Plant of the month
Every month, we highlight a plant that deserves a special pedestal. This month, we present nature's true pearl, with shining, thick leaves hanging on long trailing vines. Can you guess which pearl of a plant we are talking about? If you guessed the String of Pearls, you were right! The String of Pearls is the name we plant lovers know this plant by, but its real name is Senecio Rowleyanus. However, String of Pearls is much easier to remember! The pearl-like foliage radiates a sense of luxury, yet is very playful at the same time. This hanging plant is already loved by many due to its easy-going nature and pretty appearance. This month, it's your chance to get your hands on this pearl because we have a delightful discount running for it all month long, woohoo!
Fun Fact! The String of Pearls is a flowering plant, producing adorable flowers with a white base and little hints of colour.
String of pearls
The String of Pearls was discovered by British botanist Gordon Douglas Rowley, who specialised in cacti and succulents. Part of its botanical name, "Rowleyanus," is derived from him. It was later categorised as a Senecio, belonging to the Asteraceae family, which is also referred to as the Daisy family. In nature, the String of Pearls is a creeping plant that crawls over the ground, with its vines attaching themselves with roots. This way of growing forms dense mats of pearls covering the ground. The String of Pearls has thick, spherical leaves, which are beneficial to the plant in the arid environments it originates from. The pearls store water, enabling the plant to thrive and stay healthy without much rain. Plants and their ability to adapt are so cool!
Care guide
With the right tips, you'll be able to grow endless trailing beaded vines. So let’s dive into how to achieve this!
Find out more below
Light
The String of Pearls prefers indirect sunlight. The light source is best directed onto the top of the pot. Direct light might scorch the pretty foliage that the plant produces, but too little light will make the plant look leggy. Keep a close eye on any of these signs and adjust accordingly.
Soil Mix
The String of Pearls is a succulent that requires a coarse potting mix. We recommend mixing your own potting mix at home using potting soil, coco peat, and perlite. We suggest the following ratio: 60% potting soil, 10% coco peat, and 30% perlite.
Water
As we know by now, the String of Pearls stores water in its thick, pearl-like foliage. That's why you should avoid overwatering the houseplant. The pearls will burst when overwatered, unable to hold that much water. On the other hand, underwatering will make the pearls brown and crispy, which is also undesirable. Water when the potting soil has dried out completely, but avoid leaving the soil dry for too long during the growing season. Depending on environmental factors, you can water the String of Pearls every other week. It's better to bottom water the plant, but alternate with top watering occasionally to prevent salt build-up.
Temperature and Humidity
The String of Pearls prefers warmth over cold. The ideal temperature range is between 18-27°C to keep the houseplant comfortable. The String of Pearls is naturally accustomed to arid environments, so you don’t have to adjust the humidity much from what it would naturally be in your house. Anywhere between 40-60% humidity will do!
Propagating
Are you successfully growing your String of Pearls and wouldn’t mind having more of these pearly plants? You can propagate the String of Pearls into many more! There are multiple ways, but our personal favourite is using a propagation box. Let’s go step by step on how to propagate your String of Pearls using this method.
Step 1
Ensure your String of Pearls is healthy, strong, and thriving. This will increase the chances of successful propagation!
Step 2
Prepare the propagation box. You will need a container, preferably clear, with either a lid or something else to close off the environment, such as plastic wrap. Fill it with sphagnum moss or a different substrate of your choice.
Step 3
It's time to cut the strings. You can cut long pieces from the plant, everything you don’t mind removing from the mother plant will do!
Step 4
Lay the pieces of String in the container, which should have a layer of moist substrate. Close the environment with a lid, plastic wrap, or even a ziplock bag.
Step 5
Now, patiently wait for new growth! This propagation method uses the natural crawling ability of the String of Pearls, almost guaranteeing success. After a few weeks, the box will show signs of new growth.
Buy String of Pearls online
Are you excited to adopt the String of Pearls after reading all this information? We totally understand, it's a great houseplant after all! You can start growing with the small version of the String of Pearls. This baby might be small but is still more than capable of shining bright like a pearl in your urban jungle! If you prefer a plant that has a bit more growth and is even ready for some propagation experiments, you can choose the medium version of the String of Pearls. Both bring lots of beauty and joy into your ever-growing home! And this month, they bring a little extra joy with a nice discount, so make sure not to miss out!