String of Pearls

Someone gave me String of Pearls as a birthday gift and I barely knew what it was. Two years later it's my most treasured plant and I've spent more time researching it than I'd care to admit. The key discovery was using a gritty well-draining cactus compost mix — once that clicked, the plant transf…

I had a serious problem with leaf drop in cold or draughty positions on my String of Pearls earlier this year. Caught it late and had to work hard to bring the plant back. The experience was frustrating but educational. Now that it's healthy again I can fully appreciate easy propagation from leaf c…

String of Pearls is clearly a great plant — I can see that from other people's results. Mine has been decent but not spectacular, and I think I know why. I underestimated the importance of providing at least six hours of bright indirect light in the early stages and paid for it. leaf drop in cold o…

String of Pearls is a genuinely satisfying plant to grow, but I want to be upfront about one thing: mealybug infestations in leaf crevices. I've dealt with it twice now and it takes consistent attention to manage. Beyond that, wide range of colours from blue-grey to red makes it one of my favourite…

People describe String of Pearls as easy and I'd push back on that slightly. providing at least six hours of bright indirect light needs consistent attention and leaf drop in cold or draughty positions can undermine progress quickly if ignored. Where String of Pearls is genuinely underrated is the …

I planted String of Pearls without expecting much and it's become one of the most satisfying things in my garden. easy propagation from leaf cuttings is something I couldn't have predicted from looking at it in a nursery. You only understand it once the plant is established and performing. I keep i…

Here are my notes from twelve months of growing String of Pearls: Spring: dormancy and reduced watering in winter. This was the moment that confirmed the whole venture. I focused on using a gritty well-draining cactus compost mix during this period which set up the rest of the year. water-storing …

The first few months with String of Pearls were underwhelming. Almost no visible growth and I questioned my decision repeatedly. Then something shifted — I think getting using a gritty well-draining cactus compost mix right was the turning point. extremely low maintenance between waterings became a…

My first attempt at String of Pearls failed — mealybug infestations in leaf crevices got hold of it and I didn't know what I was looking at until it was too late. I left it alone for a year before trying again. The second attempt, with proper attention to using a gritty well-draining cactus compost…

I brought String of Pearls home six months ago with high hopes and almost no knowledge. The first challenge was understanding avoiding water on the rosette centre to prevent rot — something I hadn't expected to matter so much. Once I got that right, the whole thing settled down. I grow it in a fair…