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String of Pearls ( Senecio rowleyanus ) ( se - nee’-shi - oh ) is an unusualsucculent plantwith one shot , bead - like leave .
It is a drought tolerant ground cover that grows in a cascading fashion when planted in a attend basket .
A aborigine to Cape Providence and Southwest Africa , this delicate succulent is a brilliant good example of how plant life adapt to expand in abrasive environments .
In this article , we describe this interesting works , cater background and care data and deal hint to help you mature your own String of Pearls successfully . Read on to pick up more .
The Origins Of A String Of Pearls Plant?
Where Was The String Of Pearls Discovered?
A British plant scientist Gordon Rowley “ discovered ” this industrial plant in the very arid region of Namibia , South Africa .
Where Did TheSenecioRowleyanusName Come From?
The original genus name come from the Latin “ senex ” , which means “ onetime man . ” This is a reference to the plant ’s hairy fruits .
The specific name “ rowleyanus ” honors the plant scientist who first report and key the plant .
At that time , the industrial plant was classify as being a penis of the Senecio genus .
Recently , that compartmentalisation has changed . It is now take a member of the Curio genus .
What Is The String Of Pearls Plant Related To?
The String Of Pearls is in reality related to daisy and sunflowers , even though it looks nothing like them . It face nothing likeSenecio cinerariaaka Dusty Miller Plant .
Instead of standing straight and tall , in its natural setting , this humble little plant rambles along the ground and weaves in and out of rock formations .
The ground plant systematist are able-bodied to identify these plants as member of the Asteraceae family is that their blossom are very similar instructure to Astersand Sunflowers .
Plant Family : Asteraceae Giseke
Origin : Namibia , South Africa
Botanical Name : Seneciorowleyanus
Synonyms : Curio rowleyanus , Kleinia rowleyana
Common Names :
Characteristics & Care Instructions
leaf : Round , green spheres on prospicient , thin , trailing stems . Some varieties have slightly variegated or speckled leaves .
heyday : The blanched flowers are aster - like with yellow stamen and a pleasant fragrance reminiscent of cinnamon .
Shape : This plant has a tracking , roll wont that makes it idealistic for hanging baskets .
Size & Growth : Stems grow at a restrained rate and may touch a duration of two or three feet .
Light & Temperature : These plant life do well in a lovesome , draft - free environment with mostly brilliant , collateral sunlight and several 60 minutes of lineal sun daily .
The indoor temperature should be a steady 70 - 80 ° F during the develop time of year ( outflow through fall ) and a steady 55 - 60 ° F during the wintertime months .
Humidity : As a desert plant , the String of Beads is dead well-chosen in a distinctive dry indoor environs .
Growing Zone : USDA Hardiness zona 9 - 12 , frost intolerant
How Many Species Of Senecio Are There?
The genus is quite large , and there are more than a thousand unlike species rove from bush to wildflowers to weeds .
What Are The Most Popular Senecio Varieties?
The most common and most popular assortment is the String of Pearls .
However , there are some mutation well deserving collecting . Having several varieties can give you a very interesting exhibit .
Several popular metal money include :
Cocoon plant(Senecio haworthii)densely felted succulent cylindric foliage resembling cocoons , blooming with yellow bloom between wintertime and summer .
Dusty Miller plant(Senecio cineraria)low - care , hardy repeated , known for its prominent silvery - hoary foliation , used as an effective contrast to flower industrial plant .
String of Tears(Senecio herreianus)is very similar , but it does n’t tail quite as much . The farewell are varied in sizing and may even be as large as grapes .
Mount Everest(Senecio aquarine ) is another very pop , thickset selection . This variation has an upright growth habit .
Pickle Plant(Senecio stapeliiformis)has soft spines and over-embellished - unripe patterns on typical pencil - influence stem .
It bears both blue and unripe , elongated leafage . The stems are bluish - green or grayish .
String of Bananas(Senecio radicans)is usually calledFishhooks Senecio . It has the same growth habit as a string of pearls , but the leaves are curved and stretch .
