Repotting guide

When & how to repot Curio Rowleyanus (Curio rowleyanus)

Also called string of pearls, rosary plant, bead plant.

More about curio rowleyanus

About Curio Rowleyanus

Curio rowleyanus · also called string of pearls, rosary plant · houseplant

Curio rowleyanus, the string of pearls, is a trailing South African succulent (formerly Senecio rowleyanus) with cascading stems of spherical, pea-like leaves, each with a translucent 'window' to harness light. Grown in hanging pots for its waterfall of beads, it needs bright light, very lean draining soil and careful, infrequent watering, as its delicate strands rot easily if kept wet.

Mature size: Stems trail to 60-90 cm long; spreads widely if the nodes are allowed to root.

Watch for — Overwatering and root rot: Pearls that burst, turn mushy or yellow and strands that collapse signal too much water. Let the mix dry fully and ensure free drainage.

How to tell curio rowleyanus needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For curio rowleyanus, watch for these signs:

Roots growing out of the drainage holes, or the rootball lifting the plant proud of the rim.
Soil that has shrunk away from the pot sides and no longer holds water.
The pot is unstable because the plant has grown top-heavy.
Old, compacted, broken-down mix that stays wet too long — for a succulent that is a rot risk, so refresh it even if the pot size is fine.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot curio rowleyanus

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Curio Rowleyanus's growth habit — fast-trailing succulent with slender stems of spherical leaves that cascade from hanging pots; roots where stem nodes touch soil, forming dense mats. — sets the pace. Curio rowleyanus, the string of pearls, is a trailing South African succulent (formerly Senecio rowleyanus) with cascading stems of spherical, pea-like leaves, each with a translucent 'window' to harness light. Grown in hanging pots for its waterfall of beads, it needs bright light, very lean draining soil and careful, infrequent watering, as its delicate strands rot easily if kept wet.

What size pot to step curio rowleyanus up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Curio Rowleyanus stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot curio rowleyanus

Spring or summer, while curio rowleyanus is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting curio rowleyanus

Repot dry. Do not water curio rowleyanus for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty gritty, fast-draining succulent mix ready.
Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
Pot into dry mix. Set curio rowleyanus at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep curio rowleyanus completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for curio rowleyanus

Curio Rowleyanus wants gritty, fast-draining succulent mix. Use a cactus/succulent blend amended with extra pumice or perlite. The fine, shallow roots demand sharp drainage; a shallow pot dries faster than a deep one. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting curio rowleyanus — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot curio rowleyanus?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for curio rowleyanus. Repot curio rowleyanus every 2–3 years into a snug pot of gritty, fast-draining succulent mix, ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does curio rowleyanus need?

When is the best time of year to repot curio rowleyanus?

Should you water curio rowleyanus after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot curio rowleyanus into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise curio rowleyanus after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting curio rowleyanus. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.