String of Pearls problems & how to fix them

Curio rowleyanus

Drooping, yellowing, brown tips, or a plant that just won’t thrive? Here are the most common String of Pearls problems, what usually causes them, and how to turn things around.

Common problems

Root rot

Extremely shallow roots rot in deep or dense soil that stays damp below the surface. A fungal or bacterial infection of the roots, almost always triggered by soil staying wet too long. Caught early, most plants recover within a few weeks after repotting; if most roots are already mushy, recovery is uncertain.

Underwatering

Pearls deflate and crisp quickly once fully dry — the window between dry and dead is short. The plant is not getting enough water, either from infrequent watering or soil so dry it repels water. Prognosis is excellent - most underwatered plants perk up within days of proper rehydration.

Etiolation (insufficient light)

Without light hitting the top of the pot, the crown bald-spots while strands thin out. The plant is stretching toward light it isn't getting: long gaps between leaves, pale thin growth, and leaning. Stretched growth never compacts again, but with more light all new growth comes in full and sturdy - the plant's future is good.

Example of etiolated seedlings stretching pale toward the light, on another plant — Example on another plant
etiolated seedlings stretching pale toward the light
Photo: சஞ்சீவி சிவகுமார் · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Mealybugs

Mealybugs hide where pearls meet the stems along densely packed strands. Slow-moving sap-sucking insects that look like bits of white cotton stuck in leaf joints. They are stubborn but very treatable with repeated spot treatment; expect steady improvement over 3-4 weeks.

Example of a long-tailed mealybug on a leaf, on another plant — Example on another plant
a long-tailed mealybug on a leaf
Photo: D-Kuru · CC BY-SA 3.0 at · Wikimedia Commons

Succulent-specific pests

Root mealybugs hide below the soil line on succulents and cacti — check the root ball when a plant stalls for no visible reason. Mealybugs, scale, and root mealybugs love the crevices and thick leaves of succulents and cacti, sucking sap and weakening the plant. Caught early they are very treatable, but expect a few repeat treatments over 2-3 weeks to break the life cycle.

Example of cottony cochineal scale massed on a prickly pear pad, on another plant — Example on another plant
cottony cochineal scale massed on a prickly pear pad
Photo: Juandev · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The mistakes that most often kill it

A deep pot of regular soil — the shallow roots need a shallow pot of gritty mix.
Watering while the lower soil is still moist, rotting the crown.
Hanging it high in a dark corner where the crown never gets direct light.

Not sure what’s wrong?

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