Common Problems With String Of Pearls Plant

String pearls are amazing plumps, and they have a characteristic round, green leaves. As they grow bigger, they trail along the pot’s sides.

Though they are beautiful plants, it’s hard to maintain them until they achieve full growth. They may be growing well on the surface, but inside the pot, problems are cooking.

But for some, string of pearls is intimidating, and they may become nervous or panic of growing this plant.

But with some trials and errors, you will learn how to nurture and help them grow bigger. The major issue with the string of pearls plant is watering and mostly under-watering.

These plants usually store water in their leaves, and when they run short of it, they begin to shrivel. Unlike the mature plants, you need to water the younger ones regularly. This is because mature plants can survive, even without water.

But overwatering the string of pearls plants can also lead to the leaves’ shriveling, which can result in more problems with the plants.

So, what are the other problems commonly facing these plants?

Table of Contents

Problems Facing String of Pearl Plants

Planting it too deep makes the roots wet

If you plant the strings of pearls plant too deep in the pot, y.ou will encounter issues because their roots are shallow. The roots will rot due to the excess water, and they will take longer to dry.

Additionally, the plant will lack enough aeration, which is essential to fungal growth. This will lead to the plant’s rotting, and it’s therefore important to plant it at the correct depth.

Too Heavy Soil

If you plant the pearls plant’s string in too heavy soil, then there will be inadequate drainage and less aeration since these two factors are essential for the plant’s good growth. You can make a soil recipe that’s good enough for the drainage of the water.

Additionally, you can add perlite or pumice to your soil to enhance the aeration and make them lighter. You can also use compost on your soil to improve the aeration.

Frequent Misting

Air plants are the ones that need more misting as they grow in dry environments. But for the string of pearls plant, they don’t need it as they are adapted to the dry growing conditions such as some parts of southwest Africa.

They have also adapted to low humidity levels, and if you mist them regularly, they will rot.

Use of too much fertilizer

The use of too many fertilizers in the plants can damage the roots. They are succulent and therefore don’t need much feeding with nutrients. But you can apply them once in a while, especially during spring and repeat in summer.

Worm compost is the best fertilizer for the string of pearls as its rich in nutrients. You can also opt for other organic manure, which will enrich your soil with nutrients and ensure the roots remain healthier.

The plant will also be stronger, and the fish emulsion or liquid kelp are also good alternatives to fertilizers.

Sunburns or Sun Damage

The string of pearls plant like others can be damaged by too little or too much sunlight. You should place these plants in a place with intense or full sunlight.

This is the characteristic of the afternoon and if they begin to shrivel and their scars on their beads start to dry up, then it’s a sign of too much sunlight. Therefore, you will need to move the plants to a place with maximum protection from intense sunlight.

This factor ensures the survival of the plants since they don’t need too much sunlight and you don’t need to protect the plants from excessive sunlight.

FAQs

What’s wrong with my string of pearls?

Many common problems affect the sting of pearls. Some of the top issues are too large pots, planting of the plant deeply in the soil, over and under-watering.

The mix in the pot may also be wrong, or it may be subjected to too strong sun, which can damage the roots. Other times, the plant is not getting enough sun, or pests or insects have infested it.

How do you know when a string of pearls is dying?

some of the common signs of the string of pearls dying is the thinning of the pearls and stems. The pearls can also start to shrivel, and the stem will begin dying.

Why do my string of pearls keep dying

There are many possible reasons for your plants’ failure to stay alive. But the most common is the watering problem.

Considering the plant stores water in its leaves, you will need to water it well to remain healthier. And when the levels of water go down, the leaves shrivel.

Why do I keep killing my string of pearls?

You are constantly overwatering the string of pearls, which is the major issue with many homeowners.

It’s also the main cause of the death of the pearls plant’s string as it causes the rotting of the leaves, formation of “balls” in the leaves and weakening of the stems. This leads to the death of the plant.

How do you not kill a string of pearls?

Keep the plant in a container with bright and indirect light. The location should also be warmer and ensure you mist the container after a few days to keep the plant alive.

Avoid overwatering and apply the required nutrients to ensure it thrives.

Why are the plants turning white?

This is because the chlorophyll cells have died. This makes it hard for the plant to produce food anymore. And since the plant will not use the water anymore, then it will start rotting.

Bottom-line

A string of pearls is one of the most delicate yet fabulous succulents. They are green, plump and are popular among many homeowners.

It’s resistant to drought, and though you can prefer to grow it outdoors for less management, you can apply some tricks to grow it indoors. But you will need to care for it properly to ensure it does not die.

Photo by Teona Swift from Pexels