The Sweetly, Spicy Scented Flowers Of The String Of Pearls Plant

A String of Pearls is a lovely, fascinating succulent, but did you know it blooms? I’m sharing my thoughts on String Of Pearls flowers and what makes them bloom.

String Of Pearls had me at hello. The 1st time I saw one I thought “what is this captivating succulent with the pearl-shaped leaves that must come home with me now?”. But wait, there’s more to love. In case yours has never bloomed, let me introduce you to the flowers of the String Of Pearls plant.

When I bought my 1st String Of Pearls plant years ago, I had no idea that it flowered. I was growing it indoors and didn’t get a bloom on it for 4 years. Once I started growing multiple plants outdoors in my Santa Barbara garden, that’s when I found out they really can put on quite a show.

Related: Answering Your Questions About Growing String Of Pearls

String Of Pearls Plant Flowers

A very big draw to the flowers growing off curved stems is their fragrance. To me, they smell like a cross between carnations, cloves, and cinnamon. I now live in the desert in Tucson. On warm days back in January, the scent was enticing.

One of my String Of Pearls plant really put on a big show of flowers this year but it didn’t bloom at all last year. This flowering period lasted for about 2 months. Although my plants in Santa Barbara would flower, the blooms weren’t as profuse as here this winter.

Those puffy flowers are oh so aromatic.

What did I do to get mine to flower so abundantly you ask?  Nothing. I think this succulent just blooms when it wants to. My succulents are fed with worm compost and compost early every spring; I use Tank’s local compost. Give Dr. Earth’s a try if you can’t find anywhere you live.

Worm compost is my favorite amendment, which I use sparingly because it’s rich.  I’m currently using Worm Gold Plus. Both enrich the soil naturally and slowly so the roots are healthy and the plants grow stronger.

I give most of my houseplants a light application of worm compost with a light layer of compost over that every spring. Easy does it – 1/4 to 1/2? layer of each for a larger sized houseplant. Read about my worm compost/compost feeding right here.

Don’t feed your String Of Pearls a bloom booster fertilizer in hopes of getting it to flower. Succulents don’t need or want it.

The flowers appeared all the way up & down to the very end of the long, trailing stems.

Like most succulents, String Of Pearls flower in winter or spring. I believe it’s because they need a cool period to set the blooms.  The Torch Aloes in Santa Barbara would put a huge show with their large, vibrant orange blooms on tall stems at the very of fall into winter. The cacti are starting to bloom here in the desert at the very beginning of March.

My String Of Bananas which shares real estate in the same pot with the String Of Pearls and a String Of Hearts flowered this winter but the blooms were much sparser. Because I planted this succulent from short cuttings brought from my Santa Barbara garden, I imagine there will be many more flowers on it next year. And, it’s already trailing longer than the String Of Pearls which was planted from a 6″ pot. I think a String Of Bananas care post will be coming up soon!

Each individual fiber-optic looking bloom lasted at least a few days. I pinched off the spent flowers & their stems once a week because it looked better.

Related: Tips For Growing A String Of Pearls Outdoors, 10 Reasons You May Be Having Problems Growing String Of Pearls Indoors, Repotting String Of Pearls: The Soil Mix To Use & The Steps To Take

Inside I’m thinking a String Of Pearls would need very bright light during the day and darkness at night (so not in a family room or kitchen), to be kept on the drier side and have cool evenings to set the blooms. Has yours ever flowered profusely as a houseplant? What conditions was it in and when did it begin blooming?

Happy gardening,

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY:

Tips For Growing a String Of Pearls Outdoors

Propagating A String Of Pearls Plant

How to Transplant Succulents into Pots

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How Often Should You Water Succulents?

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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.

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