String of Pearls Care: Light, Water and Fuller Growth

A thin, balding string of pearls usually comes down to three things: too little light, too much water, or soil that stays wet. Fix those and coil a few long strands back onto the bare soil, and the pot will fill in over the following weeks.

It's very common for this plant to go bald on top while the ends keep lengthening, so don't feel bad if yours looks like a string of lonely peas. Here's how to care for string of pearls so it gets fuller instead of longer.

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How do you make a string of pearls fuller?

Take one or two of the longest strands and lay them across the bare soil in a loose circle near the crown. The plant roots at the nodes, where a pearl meets the stem, so the stem only needs to touch the soil. A bent paperclip or floral pin holds it down.

Keep the strand attached to the mother plant while it roots. It keeps getting water and nutrients that way, so it settles in faster than a cutting would.

If you want instant density, plant several small nursery plants together in one pot instead of waiting on a single one. As an architect, I'd rather build volume from multiple starts than ask one plant to fill a pot alone.

What light does string of pearls need?

Most houseplants look their best in bright, indirect light indoors, according to Iowa State Extension. For string of pearls, bright indirect light is the baseline, and a few hours of direct sun suits it well. West Virginia University Extension says succulents indoors prefer a bright, sunny windowsill with at least six hours of direct daylight.

Too little light shows up as small pearls spaced far apart on the stem and a thin crown. Too much can burn or wash out the leaves, as the University of Wisconsin houseplant guide describes.

What is the best place to put a string of pearls?

Near a bright window. Light drops off quickly with distance, and areas more than a few feet from even bright windows are often too dim for houseplants. A high shelf in a dark corner is the classic way to get a bald crown.

• Windowsill: best light, but watch for winter drafts and cold glass.
• Hanging planter: good, as long as you can lower it easily to water and inspect it.
• Shelf: put the pot at the front edge so stems don't drag across the shelf and flatten.

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What soil and pot work best?

Think of soil as the foundation. If drainage is poor, everything above it suffers. This plant has a shallow, fine root system, so use a gritty mix: potting soil with plenty of perlite, pumice or coarse sand. Equal parts organic and mineral is a common starting point.

Choose a shallow pot. Wisconsin Horticulture advises a shallow container, since a large soil volume that stays wet makes root rot more likely. Unglazed terra cotta helps because moisture evaporates through the walls. When it's time to move up, see our guide to repotting string of pearls.

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How often should you water string of pearls?

Less often than you think. The pearls store water, so the plant forgives a missed watering far more easily than a soggy one. Improper watering is a primary cause of plant death, and this plant is a good example.

Susan Mahr of the University of Wisconsin-Madison puts the rule plainly: "Allow the potting medium to dry out completely between waterings, providing more water in summer than in winter when the plant is not actively growing."

Squeeze a pearl gently. Firm and round means wait. Slightly soft and wrinkled means it's thirsty. When you do water, soak the soil until water runs out of the drainage holes, as West Virginia University Extension recommends, then empty the saucer. Bottom watering in a basin keeps water off the crown, where dense pearls can rot. For more detail, read how to water a string of pearls plant.

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Feeding, coffee grounds and other extras

Feed lightly during active growth with a diluted houseplant fertilizer, and skip it in winter. I wouldn't use coffee grounds on this plant: they hold moisture and can compact in a shallow pot, which works against the dry cycle it needs. A thin top layer of pebbles or lava rock is a better finish, since it limits soil splash and looks tidy.

Sterilize shears with rubbing alcohol before trimming. If the vines are uneven, trim the longest ones and root the cuttings on the soil surface to thicken the crown.

Is string of pearls safe around pets?

It's considered toxic to cats and dogs, so hang it well out of reach and check with your vet if a pet chews on it. Keeping the pot high also keeps trailing stems away from curious noses.

Styling the cascade

A full string of pearls works like living drapery. Hang it so the bottom of the pot sits around head height or above, with the crown still visible, and rotate the pot a quarter turn now and then so every side gets light. Round pearls look good next to upright shapes, such as a snake plant or a stack of books.

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If you're refreshing the whole plant corner, our post on making a watered string of pearls look intentional has more styling ideas.

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