Due to their drought tolerance, string of pearls plants only require watering once the soil surrounding their roots has entirely dried out. In general, watering once every 14 days is sufficient to meet the moisture needs of string of pearls without producing root rot, however watering varies depending on the climate.
Care for string of pearls requires careful watering because they are vulnerable to root rot brought on by overwatering and soils with poor drainage.
Due to their summer dormancy, string of pearls have varying water needs at different periods of the year.
For a healthy string of pearls plant, the optimal watering schedule should be used in conjunction with the proper well-draining soil and pots.
Continue reading to learn more about the proper potting soil and how frequently and how much to water string of pearls to keep your plants healthy.
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How Often to Water String of Pearls Plants
With their leaves structured like pearls to maximize the quantity of water storage on each leaf and to reduce the surface area for water loss, string of pearl plants are succulents with specific adaptations to growing in hot and dry desert conditions.
Since string of pearls prefer dry circumstances, they are highly vulnerable to issues brought on by excessive watering.
It’s crucial to water string of pearls correctly in order to recreate the watering conditions of their natural environment.
Only water string of pearls plants once the earth has totally dried out. Therefore, a string of pearls needs typically be watered once every 14 days.
the following factors can affect how long it takes for the soil to dry out:
- Your climate’s temperature and humidity.
- the size of the hanging basket or pot.
- Whether the string of pearls is near a heat source, forced air, air conditioning, or both.
- the speed at which the soil drains.
By feeling the soil at the bottom of the pot through the drainage hole to see if it is still damp or dry, you may calculate the ideal watering schedule for a string of pearls plant for your specific climate.
If the soil seems damp, you can wait another day or so before watering; however, if the earth feels dry, now is the ideal time to water the string of pearls.
This properly replicates the moisture levels to which the string of pearls is suited, ensuring that the plant gets access to enough water while the soil surrounding the roots dries out enough to prevent root rot.
In order to survive the summer’s drought and extreme heat, string of pearls likewise enter a state of dormancy. The rest of the year, they continue to grow.
This indicates that the plant requires less moisture in the summer and is more susceptible to root rot from overwatering.
In the summer, you should only water your pearl string once every three weeks.
Another early clue that a string of pearls plant needs watering is when the pearls begin to shrivel as they become dry; if your pearls are still green but beginning to do so, watering is needed.
(Read my article Why is my string of pearls drying up for additional information on how to rescue an under hydrated plant.)
How to Recognize If You’re Watering Too Frequently
Even in arid locations, if you are watering string of pearls more than once per week, you are probably overwatering.
When pearls start to turn yellow or translucent, which are signs of overwatering, you should reduce the amount you’re watering and let the soil fully dry out so your plant can recuperate.
Always wait for the soil to dry out completely before watering again since string of pearls are quite sensitive to overwatering (especially during their summer dormancy). However, underwatering is fairly simple to fix.
Healthy, green, and firm pearls on a well-watered pearl string are a sign that the plant is storing the right quantity of water for its needs.
Correct Method for Watering String of Pearls
Always give your string of pearls plants plenty of water, enough so that the extra water can be seen dripping out the bottom of the pot.
By doing this, it is ensured that water has permeated the soil and reached the roots.
The soil is only moist to about an inch deep if you water too little because the roots can’t get to the water they need, which causes the pearls to shrivel and even turn brown as a symptom of drought stress.
(Both overwatering and underwatering can cause succulents to shrink. To learn how to tell the difference, read my article).
Giving the soil plenty of water and then letting it dry in between applications mimics the native environment’s watering patterns, which include a major downpour of rain followed by a period of drought.
Top Advice for Watering Pearl Strings
- Always water the plant from the base up. The plant’s main mechanism for maintaining the ideal balance of water held in its pearls is to enhance the humidity of the microclimate and minimize transpiration (water loss) from the leaves, which is accomplished by watering overhead onto the pearls.
- In the morning, water your pearl string. While succulents’ stomata close at night, which limits their capacity to remove excess moisture from their leaves so that they can maintain the proper balance of moisture, watering a plant in the morning lets it to use the water more efficiently.
- When a plant is dormant, watering at night exposes the roots to damp soil for an extended period of time, increasing the danger of root rot.
- In the summer, irrigation should be less frequent. While it may seem counterintuitive to water less frequently in the summer, string of pearls actually dormant during the warmest months of the year as a survival tactic to store more water in a time of drought and high temperatures.
- While watering gently deprives your string of pearls of moisture and watering too frequently increases the risk of root rot, liberal but occasional watering encourages healthy root growth.
Well Draining Potting Mix is Critical When Watering String of Pearls
It’s crucial that your string of pearls are planted in the right potting soil if you want to water them successfully and keep them alive.
In traditional potting soil or compost, string of pearl plants do not thrive because these materials hold onto too much moisture around the roots for an extended period of time, turning the pearls yellow or transparent and encouraging the growth of root rot.
Natural pearl-growing conditions include relatively rocky, sandy soil that drains quickly after watering and does not retain moisture.
Soil conditions from the plant’s original environment must be replicated while potting up your string of pearls.
There is specialized succulent and cactus potting soil (offered at garden centers and on Amazon) that is designed to simulate the soil qualities of the string of pearls native environment and contains more inorganic material (stones, grit, and sand).
The correct soil aids in preserving the ideal moisture balance for your string of pearls, reducing the likelihood of overwatering and preserving the health of your plant.
(Read my article on how to save a dying string of pearls plant for additional information.)
Plant String of Pearls in Pots with Drainage Holes in the Base
One of the most effective ways to make sure you have given your succulent enough water is to water it until you notice a trickle of water coming out of the bottom of the container.
If you plant a string of pearls in a pot without any drainage, water may pool around the roots, turning the pearls yellow or translucent and possibly rotting the plant.
It should be noted that even in pots with drainage holes, occasionally too much water may still collect around the roots of your string of pearls because of:
- clogging the drainage hole with roots. If you purchased your string of pearls as an established plant and discover that the water is draining slowly, check to see if any roots have gotten into the drainage holes and delayed the water flow.
- putting trays and saucers under pots. In order to prevent water from leaking in their homes, individuals frequently place saucers and trays underneath pots with drainage holes. Regular saucer emptying is necessary to ensure that any water that has accumulated is removed since it keeps the soil around the roots too wet.
- outside pots that add style. In retail settings, string of pearls plants are frequently marketed in attractive and plastic pots with drainage holes, which have the same effect as saucers or trays with standing water. To maintain the health of your string of pearls, make sure water can flow freely.
Key Takeaways:
- Plants known as string of pearls are drought resilient and only require a thorough soak every 14 days or so. Before watering again, ensure sure the soil around the roots is fully dry. water just once every three weeks, while wearing a strand of pearls Avoiding root rot via summer dormancy.
- To let excess water to drain away from the roots, string of pearls require a potting soil that is an exact copy of the well-draining soil in their natural environment.
- String of pearls should be grown in containers with drainage holes in the bottom so that water may drain away rather than collecting around the roots, which can lead to root rot.
- Pearls that turn yellow or become translucent and mushy in texture are telltale symptoms of an overwatered strand of pearls. Strings of pearls submerged in water turn brown and shrivel. Green pearls from a healthy string of pearls plant are moist and firm. Before watering, make sure the soil is dry.