How to Propagate String of Pearls: Master the Correct Propagation Methods

String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) gets its name because its round, plump, emerald-green oval little leaves resemble pearls. It is also known as jade beads, Buddhist beads string of pearls, jade beads, green bells, and green bell. So,how do you propagate String of Pearls?

1. How to Propagate String of Pearls?

1. Cuttings propagation

Cut the trailing stems into 8-10cm sections, lay them flat and half-bury them in the potting soil, keep the soil moist, and they will root and survive after half a month;

2. Division propagation

Except in winter when the temperature is too low for division, it can be done in any other season. For plants that have been potted for 2-3 years, when repotting, remove the old growing medium from the crowded clumps, divide them into several clusters, and pot each one separately as a new plant.

2. How to Care for String of Pearls?

1. Light

When grown outdoors in summer, pay attention to shading so the light is not too intense, otherwise sunscald easily occurs. When overwintering indoors in a greenhouse, pay attention to lighting to prevent the leaf color from fading due to insufficient light.

2. Soil

The plant's root system is very shallow, so it can be planted in a shallow pot. Generally, place a tile over the bottom hole and spread a layer of cinder or coarse sand to increase aeration and drainage. For the soil, it is best to use leaf mold (fallen leaves from trees in autumn and winter mixed with a certain amount of crushed soil and a certain amount of sand; the soil-to-sand ratio is about 1:3).

3. Temperature

It likes warmth and humidity, is relatively cold-tolerant (when grown in the Jianghuai region it can tolerate a low temperature of 0°C), and is heat-tolerant; the optimum temperature is around 20°C-28°C. Growth is slow at both high and low temperatures; especially in high-temperature environments above 30°C it almost goes dormant, so water and fertilize less, otherwise the roots easily rot--this is also one of the keys to successful cultivation.

4. Fertilizing

In spring and autumn, apply "light fertilizer frequently"; frequently spraying the leaf surface with 1-3‰ nitrogen fertilizer and potassium dihydrogen phosphate helps make the beads more emerald green and plump, improving their ornamental value.

5. Pest and disease control

There are rarely pests or diseases; aphids in spring are one of them, so remove them promptly or spray 1500 times diluted omethoate to kill them; spider mites in summer and autumn are another, which need to be killed with 1000 times diluted dicofol. Pay attention to ventilation and increase leaf surface humidity to reduce mite infestation.

6. Watering: roots easily rot in summer, so watering should not be too frequent; use a small spray bottle to water.

String of Pearls has fairly beautiful leaf shape and color, grows in a creeping manner, and can be hung as a trailing plant. It has high ornamental value and is also one of the more popular succulent varieties.