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String of pearls

Curio rowleyanus

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String of pearls · Curio rowleyanus

Trailing strands of round bead-like leaves that need a bright spot.

Care and placement

Needs bright light (bright indirect to a few hours of gentle sun), a very gritty mix and infrequent watering; overwatering is the easiest way to kill it; 18–27 °C and dry air.

Draft mature dimensions

Maximum height (cm): 60 cm · Maximum spread (cm): 40 cm

Things to consider

The plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids: sap irritates skin, and eating it causes vomiting, diarrhea, drooling and lethargy; the genus Senecio is listed by ASPCA as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Hang it out of reach of children and pets.

Unknown evidence does not mean safe. Decorative plants are not automatically edible.

Information is compiled from multiple reputable sources for reference. If you spot an error, please contact us so we can check and update it.

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How to grow and care for it

  1. Planting and pot

    Use a gritty, very free-draining mix (cactus mix or soil, coarse sand and perlite 1:1:1) in a shallow hanging pot with drainage holes.

  2. Light

    Bright light: bright indirect or 2–3 hours of gentle morning or late sun. Low light stretches strands and makes small, spaced pearls.

  3. Watering

    Water only when the top half of the mix is completely dry: about every 10–14 days in bright summer, 3–4 weeks when cool or dim; bottom watering keeps the surface dry. Persistently shriveled pearls mean thirst or heat (a deep soak re-plumps them within a day); bursting, mushy or yellow pearls mean too much water.

  4. Feeding

    A very light feeder: diluted cactus fertilizer once or twice in the growing season.

  5. Pruning

    Remove damaged or bare strands; overlong strands can be trimmed to thicken the plant and used as cuttings.

  6. Propagation

    Very easy: take 10 cm tip cuttings and lay them lightly covered on moist mix; roots form quickly at the nodes; or strip the base leaves, let them callus for 1–2 days and plant. Roots form in a few weeks. Water rooting is for starting only, then move to soil.

  7. Pests and common problems

    Mainly rot from overwatering; shriveled pearls from drought or heat, mushy ones from excess water. Mealybugs and aphids may occur.

  8. For plentiful, healthy leaves

    For long, plump strands: bright light, a gritty draining mix, correct sparing water and good airflow in a hanging pot. With enough light it may bear small white cinnamon-scented flowers in late winter.