How to Care For String Of Pearls: A Beautiful Hanging Succulent

The String Of Pearls plant had me at first sight.

I knew this was a plant I wanted for my very own one day. When I moved to Santa Barbara, quite a few pots had been left behind at my new home by the previous owner. I zoomed in on one of them for a String of Pearls.

Fortunately, they’re easy to find here. Four years ago I bought a 2″ plant and in it went into the large pot on the patio outside my dining room planted along with the Coprosma, Plectranthus, and whatever seasonal annuals catch my fancy. It grew fairly fast and tends to trail rather than spread so I figured it was time for a little propagation.

NOTE: This post was published on 4/4/2013. I’m updating it on 3/22/2023. It’s one of the very first posts that I ever wrote. My, how blogging has changed!

I’ve since written nine more posts on the String Of Pearls plant. Rather than do an extensive update on this one, I’m just going to list the more current posts right below and you can refer to those for much more information on this fascinating succulent.

strings of the string of pearl plant on top of a grey rustic background

Posts With More Details About Growing A String Of Pearls Plant (newer to older)

Propagating A String Of Pearls

As evident in the picture above, I’ve been cutting them off when they hit the ground. They trail down about 3′. Where they’ve been cut, a split or 2 occurs. From there, they keep on growing from there.

This would usually trigger any other plant to spread but with this one, it just keeps growing lengthwise and not widthwise. So it was time to pull out my floral nips (their long pointed blades are great for taking cuttings) and get busy.

I cut off a few of those long, slender stems and stripped the top round leaves (aka “the pearls) off so I could stick those stems right back into the pot. I make sure at least 3 or 4 leaf nodes are down into the soil – that’s where the roots emerge from.

This pot is filled with good organic potting soil and regularly top-dressed with both compost and worm compost so no soil prep is necessary here. I have lots of succulents in my yard which I normally heal off. But, with these stems being so minuscule in diameter, I skip that step and directly plant them back in.

Read about my worm compost/compost feeding right here.

How to Care for String of Pearls (outdoors)

The light exposure is bright but not direct – the Coprosma shades it from any direct afternoon sunlight. Soil that is well-drained, such as potting soil or cactus mix, is very important because they like to completely dry out between waterings.

Those round little pearls store water in them. Like any succulent, what I am going to tell you next is important to its survival:

Do not overwater this plant.

I can selectively and routinely water the Coprosma, Plectranthus, and annuals. This gives the String of Pearls a drink when I feel it needs it.

As for insects and diseases, mine stays free and clear. So, there’s no personal advice I can give on that.

By the way, they do flower but the small white, fuzzy blooms are pretty insignificant when it comes to size. But boy, they are sweetly scented! This plant is popular because it’s unusual and a conversion piece, not for a showy flower display.

Warning: This is an old video!

string of pearls plant close up, you can see the resemblance of the leaves with real pearls. They look like pearls but are green

Those adorable little leaves which I call “peas.”

Want to learn more about How to Care for Succulents Indoors? Check out these guides!

Well, there you have it, how to care for String Of Pearls (outdoors) in a nutshell. String Of Pearls plants are most commonly sold as houseplants, so be sure and check out those more current posts listed at the top.

Happy gardening,

Additional Care Guides on Succulents

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About the Author
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Nell Foster

Nell, the founder of Joy Us garden, was born into a gardening family and grew up in Connecticut’s countryside. After living in Boston, New York, San Francisco, & Santa Barbara, she now calls the Arizona desert home. She studied horticulture & garden design, working in the field all her life. Nell is a gardener, designer, blogger, Youtube creator, & author. She’s been gardening for a very long time & wants to share what she’s learned with you.

www.joyusgarden.com/about/

166 Comments

Hi Jenny – I selectively tip prune (by 2-3 pearls) a few stems of my SOPs every couple of months. This encourages them to fill in a bit on top without loosing much of the length. Also, you may need to change the mix – succulent & cactus mix ensures that succulents drain out as they need too. And, back off on the watering in the colder, darker months. Nell

Hi Nell,
I got string of pearls online. I need your help to grow this. Give me some tips for germination.
Should I soak these seeds before sowing?
Till it germinate should I put net above the pot?
How long it will take for germination?
Is String of pearls exist in blue color as it mentioned in internet?

Hi Ramya – I’ve only propagated SOP from stem cuttings & the pearls, never by seed. I lived in So Cal from many years & saw many SOP plants at many nurseries. I’ve never seen a blue variety or heard that it exists. Nell

Hi Nell!
Thanks so much for providing such an informative website and Youtube channel for us newbie plant lovers! I have tried growing the string of pearls plant a few times with no luck. I really love this plant so I’m trying again.

I think the plant is trying to tell me something. I’ve noticed that the pearls at the ends of the strings are more teardrop shaped than pearl. Does that mean something?

Also, with all my previous plants, this one included, I’ve noticed that when it starts to die, it starts from the root/soil outwards. I’ve moved recently and this newest plant has only known my new place, which gets a ton of bright light, I have windows in all 4 directions!

Do you have any ideas on what I may be doing wrong? I try not to water too much, I don’t have it in full sun, I talk to it…

Thanks again!
Natasha

P.S. I’m in Ontario, Canada.

Hi Natasha – Happy to share what I know; & you’re very welcome! The pearls turned teardrop shape & get shriveled when they’re dying. A few strings dying out is normal. There are 2 reasons why people can have problems with SOP indoors – watering too frequently & not enough light. I’ve found that they need watering more frequently than succulents with larger fleshy leaves & stems but are subject to rot. And, water even less frequently in winter. Because of this, the soil needs to drain really well. Mine grows in bright shade outdoors in the desert but indoors they do best in high light. Hope that helps! Nell

Hi Nell! Thank you very much for this post. I just bought a string of pearls and I would like to know how to water it. I mean, do I spray the plant from above with water or inmerse the pot in water so that only the roots get wet?

Thanks in advance,

Hi Angelica – I just water mine like I do any other plant. They’re growing in very bright natural light & are planted in a light succulent & cactus mix which drains fast. I water until it runs out the bottom & then water again when the plant is dry. Nell

Enjoy all of your useful tips for growing string of pearls and string of bananas.

Hi Lila – I so glad to hear that! I have some new SOP posts & videos coming up soon. Happy gardening, Nell

Hi Nell. Thanks for the great information you’ve shared with us. two days ago I bought one of these beautiful String Of Pearls, but unfortunately, in my appartment (and specially in the place that i actually want to hang this flower) there is no light!!:( so… I’m not gonna be able to grow one of these?:( don’t they grew in the shade? or… can i use artificial light? I’d be very thankful if you respond to my question

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