Dolphin Necklace(Senecio peregrinus)thin stem succulent with oddly shaped leaf resemble little dolphins jumping from the water .
Related : Check out theCrassula Baby Necklace Succulent
Why Are The Leaves So Unusual?
The industrial plant ’ leaves are round , green , marble - similar little balls , or as noted , some miscellany produce oblong leaves .
Each leaf is outfit with midget cunt or windows of cobwebby tissue which allow light to inscribe the leafage .
This cunning adaptation allows the leaf to draw double as much sunlight because they are able to absorb it both internally and outwardly .
The plants ’ plump farewell retain piddle to keep the plant alert in dry options .
They are perfectly designed to minimize surface sphere and urine evaporation while also acting as a means of auspices against the punishing Sunday .
Instead of relying on the surface region to forgather sunlight , each jolly fleeceable globe or ellipsis has a colored green stripes on one side .
This is the “ window ” that allows the plant to gather the most sunlight possible for photosynthesis .
What Do The String OF Pearls Flowers Look Like?
The chemical compound , livid efflorescence are about half an inch across and daisy - similar . They have long red stamens and bright yellow anthers .
Blooms are long - hold out ( about a calendar month ) and sweet - and - spicy smell .
How To Care For String Of Pearls?
Because these succulent found hail from a desert background , they need little maintenance and are extremely easy fear .
If you are able-bodied to provide a warm , well - get off environment and a well-heeled pot fill with well - draining grime , you ’re in business organization .
Grooming And Pruning
Senecio industrial plant bring on fresh growth quickly , and it is utterly alright to have the tendrils grow to a length of two or three feet .
If this rich grower becomes straggly , trim them aside and apply the stem cut to circulate more industrial plant .
you’re able to crop at any fourth dimension of twelvemonth without harm the plant .
you may poke the stem cuttings back into the succulent potting soil of the parent plant to create a more lush and full appearance , or go under them up in their own 4 - column inch pots .
Watering & Feeding
As with most lush plants , it is best to irrigate thoroughly and then countenance the plant to almost completely dry out before tearing again .
During the growing season , thoroughly saturate the pot and well - draining soil .
During the winter , keep the soil dry , water just enough to prevent the soil from becoming too juiceless .
When the soil finger wholly teetotal to the touch about an inch down , it is clip to body of water .
Failing that , if you see that your plant ’s leaves are starting to flatten and shrivel , it is emphatically prison term to pee .
Give the plant a dear soakage and then give it alone until the soil is nearly dry and/or the leaves are showing signaling of needing water .
utilize a balanced weewee - soluble liquid fertilizer ( e.g. 20 - 20 - 20 ) and dilute it to half enduringness .
Only fertilise monthly during the growing season . In wintertime , fertilize every six calendar week or not at all .
All succulent need supererogatory drainage . A commercially prepared cactus land mix is a good pick for this plant .
Alternately , you could make your own cactus soil using a high - tone potting mix , sand , and/or vermiculite in equal parts .
Other fast - draining materials you may bid to add to your potting filth admit pumice and minor pea crushed rock . Do n’t use weighed down , easy compacted grunge because it will cause rootage putrefaction .
Remember , overwatering is the cause of all sort of problems with this strand of pearl plants .
Be sure to defend a moderate tearing schedule and keep good melodic phrase circulation around the works .
Provide bright , collateral light , and maintain a steady temperature between 70 ° and 80 ° degreesFahrenheit .
In the wintertime , countenance the plant life rest at a ordered temperature of 55 ° – 60 ° degreesFahrenheit .
Keep the soil quite dry . This period of quiescency encourages the plant life to bloom in the spring .
Does String Of Pearls Need Sun?
Seneciorowleyanusneeds bright light and some verbatim sunlight . However , understand that in the wild they mature in a way that maximize meager shade .
If you may just provide ample undimmed , collateral sunlight and / orsupplement with a grow light fixture , your works should be happy .
What’s The Best Setting For String Of Pearls?
Indoors , a due south - face gay window sill is fantabulous .
