Curiorowleyanus
The string of off-white works , Curio rowleyanus , is a funky succulent vine with rounded leaf that attend like strand of pearls or peas . Formerly classified asSeneciorowleyanus , it is also commonly shout drawing string of beads .
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Native to South Africa , it ’s suited to outdoor culture in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 12 and raise as a houseplant in all regions .
Photo by Forest and Kim Starr, Wikimedia Commons, viaCC BY-SA.
And as with many cosmetic species , it ’s toxic to people and positron emission tomography , so do n’t eat it and get into gloves to protect sensitive skin from contact dermatitis .
If you are as intrigued byC. rowleyanusas I am , study on for all you require to hump to develop it indoors .
Here ’s what we ’ll incubate :
Photo by Forest and Kim Starr, Wikimedia Commons, viaCC BY-SA.
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
How to Grow
Where to corrupt
sustenance
Propagation
Pests and Disease
permit ’s bulge with a little background .
German phytologist Herman Jacobsen identifiedC. rowleyanusin 1968 , name it for famed British flora Orion , plant scientist , collection curator , and writer Gordon Douglas Rowley .
Without their efforts , string of drop might not be uncommitted to domicile gardeners worldwide today .
Common name(s):String of pearl
Plant eccentric : Succulent vine
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):9 - 12 ( outdoors )
aboriginal to : South Africa
efflorescence time / season : Summer
picture : Full sun to part tad
Soil type : Loose , well - draining succulent and cactus soil
Soil pH : Around 6.0 , slightly acidic
Mature size:1 - 2 ft broad x 1 - 2 foot eminent
in force use : Houseplant , outdoor ground cover , seasonal planter
Toxicity : Medium - high
Taxonomy
parliamentary law : Asterales
Family : Asteraceae
Genus : Curio , formerlySenecio
metal money : Rowleyanus
The off-white - like leaves of our subject specie are embonpoint water storage vessel . Unlike some succulents , the stems are not gormandize with wet but are slender and somewhat tenuous .
Each leaf has a noticeable dour unripe line that face like a puss . This is a fenestration or epidermal window fit to find optimum sun for photosynthesis .
C. rowleyanuscopes with its waterless environment by creeping horizontally , pushing root into the territory , and take form a thick green ground masking . As it grows , it seeks shelter from the scalding sun and is often ascertain in sway crevices and beneath trees .
Indoors , plant thrive in undimmed collateral sunlight . They are heart - catch in hanging containers that showcase their trailing vines .
Mature dimensions average one to two feet long and wide . However , three - foot lengths are potential under optimal conditions .
Small white blossoms with a cinnamon - like bouquet may bloom in the summertime , although this is more likely with outdoor flora .
When the peak set seed , each has a flossy “ pappus , ” like anasteror dandelion , that nature ’s breezes would readily disperse in outdoor background . Houseplant flower are loosely unpollinated and the seeds are unlikely to pullulate .
Does string of pearls strait like a worthy competition for a new or existing succulent assemblage ? say on for guidance on disperse a industrial plant of your own .
When choose a container , check for ample drain holes . If there is a twin drip mold tray , great . If not , find an old dish or eyelid that can capture excess water . recall to empty it .
As succulent have shallow roots , astuteness is rarely a trouble . However , it ’s knowing to select a pot with a fairly snug fit .
A diameter that is one in wider than the foliation breadth allows elbow room for thewatering canspout . A dope that ’s too big may abide wet for such a long time it causes root to molder .
Soil
Use a potting medium that is light-colored , airy , and well - draining . One formulated for cactus and succulents meets these specifications and typically has the appropriate slimly acid pH of about 6.0 that succulents favour .
An excellent choice is Tank ’s Pro Cactus and Succulent Mix .
Tank ’s Pro Cactus and Succulent Mix
This Cartesian product is made with coconut husks , compost , and pumice stone for water memory , drain , and optimum outgrowth .
Tank ’s Pro Cactus and Succulent Mix isavailable from Arbico Organicsin packages hold one and a half three-dimensional feet of medium .
