A string of pearls is also called Senecio Rowleyanus or Rosary String of Beads. This is a very delicate plant that is succulent that thrives in a warm and dry environment. The major problem for the String of pearls plant is under watering or over the watering plant. To overcome this we have to change the watering type. There are two types watering from the top and watering from the bottom.
The string of pearls feels good when you water it from the bottom because the top of your pot is crowded with a string of pearls of plant, then you are watering the whole plant.(which succulents don’t like). If there is only one line of beads or two and the pot has empty space then you can water from the top.
Here are things I follow when to water from top and bottom.
Watering from Bottom for string of pearls plant
I suggest watering the string of pearls plant by bottom because it’s difficult to check the moisture content of soil by finger as the plant will be crowded in less space.
We need to choose the pot accordingly to water the plant from the bottom.
Watering from top for string of pearls plant
watering the string of plants will make the whole plant wet, and sometimes if we make the beats also wet then there will be more chances of it being attracted by pests.
Sometimes it is difficult to make out for a string of pearls kind of plant to check the moisture by finger because the plant will be crowded in less space. At this time we choose to water from the bottom.
when you water from the top you also face many problems like overwatering.
Overwatering string of pearls plant
Don’t water the plant blindly with the duration (1 or 2 days interval). Check the soil before you water the string of pearls plant.
Avoid watering if the top layer of the soil is already moist. you can check the soil moisture by moisture meter or simply by finger.
Overwatering leads to the major problems of plant-like root rot and fungal infections, when a string of pearls plant overwatered, leaves that store the water burst and become white spots.
Water thoroughly but don’t overwater the plant. Ensure you have a drainage hole in the pot so that water won’t stay a long time in the pot.
Don’t use slow draining Soil for string of pearls plant
slow draining soil is always a problem for any plant. If you use slow draining soil for a string of pearls plant then it will cause root rot problem for sure.
Slow draining soil and less exposure light are the main causes of root rot and eventually plant will get infested by pests or it will have mold and the plant start turning white, brown, black.
Root Rot of String of Pearls plant, because of overwatering
In the string of pearls plant if we use low draining soil or over water the plants where water sits near roots. This will affect the plant roots.
when the roots got weak then it’s easy for pest infestation or causes mold so this will make the string of pearls turn white in long term.
Pest Investation
A string of pearls plant is mostly affected by bugs or pests as sap-sucking creatures that drain the nutrients from plants and weaken the string of pearl plants.
Mealybugs are one of the bugs which can easily be found on plants, white substance on a string of pearl plants. These bugs easily multiply in less time and cause many problems for a good-looking string of pearls succulent plant.
When these pests are attacked lead to white molds on plants and stop their growth of plants.
Spider mites on a string of pearls plant. If you find the web-like structure on a plant then it is affected by spider mites. They are commonly in red color and belong to the spider family.
Scale infection is also one of the things we found in strings of pearls. use the below solution to fix the problems.
we need to keep checking always if the string of pearls is attacked by any pests if they are not identified at an early stage then they can kill the plant.
Solution:
- seperate the infected plant from other plants, prune the infected and damaged part of the plant.
- Dip the cotton in rubbing alchol and dab the areas where you notice the insects,
- Use insecticides to plant that attacks the outer body of pests and kill them.
- Use 1 tea spoon of Neem oil with 1 gallon of water and spray it on the plant every 7-14 days.
- wash the plant under running water to get rid of certain pests such as spider mites.
- Use Horticulture oil to fix the scale infection on string of pearl plants.
Molds
The white substance on the top layer of the soil basically molds and they are harmless, If you leave the molds untreated then it will attract other problems for the plant.
Make sure the plant doesn’t sit on excess water after watering, use well drainable soil. provide sufficient light and adequate water.
Keep checking plants once they have molds so that you won’t miss any signs.
Solution:
- Provide sufficient sunlight to plant.
- give adequate water to plant.
- make sure plant doesn’t sit on excess water for too long.
- Use well drainable soil so that it won’t sit in water.
- Use filter water to watering string of pearls plant (to eliminate excess salts like fluoride).
- Don’t water blindly check soil before watering.
- Reduce the watering during winter as the plant is in dormant period.
Underwatering String Of Pearls Plant
Water once or twice a week is more than enough for the string of pearls plant during summer, if it is winter then I only water once every week.
Solution:
- Check the soil before you water the string of pearls plant.
- Water if the top layer of the soil is dry.
- Usually i water twice a week, this can differ depending on climate contions, sun intensity and humidity.
- In dormant period we need to water less compared to summer because growth of plant will be reduced.
Water thoroughly but don’t overwater the plant. Ensure you have a drainage hole in the pot so that water won’t stay a long time in the pot.
If you Overwater leads to major problems like root rot and fungal infections, when a string of pearls plant overwatered, the plant will die if action is not taken in time.
You also need to take care of potting mix as if the water sits for more time, then it leads to another problem.
you may also read this to know how tap water affects the string of pearls plant.
Chlorine or Fluroid in Water affects string of pearls plant
Water the plant only when it is dry, If you find the top layer of the soil kind of white substance then extra salts that have in the water. So avoid using Tap water.
Use filtered water to water the plants. Give more light to a string of pearl plants.
Reduce quantity and frequency of watering in winter (dormant period).
Final Thoughts:
These are the tips I normally use to water my string of pearls plants, I always water my string of pearls plant from the bottom. Let me know in the comments how do you find these tips are they useful?
