I remember when I spotted a string of pearls plant for the first time–it was at a friend’s house and I was shocked that a house plant could be so beautiful. With their round, plush leaves that look exactly like what the plant is named after, pearls, this plant is one that is so pretty that it could be fake. Not only that, but I was stunned to learn that string of pearls plants can grow an average of 12-15 inches PER YEAR–this is a fast grower!
However, though String of Pearls plants are gorgeous, they often struggle when grown indoors, as it’s hard to recreate the growing conditions it enjoys in the wild. If you own a string of pearls houseplant and it’s not growing as well as you’d like it to, keep reading below to learn five reasons why it might be happening. Soon enough, your string of pearls plant will be all healed!
Reason One Your String Of Pearls Plant Isn’t Growing: You Aren’t Watering It Enough
Though the string of pearls is part of the succulent family, it does need a bit more water than its cacti counterparts. Give your string of pearls a deep watering at LEAST every ten days so that the pearls look plump and firm. Well-watered string of pearls plants have a faint green line down the center of them that looks like curtains “parting”–see the photo below for a better idea of what I need. If your string of pearls looks deflated, scraggly, or not as plump as it should, test the soil with your finger. If dry, give your plant a good watering before evaluating further.
However, make sure that the string of pearls is in well-draining soil or you could struggle with root rot–which is an entirely different but just as severe growing problem.
Reason Two Your String Of Pearls Plant Isn’t Growing: It’s Not Getting Enough Sun Light
Though it needs more water than its cacti counterparts, your string of pearls plant needs just as much sunlight. Put your string of pearls in your sunniest window and ensure that it gets at LEAST six hours of indirect sunlight every day. My string of pearls used to sit in an eastern facing window, and this didn’t cut it–I moved it to a southern facing window with more sunlight and immediately noticed an abundance of additional growth!
Reason Three Your String Of Pearls Plant Isn’t Growing: Wrong Soil Type
If you’re wondering why your string of pearls plant isn’t growing, the soil might be too dense to properly support your plant. Instead of using traditional house plant soil for indoor gardening (or even regular potting soil), it’s best to use well-draining soil that is made for cacti and succulents. Additionally, you can create your own using a mixture of sand, regular potting soil, and perlite.
Reason Four Your String Of Pearls Plant Isn’t Growing: Too Much Humidity
Though a luscious-looking plant, a string of pearls house plants actually do pretty well in dry conditions–normal household humidity around 50 percent cuts it for most SOPs. If your plant is getting too much humidity, it will cause stunted growth. Never let water gather on a string of pearls leaves–this is not a plant that needs misting under any circumstances.
Reason Five Your String Of Pearls Plant Isn’t Growing: It’s The Winter Time
If you don’t get as much growth as you’d like on your string of pearls this winter–don’t panic. Like most house plants, this succulent goes dormant and likes to rest during the winter months. To ensure it makes a healthy comeback come spring, fertilize your string of pearls with my three-ingredient plant fertilizer for tons of good growth.