A west - face window would be a good second choice . Any other setting will need auxiliary light .
Can String Of Pearls Be Grown Outside?
In a non - desert scene , this works is happiest as an indoor flora in fall and wintertime and as a patio or out-of-door container plant in spring and summertime .
Even so , think of that this is a drought tolerant plant , so in the right setting it makes a upright candidate for xeriscaping .
If you exist in an area that has a clime alike to South Africa , Senecio cause a nice , rove reason cover or an attractive addition to your John Rock garden .
The works may grow as an graceful hanging plant indoors or outside with cascade stem up 3′ feet in distance .
If grown in a shallow tray or in a innate , outdoor desert background , it will produce a thick carpet of glisten fleeceable “ marbles . ”
Even though it is a sun - loving plant life , in its aboriginal South Africa , it mate itself amidst rocks and around bowlder to take advantage of the tax shelter they offer from the punishing desert sun .
What Are The Best Ways To Use Senecio Rowleyanus In Design – Indoors or Outdoors
Whether indoors or outdoors , it is serious to imbed this succulent rather densely for a full , lush appearance .
Both chain of Pearls and String of Bananas can see very straggly if planted too thinly .
For indoor display or as a patio plant , a hanging basket is a natural choice for this conversation piece of music works .
Healthy plants lead and cascade for lengths of up to three foot .
You may also wish to try out with planting in a low planter or stunner . This will allow the industrial plant to grow as a dense priming covering just as it does in the natural state .
You could also create a miniature desert landscape by collecting several different type of succulent plant in small can .
stage the pots on a bed of crushed rock in a large , shallow planter and fence in them with a light , aeriform textile such as peat moss or coco coir .
Top this off with a layer of sandy dirt or fine gravel . Decorate with interesting stone .
Use Outdoors
How Do You Pot/Repot String Of Pearls?
It ’s good to make changes with this plant in the springtime just before the get time of year begins .
If you plan to pot , repot or propagate from stem turn cuttings , early leap is the right time to do it .
You may acknowledge after repotting your plant a few time , it becomes scraggly and untempting . When this happen , salvage good for you cuttings and discard the parent works .
If you survive in a mild climate , try set your trite old plant “ out to pasture ” in an out - of - the - way area to see if it will razz .
It may send out peck of runners to fill up the space .
When pick out a crapper for this plant , keep good drainage in judgement . Breathable terra cotta is the proficient selection in materials .
Because this plant has very shallow roots , the smoke does not have to be very deep .
Be sure your chosen pot has plenty of drainage hole in the bottom .
Provide a stratum of coarse crushed rock or packing peanuts in the bottom for drain , and fill the pot with high quality , well - draining land prepared for cactus and succulent .
How Do You Transplant String Of Pearls?
The key to successful transplanting without too much carnage is a blue touch .
Tip : If you are taking the plant out of a charge plate jackpot , use sharp shears to simply cut the pot by .
How To Propagate String Of Pearls
you may grow this succulent plant from newspaper clipping or from the leaves .
Most people apply stem newspaper clipping because it creates the illusion of having a mature plant by simply arranging several newspaper clipping in fresh filth .
To propagate with cuttings , you ’ll want healthy slender radical tip cuttings three or four inches long .
foray the parting from a bottom couple of inch , poke a yap in the soil and inclose the press cutting .
Be sure the soil covers the growth nodes ( where the leaves were ) on the root .
Roots will issue from the nodes pretty chop-chop and you ’ll soon have a brand name raw plant life .
Be careful not to overwater the cuttings .
Use a plant mister to keep the soil somewhat damp until your plant is established and embark on to grow .
you could also position cuttings on the surface of the soil and conjure them down softly .
Eventually , roots will hit down into the territory and the plant will take hold and grow .
Rooting is easy because of the shallow surface root . The plant does not involve a lot of dirt to get a start .
If you require to use the folio method , just unload “ bone ” on the Earth’s surface of the good cactus intermixture , urge them light and expect .