Remember to set rooted folio cutting , stem cutting , and nursery plant at the same depth they were in their original containers , no deeper than half an inch from the bay window rim .
Fertilizer
Fertilize them with a liquid cactus and succulent food diluted to half strength . Feed monthly throughout the develop time of year .
A product you may like is Dr. Earth ® Succulence ® Cactus & Succulent Plant Food , 1 - 1 - 2 NPK .
Dr. Earth Succulence Cactus & Succulent Plant Food
This environmentally sound formulation is made from organic supermarket food waste and stomach succulent wellness .
amalgamate one gallon at half strength , or use four pumps of solid food per gallon of water , to have on paw for semiweekly applications . give with a lacrimation can .
Dr. Earth ® Succulence ® Cactus & Succulent Plant Food isavailable from Arbico Organicsin 16 - snow leopard pump bottles .
Water
When you water , take the plenty to the sinkhole if possible . Continue to rain buckets water system until it go through the drainage holes . countenance the commode to run out for a few minutes and water again to dampen all melodic line pocket .
Empty the drip mold tray as needed to avoid oversaturating the beginning and raise the ambient humidness .
pee about once every two week or when the soil completely dry out out . If you like , purchasea wet meterto guide you . As discuss , it ’s skilful to err on the side of too dry than too wet .
Do not utilize a mister . Wet leaves are prostrate to rotting , just like roots . Also , a mister increases the ambient humidity , which is o.k. for tropical flora but not for a desert succulent .
During dormancy , from fall to fountain , you ’ll happen that you only ask to water about once a calendar month to keep the soil from completely drying out . give up fertilizer app during this sentence , but keep on to provide equal sun .
Humidity
Succulents prefer house humidity between 30 and 50 percent . This is a healthy home range to have because , in addition to supporting desert plant health , it curb mould and dust mites , two common allergens .
Too much wet can lead to rotting , whether from poor drainage , overwatering , or excessive humidity .
Light
bring home the bacon your succulent with bright indirect sunlight . An eastern photo or a aloofness of five to 10 feet from a gay south - face window is idealistic .
You may receive that you need to move the pot during the twenty-four hour period to avoid bright direct visible light that may make scorching .
Caring for string of pearls is comfortable with a good turn . cross out your calendar orgarden plannerwith the approximate times to water system and provender , so you do n’t forget .
strand of bone is available from various sources , admit discount fund and online vendors .
chain of Pearls
The CTS Air Plants Store offers three starter size :
get twine of pearls fromthe CTS Air Plants Store via Amazon now .
The variegated chain of pearls , C. rowleyanus ‘ Variegata , ’ is another option .
Variegated String of Pearls
It has green and blank leaves with mottled and striped marker for an even more salient summation to succulent groupings . Variegated foliation may acquire slower and be more sensitive to brightness level than green .
see variegate drawstring of pearls now on Amazon , in four - inch sens .
Even with the best of tutelage , a succulent occasionally take additional tending .
For deterrent example , if you are using your flora to make new ones , you may regain that the death of the tendril branch off to form two or more offshoots instead of a single filament of leaves .
If you do n’t wish this coming into court , snip off those you do n’t need just below a leaf .
You should withdraw damaged , idle , or leafless stem circumstances to furbish up vigor and wield an attractive appearance . lop just below a leaf to advertise rapid regrowth .
If you see juiceless , browned leaves , you may be underwatering , and/or the location may be too gay . Evaluate your watering habits and the Sunday vulnerability and make adjustments as needed .
Oversaturation is probable if the leaves seem shrunken , squishy , and yellow . You may be able to dry out a stack out by withholding tax water , but the damage may be irreversible . If you may , salvage a few good stem or leaves to propagate .
And in the effect of a pest infestation , which we ’ll discuss in brief , prune off badly dissemble foliage to restore health and optic appeal .
To advance blooming , some folks put their succulents in a cool , juiceless 55 to 60 ° F position during winter quiescence to mime nature and stimulate the process .
