Repotting guide

When & how to repot String of pearls (Curio rowleyanus (formerly Senecio rowleyanus))

Also called string of beads, rosary plant.

About String of pearls

Curio rowleyanus (formerly Senecio rowleyanus) · also called string of beads, rosary plant · houseplant

String of pearls is a trailing African succulent grown for its dangling strands of pea-shaped leaves. It demands strong light and very sparse watering. Beautiful, brittle, and toxic to pets.

Senecio (Curio) rowleyanus is a trailing succulent in the daisy family native to dry areas of the eastern Cape of South Africa, where it creeps along the ground beneath shrubs and between rocks that shade it from intense sun.

Use a gritty, fast-draining cactus mix amended with pumice, sand or pea gravel; clay pots are preferable to plastic because they let the rootball dry faster between waterings.

Mature size: Strands reach 60-90 cm

Watch for — Mushy pearls: Overwatering or root rot — let dry out fully.

Sources: hort.extension.wisc.edu, plants.ces.ncsu.edu, en.wikipedia.org

How to tell string of pearls needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For string of pearls, 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 string of pearls

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. String of pearls's growth habit — trailing succulent — sets the pace. String of pearls is a trailing African succulent grown for its dangling strands of pea-shaped leaves. It demands strong light and very sparse watering. Beautiful, brittle, and toxic to pets.

What size pot to step string of pearls up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. String of pearls 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 string of pearls

Spring or summer, while string of pearls 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 string of pearls

Repot dry. Do not water string of pearls 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 cactus or 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 string of pearls 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 string of pearls 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 string of pearls

String of pearls wants gritty cactus or succulent mix. Coarse cactus mix or 1:1 potting compost and perlite. A shallow pot suits the shallow roots. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting string of pearls — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot string of pearls?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for string of pearls. Repot string of pearls every 2–3 years into a snug pot of gritty cactus or 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 string of pearls need?

When is the best time of year to repot string of pearls?

Should you water string of pearls after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot string of pearls 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 string of pearls after repotting?

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