String of Pearls Senecio rowleyanus

String of Pearls is commonly grown as a houseplant or an outdoor ornamental in frost-free climates. It is often grown in hanging baskets to allow the trailing stems to spill downward. It could also be grown in a flat dish, allowing it to maintain the trailing growth habit seen in the wild. Indoor containers can be moved outside for the growing season but need to be acclimated gradually to prevent sunburn, should be protected from excess rainfall, and must be moved back indoors before frost. The plant grows from weak surface roots, producing trailing stems up to three feet long on the ground which can root where they touch soil to form dense mats. It often grows under bushes or between rocks which provide some protection from intense sunlight. The alternate, water-storing leaves are the size and shape of small peas (each to 1/4” diameter) with a small pointed tip on the end and a thin stripe of dark green along the side. The round shape of the leaves minimizes the surface area exposed to dry desert air and therefore reduces evaporative water loss but also reduces the surface area where photosynthesis can occur compared to a normal thin, flat leaf.   Care Tips Light: Ideals are full to partial sunny locations or only bright locations directly behind a window.  The String of Pearls plant can spend the summer in the garden or on the balcony. There it must be slowly accustomed to the sun, which is no longer filtered through a window. Otherwise its leaves may burn. Water: Senecio rowleyanus is a succulent plant and can store water in its thick leaves. It does not have to be watered until the soil is nearly dry. Water sparingly if placed cool to temperature during winter. Soil: Not only a cacti mix is suitable, peat-free mixtures for indoor plants, herbs or vegetables can also be used.  Temperature: A cool winter location at temperatures between 10 to 15 °C (50 to 59 °F) is required to get Senecio rowleyanus to bloom. However, it can also be wintered at room temperature. Minimum temperature is 5 °C (41 °F). Potting: In the first year after purchase or repotting, Senecio rowleyanus does not require fertilization. Liquid fertilizer can be given every 4th to 8th week if the plant is actively growing. The growing season usually lasts from spring to autumn. Humidity: Any average household humidity level is fine for String-of-Pearls, but try to keep it at about 50% or higher.   Shipping & Handling The 2 Inch and 4 Inch String of Pearls plants are shipped with the pot and soil The 6 Inch and 8 Inch String of Pearls plants are shipped bare roots without the pot and soil: We commit to shipping bare roots, which requires more time and labor, and provide excellent quality and service to our customers - see Benefits of Shipping Bare Roots You will receive a very similar plant to the one shown in the photos; shape and color may vary Ship within USA & its outlying territories only Please visit Order Processing & Shipping info page for additional details   Care Instructions Please visit our Succulent Care info page for more details. To ensure the health of succulents, it is important to plant them in porous, well-draining soil. Succulents require little watering, but don't like to sit in wet soil. To create an adequate cactus mix, simply add pumice, perlite, or grit to cactus soil to provide the proper drainage. Make sure to leave drought periods between waterings to prevent the plant from water-logging.   Weather Conditions When ordering, be mindful that living succulents can be damaged by the cold weather. If you live in an area that is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, please add a shipping warmer to your order or consider purchasing plant until the weather is more suitable. Shipping Warmer: 72+ Hours Heat Packs available for $1.7 each