Overwintering guide
How to overwinter string of pearls
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — string of pearls uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
The mistake that kills string of pearls in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and string of pearls rots from the base.
More string of pearls care
- Overwintering curio rowleyanus — the species this cultivar belongs to
- Overwintering string of pearls — our other guide for the same plant
- Full string of pearls care guide
- String of pearls temperature range
- How often to water string of pearls
- How to prune string of pearls
- Common string of pearls problems & fixes
Overwintering string of pearls — FAQ
Does string of pearls need to come indoors for winter?
String of pearls is hardy to roughly USDA zone 10 — winter lows around -1°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. String of pearls is frost-tender, so overwintering means bringing it inside and letting it rest rather than pushing it to grow. Move it indoors well before the first frost, give it the brightest spot you have (light levels indoors drop sharply in winter), and keep it away from both cold window glass and hot radiators — the swing between the two does more damage than the cold itself.
When should I move string of pearls for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water string of pearls in winter?
Cut watering right back — string of pearls uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills string of pearls over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and string of pearls rots from the base.