium.

Lastly, because the foliage grows wider, repot as wanted to keep up a comfortable match with an inch of room to water. Repot throughout dormancy to keep away from disrupting progress.

Propagation

There are a number of methods to begin a plant.

Seeds will not be available, because it’s a lot simpler and sooner to propagate succulents by taking leaf or stem cuttings and rooting them.

We’ll speak just a little about the potential for ranging from seed within the pruning and upkeep part under.

From a Leaf

1. Select a plump, unblemished leaf.
2. Use clear shears to snip the leaf from the vine.
3. Take away the quick stem or petiole that hooked up the leaf to the vine.
4. Place the snipped leaf on a paper towel in shiny oblique daylight for about three days to dry and kind a callus over the “wound.” 
5. As soon as the leaf has fashioned a callus, fill a six-inch seed starter pot three-quarters stuffed with cactus and succulent potting medium. Frivolously moisten the medium.
6. Lay the leaf on prime, and press it gently to anchor it within the moist medium.
7. Mist the soil as wanted to maintain it calmly moist however not soggy.
8. Hold the pot in a location with shiny oblique daylight, or use a develop mild.

Over the subsequent month or so, the leaf will wither because it grows roots and varieties new foliage. New progress is proof of success.

From a Stem Chopping

A fair simpler strategy to begin a brand new plant is with a stem chopping.

Right here’s how:

1. Minimize a four-inch stem from the rising finish of an extended tendril.
2. Snip off the underside leaf or leaves to create a naked stem one inch lengthy.
3. Put together the pot of soil as described above.
4. Insert the naked stem into the ready medium.
5. Hold the medium calmly moist.
6. Place the pot in shiny oblique daylight or beneath a develop mild.

New progress ought to seem in a number of weeks.

One other strategy to root a stem chopping is to put it flat on the floor of the potting medium.

Right here’s how:

1. Take a four-inch chopping.
2. Lay the lower stem on the moist medium. Press the pearls gently to anchor the stem to the medium.
3. Keep moisture as described above and supply a shiny oblique mild supply.
4. Along with rooting in potting medium, you possibly can root a stem chopping in water, as follows:
5. Take the chopping. Naked the underside inch of the stem, eradicating any hooked up foliage.
6. Place the chopping in a small jar or glass full of one inch of water.

From a Nursery Pot/Transplanting

Once you buy C. rowleyanus, it could be a small “begin” that’s a number of inches tall or a mature specimen.

Both manner, the time could come if you need to transplant it or a rooted chopping to a brand new container.

The key to success is sustaining the identical depth as within the authentic container. Succulents are prone to rotting, and people planted too deeply are probably the most weak.

When foliage is even with or one-half inch under the pot rim, it’s extra more likely to thrive and fewer more likely to rot.

As soon as propagated, it’s time to begin a excellent care routine.

Pests and Illness

Whereas our topic species just isn’t vulnerable to pests or illnesses, dry indoor environments could appeal to aphids and mealybugs.

Finest Makes use of

A dangling container that enables vines to cascade round is a putting vessel for showcasing the weird beaded strands of C. rowleyanus.

Use a non-hanging pot atop a pedestal, shelf, or mantel for a recent, modern look.

Prune the vines to desired lengths, allow them to pool across the container, or sweep them to at least one aspect for dynamic variations.

Dynamic and Ornamental

I like succulent gardening and fell instantly in love with string of pearls.

It pairs nicely with rosettes of echeveria, ruffles of crassula, and spikes of haworthia, including a brand new form and motion with its spherical foliage and dangling stems.

And when a species can be simple to take care of and water-wise, it doesn’t take lengthy for me to get on board, and I believe you could be prepared to hitch me.

Are you prepared so as to add a dynamic string of pearls to your private home decor? Will you droop or show it in a stationary pot atop a shelf or mantel?

We’d love to listen to about it within the feedback part under.

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