String of Pearls

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…

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 started with one String of Pearls and now have four, all from propagation. The process is straightforward once you understand using a gritty well-draining cactus compost mix — something I picked up from trial and error rather than any guide. I display them in a shallow dish garden arrangement whi…

As a complete beginner I was nervous about starting with String of Pearls. It turned out to be more forgiving than I expected, as long as I paid attention to avoiding water on the rosette centre to prevent rot. I grow mine in a shallow dish garden arrangement which is working really well. wide rang…

I nearly gave up on String of Pearls after three months of mediocre results. Then I focused properly on providing at least six hours of bright indirect light and within a few weeks the difference was dramatic. It now lives in a vertical living wall frame and has genuinely transformed that spot. wat…

I've been growing plants seriously for over fifteen years and String of Pearls remains a reliable favourite. For anyone starting out: the most critical thing is providing at least six hours of bright indirect light. Everything else follows from that. etiolation from insufficient light is the challe…

I've grown several varieties within the String of Pearls family and have some observations to share. water-storing fleshy leaves in geometric rosettes varies noticeably between them, more than catalogue descriptions suggest. The care fundamentals are shared — providing at least six hours of bright i…

I don't have a garden so a sunny windowsill in a terracotta pot is my only option for String of Pearls. It absolutely works — with the right attention to avoiding water on the rosette centre to prevent rot you can get excellent results in containers. wide range of colours from blue-grey to red is f…

After growing String of Pearls for over a year here is what I'd tell a beginner. First: using a gritty well-draining cactus compost mix is not optional — it's the foundation everything else depends on. Second: mealybug infestations in leaf crevices will happen and you should know how to handle it b…

I planted String of Pearls primarily for ornamental reasons. What I didn't anticipate was the wildlife it would attract. wide range of colours from blue-grey to red seems to be particularly appealing to bees and butterflies during the main growing period. I grow it in a fairy garden or miniature la…