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String of Pearls care guide

String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) is a succulent that likes very bright light or direct sun and water every two weeks. Here is everything you need to keep it healthy.

Botanical nameSenecio rowleyanus
Also known asBead Plant, Rosary Vine
Plant typeSucculent
LightVery bright light or direct sun
WateringWater every two weeks
FertilizingFeed about every two months in the growing season
GrownIndoor
Type of plantOrnamental

How often to water String of Pearls

Water String of Pearls every two weeks as a baseline. Treat that as a reminder to check rather than a rule to follow blindly — push a finger an inch or two into the soil and water only if it feels dry at that depth.

Expect to water more often in warm, bright, or dry conditions, and noticeably less in winter when growth slows. A pot with drainage holes matters more than the exact interval: standing water is the most common way houseplants are lost.

Light requirements

String of Pearls prefers very bright light or direct sun. It needs as much light as you can give it, including several hours of direct sun. A south-facing windowsill or a sunny patio is ideal.

If growth becomes stretched and leggy with long gaps between leaves, it is reaching for more light. Pale or bleached patches usually mean the opposite — too much direct sun.

Feeding and fertilizer

Feed String of Pearls about every two months through the growing season using a balanced liquid fertilizer at half the strength on the label. Pause over winter — an unfed plant recovers far more easily than one with fertilizer burn.

Care notes

Flat pearls mean overwatering; shrivelled ones mean thirst. Let soil dry completely and give it bright light.

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Frequently asked questions

How often should you water String of Pearls?

As a starting point, water String of Pearls every two weeks, then adjust to your own conditions. Check the soil first: push a finger an inch or two down and only water if it feels dry at that depth. Most String of Pearls problems come from watering on a fixed schedule rather than watering when the plant actually needs it.

How much light does String of Pearls need?

String of Pearls prefers very bright light or direct sun. It needs as much light as you can give it, including several hours of direct sun. A south-facing windowsill or a sunny patio is ideal.

Should you fertilize String of Pearls?

Feed String of Pearls about every two months during the active growing season (roughly spring through early autumn) with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Stop feeding in winter, when growth slows and unused nutrients build up in the soil.

Is String of Pearls an indoor or outdoor plant?

String of Pearls is grown as an indoor plant. It does best in stable room temperatures, away from cold draughts and radiators.

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