How To Propagate String Of Pearls Plant? (Soil+Water Propagation)

You can propagate the string of pearls plant easily. Whenever the stems grow too long, you can cut a part of the stem and propagate the plant. You can share these with your friends and family or grow a new plant for yourself. But what are the steps you need to follow to propagate a string of pearls successfully? Let’s find out!

Propagating a string of pearls is straightforward. Take a healthy cutting of string of pearl and lay it on a well-draining soil mix. Mist the cutting and place it at a spot where it gets indirect sunlight. Small roots will start developing within a few days. Hold the stem down so that the plant can root.

There are other methods for propagating a string of pearls as well. You can pick one that is convenient for you.

No matter which method of propagation you choose, you need to provide enough care and attention for successful propagation. The plant will need water every two weeks, and it needs to be placed in a bright area for sufficient light. You need to be careful with is that you should not overwater the plant.

The string of pearls is succulent that requires less water than the other types of plants. They tend to be overwatered quite easily. However, overwatering can be deadly, and it is always better to go low on watering than overwatering the plant.

We will understand the propagation technique of the string of pearls in detail in this article.

Best time to propagate the string of pearls

The best time to propagate the string of pearls is during spring and summer. Propagations are most successful when it is in its growing season.

You can propagate the plant during fall but avoid propagating during winter. The cold weather condition is unsuitable for the string of pearls as the plant can’t stand the freezing temperatures and cold drafts.

The intensity and duration of the sunlight get reduced during winter. The cutting will not get sufficient light, so chances are the propagation will likely fail.

If you are propagating the string of pearls during fall, you should avoid keeping it outdoors.

The string of pearls can survive low-light conditions, but the watering should be correct. If the plant is overwatered, it will develop root rot.

Note: You should never propagate an unhealthy plant. You might have a successful propagation, but the plant will develop various issues once it grows. If you have an unhealthy string of pearls, you should revive it first and then propagate it.

What is the best method of propagating the string of pearls?

The easiest and fastest method of propagating a string of pearls is by the stem cuttings. Many plant owners propagate stem cuttings to fix leggy growths.

Growing the string of pearls from the seed can be a lengthy process whereas, propagating the plant by the stem cuttings is fast and effective.

What is the best soil for the string of pearls?

If you want a healthy and thriving plant after propagating, you need to choose the suitable soil that will suit the string of pearls.

The string of pearls can grow roots from any part that touches the soil, so using good soil will help the plant proliferate.

The strings of pearls plants are succulents, and they need well-draining soil. These plants don’t like soil that retains too much water.

You can buy a cactus or succulent mix available in the market and add some perlite for better drainage. You can also mix regular potting soil with chunky ingredients such as barks, perlite, etc., to make a well-draining soil mix.

Supplies required for propagating the string of pearls

Before we get into different methods of propagating the string of pearls, we will list down the items that you need to keep handy.

• A pair of sterilized scissors or pruners
• Succulent or cactus mix
• Small pot with drainage holes
• A healthy string of pearls plant

Some other items may be required depending on the method of propagation you choose.

Propagating string of pearls

How to Propagate Senecio String of Pearls!

The string of pearls can be propagated in the following three ways:

1. Propagate string of pearls in soil
2. Lay the cutting on the soil
3. Propagate string of pearls plant in water

Before we plunge into the details of each, let’s find out how to take a stem cutting.

We should always choose a stem that is healthy and mature. These stems are likely to have roots already, so it will be easier to propagate them. Ensure that the cuttings are long and have at least a few pearls on them.

Use sterilized scissors to make a clean cut to take the stem cutting. Take the cutting from a stem that has healthy pearls. Take more than one cutting for better results.

Once you are done with these, we can start the propagation.

Propagate string of pearls in soil

Prepare a well-draining soil by mixing a cactus or succulent mix with some perlite. Perlite will make the soil chunky and better draining.

Make a cutting of at least two inches and remove a few pearls from the bottom of the cutting to easily insert it in the soil.

Wait for two weeks and let the cutting develop roots. Once you see the roots coming out, wait for two more weeks, after which you will notice new growth.

Try to keep the plant away from direct sunlight as it is detrimental to the plant. Instead, consider placing it in an area where it gets filtered light.

Misting the soil is suitable for the cutting, so you can mist the soil whenever you notice that the soil is dry. But once you see new growth, you can stop misting and start watering the plant accordingly.

Avoid propagating when the weather conditions are inappropriate as that can damage the cuttings.

Lay the cutting on the soil

If you want to start with fuller growth, you should lay the cutting on the soil and let all parts touch the soil. This way, the plant can develop roots from any part that is touching the soil.

Once you see that roots are coming out, you need to ensure that the roots can get inside the soil. Use something to place the stem down so that the roots can dig into the soil.

Mist the soil every few days as that will help the cutting to grow and remain hydrated. After the roots have come out, you can stop misting and start watering. Check the humidity and temperature to determine the frequency of watering.

You will see new roots come out within two weeks. Keep the cutting away from direct sun to avoid sunburn.

If you have a large pot, you can try both the methods of inserting the cutting in the soil and laying it on the soil.

Propagate string of pearls plant in water

Another method that you can try is placing the tip of the cutting inside water. You can use regular or filtered water.

The roots can take two to three weeks to develop. Once you notice a lot of new growth after around a month, you can plant the new plant in well-draining soil.

You can mist the plant during the early days when there is little growth. You can start watering once the plant has more growth.

Place the plant under indirect light so that it can grow fast.

How to care for the string of pearls?

It might not be easy to grow a string of pearls, but you will have a thriving plant in your house if you take care of all its requirements.

Some aspects that you need to take care of are:

Light: The string of pearls requires six to eight hours of indirect sunlight every day. It can tolerate low light, but keeping it in a low-light condition for a prolonged period can be damaging to its health. Direct sunlight can also be damaging as it can scorch the leaves.

Water: The water requirement of the string of pearls is low. It can survive harsh conditions like droughts, but overwatering is common and dangerous for the plant. It is better to water less than overwater the plant. However, you should also not underwater the plant as it will become weak and dehydrated. Remember to reduce the watering in winter when the plant is dormant.

Soil: The string of pearls will not do well if you use regular potting soil. Such soil will retain more water and damage the roots. Consider using well-draining soil for your string of pearls. You can use cactus or succulent mix for that purpose. Or add chunky elements to the regular potting soil to make it well-draining.

Fertilizer: The string of pearls is a light feeder, so you should neither give it a strong dose nor fertilize as frequently as you do for the other plants. Use a well-balanced and diluted liquid fertilizer to fertilize the plant. You need to fertilize the plant once or twice during the growing season and avoid fertilizing during the winter.

Temperature and humidity: The string of pearls does not have any unique requirement for temperature and humidity. The plant does well at room temperature and average humidity levels. The plant can’t tolerate extremes when the temperature and the humidity levels drop during winter.

You need to prune the plant to eliminate any leggy growth or damages and repot the plant only if required. The pot in which the plant is placed should have proper drainage holes to allow excess water to drain out. 

Always keep a check on the plant to understand if it is doing well. If something is wrong, you can start the treatment immediately and help the plant recover. If you take care of all these factors, you will have a healthy string of pearls.

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Ref: Wikipedia, Missouri Botanical Garden, University of Wisconsin.