How to Revive String of Pearls

String of Pearls is a unique succulent; it is also called Curio rowleyanus. You can easily recognize them by their tiny pea-shaped leaves. Its place of origin is in the drier parts of southwest Africa; they grow as creeping vines on the ground. This plant belongs to the family of Asteraceae and Curio genus. This plant is quite delicate and needs a lot of care. If you don’t provide enough time and care for this plant, you may run into some problems regarding this succulent. Luckily we made a list of possible problems & solutions that can help you revive your string of pearls plant.

Why Is My String Of Pearls Dying?

Sometimes you might notice that your plant is dying. Many things could cause this, and it’s essential to identify the problem so you know how to solve it.

Some of the problems that might cause this dying and their solutions are:

Big Pots

This plant has very narrow stems; a big pot means that the plant will stay wet for too long, which will cause rot. A small pot is preferable. At the same time, do not plant the seed too deep in the pot. The root system of this plant is small, so a lot of soil will mean retention of a lot of water, thus causing root rot and fungal infection.

Overwatering

This plant is quite different from other succulents. They have thin stems, which means the stems do not store a lot of water. They can only store in their leaves, which means they do not require a lot of water; if you overwater, they burst. An overwatered plant will be characterized by shriveled leaves, a foul odor, and yellowing leaves. Do not overwater your plant during winter.

How will you save your plant if you notice that it’s dying from overwatering?

Unfortunately, the only solution is to uproot your plant, remove some cuttings from it and propagate. Make sure that the soil is well-draining and that it has drainage holes. Reduce the number of times you water your plant and make sure that your plant is near a source of light. The worst thing you will ever happen to your plant is overwatering.

Under watering

A dehydrated plant is characterized by crispy leaves or stems and shriveling. It may be caused by soil compaction.

Like other succulent plants spring of pearls also stores its water in the leaves. This doesn’t mean that you deny your plant water completely. You need to water it once a week. Once you notice that your plant is giving symptoms of dehydration, check your plant’s moisture by inserting your finger into the soil. If no soil sticks on your finger, it indicates the soil is dry. To save your plant, water thoroughly. The following day the pearls will have plumped back up. Make watering the plant a habit to avoid a repeat of the same problem.

Sometimes underwatering can be caused by soil compaction. This means the soil in which you plant is planted is not adequately mixed; therefore, it drains all the water. The substrate does not absorb any moisture. If you want to revive string of pearls, the best thing to do in this situation is repotting, using a well-mixed succulent mixture.

Soil Drainage

Soil drainage is one factor you should seriously consider when choosing an appropriate mix for your plant. If the soil retains a lot of water, it will cause fungal infections and root rot. As we stated earlier, this infection is characterized by shriveling of leaves. You will solve this problem by repotting the plant and planting it in drier soil, and you should do it as quickly as possible to avoid dying. Sometimes the soil can be too heavy on peat, making the soil unable to hold any water, thus causing underwatering. The only solution for this problem is getting an excellent succulent mix and transferring your plant.

Feeding Issue

Spring of pearls is a light feeder; it can do without any feeding, but you can feed it once per month for better growth. When you do it, ensure it’s in the growing season. If you use fertilizer, ensure it is diluted well; if not, it might kill your plant. An overfertilized plant will be characterized by a leggy appearance and yellowing of the flowers, burnt roots, and a weak plant. Avoid fertilizing during winter. During this period, the plant is dormant and doesn’t need any feeding. If you notice these symptoms in your plant, do something to fix it, or you might lose your plant.

You can do this by removing the damaged leaves from the plant.

Remove the plant from the pot and remove the damaged roots as well

When overfertilized, you will notice salt build-up on the roots, scrape it and remove it. You can soak the soil until the fertilizer is entirely out of the soil. If it doesn’t work. Repot the plant in a new pot and new soil

Lack of feeding might also cause problems, and the under-fed plant has leggy growth, stunted growth, wilting, and breakage of stems. You can save your plant by feeding it during growth months.

Inappropriate Sunlight

This plant is a desert plant; therefore, it enjoys bright light and a few hours of direct sunlight.

If your plant is not getting enough light, it will show symptoms like leggy growth. It will lean towards the direction of the source of light. Sometimes, it turns white and will not show any signs of new growth; it might even start drying up. Soil not drying up for weeks also indicates that there’s not enough sunlight. However, you can solve this by simply moving your plant to a brighter location and when you do so, do it in moderation to avoid stressing your plant since it has been away from light for a long time. Chose well-lit locations for your plant and ensure that the plant receives a few hours of direct sunlight in a day. You may consider moving your plant outside if it is experiencing inadequate light indoors.

Grow lights are also excellent because you can place your plant anywhere. You can source grow lights on amazon. Choose a broad-spectrum one at a time as it mimics the natural light.

Too much light has adverse effects on your plant too. Some of the symptoms that your plant will show are:

Shriveling may appear scorched, with brown spots on the leaves. Sometimes they may turn pale, new growths yellowing, and sometimes purple. This is also a straightforward problem to solve. The best treatment is to water your plant thoroughly and move it to less light exposure. Well-diluted fertilizer can also help you revive string of pearls. You will notice the change after a while.

Temperature

If this plant is subjected to very high or very low temperatures, it may cause significant damage. Both high and low temperatures will cause the falling of leaves. The best solution is to move your plant indoors during summer and inside during winter to avoid freezing.

Low Humidity

This plant enjoys humidity that does not go below 40% anything below that will cause severe damage to your plant. Humidity levels drop alongside temperatures during winter. To save your plant, move it indoors and to a place where it will get enough humidity, like in the bathroom or the kitchen.

Pests and Diseases

If pests infest the plant, the leaves start dropping and turning yellow. The most common pests that affect this plant are mealybugs and aphids. To fix this problem, you must quarantine your plant to avoid spreading to other plants and spray your plant with water to remove the insects. You can also use industrial insecticide. Do this repeatedly until you get rid of the pests completely.

Final Words

Springs of Pearls, as we have seen, are pretty delicate. Overwatering, under-watering pests and diseases, and low humidity are some of the things that might cause the death of your plant. You should provide the necessary care to revive string of pearls. Act on any problem you notice quickly for you to save the plant.

ABOUT ME

Richard Miller

Salute everyone. It's Richard, the author of this Succulent & Xeriscaping blog. I am a traveler and a nature lover looking for a connection with the wild green. In my journey, I found a love for succulents and xeriscaping. What attracts me is the long-lasting & unique beauty of every plant I have the chance to see with my own eyes. Welcome to my little blog and let's enjoy a good time together!

Contact me: richard.succulentcity@gmail.com