GreenlyHow to grow String of pearls
Curio rowleyanus · string of beads
Trailing succulent from the dry regions of South Africa with pea-sized round leaves that store water, on thin stems that can hang 90 cm or more. Ideal for hanging pots and high shelves.
Quick facts
| Type | Houseplant |
|---|---|
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Light | Partial shade |
| Frost | does not tolerate frost |
| Soil for sowing | from 10 °C |
| Where it grows | At home |
When to plant
Sow straight into the bed after your last spring frost, once the soil has warmed.
Care
At home
| Stage | Watering | Temperature | Feeding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | every 10 days | 10…25 °C | balanced (NPK), 14 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 44 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 74 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 104 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 134 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 164 days into the stage |
| Winter rest | every 20 days | 10…16 °C | — |
Growing notes
Light
Bright light, such as an east- or west-facing window. Keep it out of direct midday sun in summer, which scorches the leaves; in too little light the stems grow weak and straggly.
Soil
Free-draining, gritty cactus and succulent compost, or two parts loam-based compost to one part grit. Use a pot with plenty of drainage holes, only slightly larger than the old one; terracotta suits it.
Care
Easily killed by overwatering. From April to September water lightly and let the compost dry out between waterings, never leaving the pot standing in water; in winter water sparingly, just enough to keep the leaves from shrivelling. Keep it at 10–25 °C, away from cold draughts and radiators. Feed at most once a month from April to September with a general liquid fertiliser at half strength. Stem cuttings root easily. Toxic if eaten, and the sap can irritate skin, so keep it out of reach of children and pets.
Sources
Figures checked against these sources.