This takes quite a bit longer than using cuttings , though , and may not work .
Can String Of Pearls Be Grown In Water?
NO!As a succulent , these plant postulate a flaxen filth or a light , well - drained grease concoction , such as a commercially prepare cactus mix .
What Pests, Diseases or Problems Does The String Of Pearls Encounter?
Overwatering is the main problem for this plant . Remember to drench the flora and then allow the soil to almost dry out before watering again .
Never allow the industrial plant to sit in weewee . After giving it a ripe watering , delay the drip mould disc and empty it as necessitate .
Watch Out For Mushy Stems And Leaves!
If your works develops soupy billet , it ’s an indication of rot .
take out all the touched areas and allow the soil to dry out before returning to a unconstipated watering agenda .
Watch Out For Root Rot!
If you have late bought a works and encounter its leaves are yellowed and shriveled , you may have unintentionally purchased a plant with base rot .
you’re able to try saving it by :
After a few Clarence Day , replant with a ironical , airy cactus pot mix .
You may be able to keep it .
Failure To Thrive
If your plant is not growing well , the plant may need more light-headed . Move the plant to a brighter setting and/or add a grow light fixture to facilitate it along .
Another intellect for failure to expand in poor grease and/or overcrowding .
If the plant uses up all the nutrient in the land , you will need to supply fertiliser and/or repot the plant into impudent territory .
Pests On String Of Pearls
This plant does not unremarkably have problems with plague or disease , and by and large thrives on minimal attention .
Even so , any plant that is stressed will tend to pull plague .
Aphids and mealybug are drawn to succulents and can become problematic if give up to become established .
To treat either of these pestilence , use an appropriate insecticide or practice a solution of urine , neem oil , and mild max .
Is String Of Pearls A Poisonous Plant?
All parts of this plant are poisonous and should be kept well off from cats , dogs , and kid .
If ingested , the industrial plant can cause looseness and disgorgement .
Additionally , when you handle the plant you should be careful not to come into middleman with its sap .
It is potential for thesap to cause hide irritation and roseola .
Learn more in ourString Of Pearls Poisonous Or Toxic?article . Another string plant clause : drawing string of Pickles Othonna Capensis
Senecio Buying Tips
These plants are all very promiscuous to diffuse .
If you go to a gardening golf club or succulent group , getting cuttings should be somewhat well-fixed . you could then create an impressive accumulation of your own for very niggling money .
If you must buy mature , potted plant , you may terminate up shelling out quite a bit of cash .
Very often , it is better to buy these plants from a reputable online supplier .
They send very well , and a nursery with a right report and upright reviews is probable to send you a healthy , well - cared - for plant .
When purchasing plants from a store or nursery , check the soil . ensure the plant has not been overwatered before buy it .
If the soil does seem too wet , sneakily tip or lift the plant if you could to get a good looking at at the source .
If you see signs of root rot , shop elsewhere .
essay to find flora that are not grown in moldable toilet . If the plant is in a plastic pot , search at the bottom for heaps of drainage jam .
This can offset the excessive water retentivity problems associated with plastic .
String Of Pearls Makes A Hardy Addition To Your Plant Collection
Senecio is among the most interesting and unusual succulent , both because of their oddly shaped leaves and their dainty , cinnamon - scented flowers .
Because they are broken , drouth resistant , and somewhat impervious to overlook , they make a nice choice for a windowpane sill , an office setting , or a first plant enthusiast .
Your plant will hold up for years if you take good care of it .
Be sure to take cuttings as you go along so you will have quick replacements when plants start to dwindle .
Although these works are usually keep in hanging basketball hoop , there is really no limit to the originative planting variation you could try .
Place several cuttings in a individual plantation owner to allow the stems to cascade down down the sides . This gives a fuller feeling right away .
Some the great unwashed care to enlace the theme as they grow longer for an even more interesting look .
Senecio rowleyanus is a bewitching flora . It does well with consistently warm temperature in summertime and needs a nerveless resting period in winter .
These light - bang flora make an interesting addition to any plant accumulation .
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