Another type of attention you could provide involve time spent alfresco in the summer . step by step acclimatize plants to the outdoors a few hours each 24-hour interval and avoid scorch verbatim sunlight .
If humidity or rain are extravagant , return them within . impudent air is rejuvenating for indoor botany and may invigorate underperformer .
notice that outside pollination may produce viable seeds . you could seek to pull together the little seed wisps before they drift off to sow in on the airfoil of a thinly moistened cactus and succulent potting medium .
Keep the medium from dry out out completely and place the germinating seed in bright collateral sunlight .
Post - efflorescence , bring down the blossom stems as close to the vine as possible without severing it to touch on muscularity to the foliage and keep a neat appearance .
Lastly , as the foliage grows panoptic , repot as call for to maintain a snug fit with an column inch of elbow room to water . Repot during dormancy to avoid interrupt growth .
There are several ways to start a plant .
Seeds are not pronto available , as it ’s much easy and quicker topropagate succulentsby strike foliage or stem cut and root them .
We ’ll talk a little about the possibility of starting from seed in the pruning and maintenance section below .
From a Leaf
Over the next month or so , the folio will shrivel up as it grow roots and forms new foliage . New growth is evidence of success .
From a Stem Cutting
An even easier elbow room to start a new works is with a stalk cutting .
Here ’s how :
New maturation should seem in a few weeks .
Another room to steady down a stem cut is to lay it flat on the aerofoil of the potting medium .
For ideal sun exposure , make certain the top of the stem is a small tall than the container . It ’s sport if the jolt is cleared and the roots are seeable , so you may maintain what ’s pass .
If you do n’t have a supporter with vine you’re able to snip , you ’ll call for to buy a plant .
From a Nursery Pot/Transplanting
When you purchaseC. rowleyanus , it may be a little “ start ” that ’s a few inches magniloquent or a mature specimen .
Either mode , the clock time may come when you desire to transplant it or a rooted clipping to a young container .
The mystery to success is maintain the same profoundness as in the original container . succulent are susceptible to rotting , and those planted too profoundly are the most vulnerable .
When foliage is even with or one - half inch below the pot rim , it ’s more potential to thrive and less probable to rot .
Once propagated , it ’s meter to start a good care routine .
While our subject species is not prostrate to pests or disease , dry indoor environments may attractaphidsandmealybugs .
As mentioned , decompose roots are vernacular with oversaturated succulent . It may be better to endeavor to salvage foliage and/or root thinning to start over in ripe cases .
Best Uses
A hang container that allow vines to cascade around is a spectacular vessel for showcasing the strange beaded strands ofC. rowleyanus .
Use a non - hanging pot atop a pedestal , shelf , or mantel for a unfermented , contemporary look .
Prune the vines to trust lengths , let them pool around the container , or sweep them to one side for dynamical variations .
And last , mimic nature and let the vine cringe over the potting medium in a shallow container , forming a heavy mat like a “ pavé ” floral arrangement – dense and low - visibility . Prune wayward tendril as desired .
A note of caution : keep tendrils out of reach of tike or pets who may tug on them and topple a pot onto themselves .
Dynamic and Decorative
I likesucculent gardeningand fall straightaway in love with string of ivory .
It pair off well withrosettes of echeveria , ruffles of crassula , andspikes of haworthia , add a new flesh and movement with its spherical leafage and dangling shank .
And when a species is also easy to care for and urine - wise , it does n’t take long for me to get on board , and I think you might be ready to join me .
Are you ready to add a active string of pearls to your home decor ? Will you debar or display it in a stationary pot atop a shelf or mantel ?
If you enjoy study this clause and want toread about more succulents to grow indoors , we recommend the following :
© involve the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally published June 7th , 2022 . Last updated January 6th , 2025 . ware photos via Arbico Organics , the CTS Air Plants Store , and USKC . Uncredited photograph : Shutterstock .
About
Nan Schiller
