String of Pearls are amazing and beautiful houseplants.
Most people struggle to keep an eye on them because they’re delicate and you may not know how to properly prune it.
The beauty of String of Pearls is when they’re fuller and bushy.
So how do you ensure they’re fuller?
Pruning your string of pearls regularly can produce a fuller, bushier plant. Plant them in warmer weather, away from drafts, and water them regularly.
Let’s dive into some of the important tips to help you get the most out of your String of Pearls, adapt to your local climate and enjoy gardening:
Pruning String of Pearls will promote fuller, bushier plants
String of Pearls prefer moist soil, but they do not like being continually wet. Their thin stems and long roots need a well-draining potting mix to thrive.
Constantly wet soil promotes disease and root rot. Pruning will encourage fuller, bushier plants. In the meantime, keep the soil moist and add a little compost to the bottom of your pot.
Once your string of pearls plant is in the pot, prune it regularly to encourage new growth. Remove any stems or nodes that are leggy and plant healthy stems along the nodes. Prune regularly to promote a full plant.
Be sure to water regularly, as this will prevent the plant from going into survival mode. Then, trim off dead foliage to promote fuller growth.
If you have a cold climate, string of pearls should be kept in a room that is 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit
. They will do fine in cooler temperatures, but they will do well in a warmer room. Regardless of climate, string of pearls need a well-draining potting mix. Cactus mixes are ideal for a string of pearls.
Planting string of pearls in warmer months
You can propagate your string of pearls by repotting them in a larger pot and planting them in warmer months.
Once they have established roots, you can feed them with fertilizer and plant food. After about 9 to 12 months, you can prune them and propagate them.
If you have the patience, they will grow fuller and healthier. Plant them in a bright spot, out of drafts, and away from temperatures below 55degF.
If you’re considering growing your string of pearls indoors, you should remember that they prefer a slightly dry soil. Watering your string of pearls should be done when the pearls start to turn brown, but before they become flattened.
Also, avoid overwatering them, as this will lead to root rot and leaf pallor. For this reason, it’s best to water them once a month, at least.
Repotting your String of Pearls can be a difficult task. If you’re planting them outdoors, make sure you use a container with drainage holes.
The best time to repot your String of Pearls is in the spring. Plant them in a container that’s 1-2 inches bigger than their current pot and make sure it has drainage holes. Afterwards, prune them to remove leggy stems and promote fuller growth.
Avoiding cold drafts
A string of pearls requires indirect light to photosynthesize and grow fuller. The string needs water occasionally, and you should start watering it when the pearls start to flatten or brown. Avoid placing your string near drafts to avoid damaging the delicate pearls.
Cold drafts can also damage your pearl string, so be sure to avoid them as much as possible. If your string of pearls is growing in a cool room, avoid placing it near a drafty window.
String of pearls grow best in warm temperatures and should not be exposed to drafts during the winter. It does not like cold temperatures, but they will tolerate temperatures as low as 20degF or -6.67degC.
Avoid drafts and bring the plant indoors during long periods of frost, or it may turn yellow. Avoid drafts and keep the plant out of extreme heat or light.
Feeding the String of Pearls once every two weeks is vital to ensure optimal growth. The plant is most vigorous during the growing season, so feed it about once every two weeks, and less frequently in winter.
The fullness of the flowering plant will occur slowly. If you want your string of pearls to grow faster, pinch the growing tips to encourage side shoots.
If you don’t have a time to fertilize, consider making your own fertilizer from coffee grounds, banana peels, crushed eggshells, or fish emulsion.
Watering String of Pearls
String of pearls plants are very low-maintenance, but they are susceptible to some pests and diseases. Aphids, which are tiny, sap-sucking insects, are a potential danger, so be sure to use protective gloves when pruning or repotting.
Mealybugs can occasionally be seen on a string of pearls, but you can easily get rid of them using a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Other enemies of string of pearls are mealybugs, which often manifest as yellowing foliage or shrinched stems.
Use insecticidal soap to repel these pesky insects, or try to attract beneficial predatory insects to your plant.
A good way to give your string of pearls the moisture they need is to water it biweekly during the growing season. After two or three inches of soil have dried up, water your string until the liquid runs out of the bottom of the pot.
Then, wait a full 10 minutes before watering again. Watering a string of pearls is especially important if the temperature is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
The frequency and volume of water you give your string of pearls is less important than the frequency.
Too much water can kill the pearls. Run a slow stream of water in a sink or tub and be sure not to overwater it.
You can also adjust the frequency of watering by adjusting the water pressure on your plant. If you’re unsure, check the soil moisture level regularly to see how often it needs watering.
Diseases and Pests of String of Pearls
What are some of the diseases and pests that plague String of Pearls plants? Let’s see a few of them:
Root rot in String of Pearls
If you notice your string of pearls becoming mushy and dry, then you may have root rot. The signs of this problem include yellowing and browning leaves, the cells dying, and the string looking limp and lifeless.
In order to identify this condition, you need to uproot the plants and place them on a piece of newspaper. Next, check the soil around the plants for signs of root rot.
If your string of pearls become infested with mealybugs, you may notice yellowing leaves. If the infestation is extensive, you may also notice scale.
These can be treated by applying insecticidal soap, neem oil, or diluted dish soap and water. You may also want to repotted your string of pearls if their roots grow out of the drainage holes.
If you decide to propagate your string of pearls by using a pot, you should keep it in a moist environment until it roots.
Mist it every day or two, but avoid overwatering, as this may cause the plant to decay. Root rot can also make your string of pearls fuller, so be sure not to overwater your plant. As long as you take care of it, your plant should stay healthy and beautiful for years to come.
Aphids
If you want to learn how to make string of pearls fuller, you should know that they are susceptible to several pests and diseases.
Aphids are tiny pests that feed on the pearl plant’s sap. If you’re worried about aphids destroying your string of pearls, you should know that you can easily get rid of them with a few simple organic methods.
The first method is to use a water-soluble fertilizer to feed your string of pearls. The best fertilizer to use is one that has a well-balanced ratio. The fertilizer you use should be diluted to about half strength before you apply it.
Overfertilization can burn the stems and leaves of your string of pearls, so it’s best to follow the directions on the label to the letter.
Another method is to manually zap aphids from the plant. These little bugs are very small and do not have much of a presence on the plant. Once they’re gone, the plant will grow faster and healthier.
Alternatively, you can try to catch the aphids using a spray. A solution that works for your string of pearls is a water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength.
Mealybugs
Mealybugs are an unwelcome pest on String of Pearls, but they do have some benefits. Mealybugs feed on the sap of the plant, and they will leave behind a white waxy substance that can hinder plant growth.
Mealybugs can also attract aphids, which will wilt your plants’ leaves and weaken them. If you want to keep Mealybugs at bay, make your own homemade insecticidal soap, containing two parts of oil.
In the natural environment, String of Pearls receive very little water, and this adaptation means they can survive for long periods without any watering. In your home, however, you should water your plants at least once a week.
You can water them less frequently in the winter, as they don’t like extreme temperatures. As they take longer to fill out, pinch the growing tips to encourage side shoots.
The presence of Mealybugs can also make your string of pearls stick together. This is a sign that your plants have been infested with the genus Senecio.
The smile-shaped leaves of these creatures are often responsible for making the string of pearls stick together. If you notice this problem, you can kill the bugs or treat the plants to keep them healthy and grow.
Conclusion
String of Pearls can be fully and bushier if you take the necessary steps to supply adequate lighting, water properly, and provide the right potting mix.
Also, pests and diseases should be prevented at all costs — to keep your plant healthy, strong, and full.