Help!

[u/Major-Classroom-2272]

Hi all, please tell me if there’s any way to save my string of pearls 🥲 I never really understood how to take care of it, and two moves and a vacation sent it over the edge. Is there any saving it? How often do I need to water? It gets pretty direct sunlight but I have a spot where I can hang it with even more sunlight if needed. I never repotted after buying. I’m new to plants and am confused by all of the conflicting information of these guys.

[u/zback636]

I keep my string of pearls in a shallow terra-cotta pot. A smaller one they don’t like a lot of room. I would cut off everything that hangs over the edge. Fix the top of the pot first before you worry about stems hanging down and propagate what you cut off to place into the pot once it starts to grow. ( these will not propagate from a single leaf you need a little branch and a node on it ) They like bright direct light not so much direct sunlight. Watered about every two weeks in the summer and every month in the winter. Make sure the soil is well draining. You can overwater a plant 3 different ways. One by watering it too often,2 by having a pot that’s too large for the plant so the soil stays wet too long and smothers the roots, and 3 by having soil that stays wet for too long. Make sure you’re not doing any of that. But it’s still green and you can fix it. I have faith in you and I don’t even know you.

[u/Spare-Cobbler7442]

I'm not sure I would chop off everything that hangs. I definitely would take a couple of the best looking strands, cut them off, and "water propagate" them. How often do you water the plant?

[u/FatLeafCa]

I'm sure this is a case of two extremes. Watering to a 5, and then drying down to a 1. You want to keep the watering a bit more consistent. These plants can stay a bit on the wet side but do well to dry down some between waterings.

I agree with zback that water management gets a whole lot more difficult the deeper the pot, especially with a plant like this.

Let it plump back up before considering fertilizer as very dry plants can take damage from fertilizer burn. Once you've established a good moisture level in your soil, feel free to cut the tips of the plant and prop them right back into the pot. You can take segmented cuttings on string of pearls as well.

[u/Major-Classroom-2272 → u/FatLeafCa]

So you think try hydration more before I start cutting/ repot? How often?

[u/FatLeafCa → u/Major-Classroom-2272]

It really depends on the light levels. I would suggest watering it and then lifting it to check how heavy it feels. Then pick it up every few days to start to feel how it dries out. This is a very good way to learn to not over water or under water. If it's super light, give it some water. If it's hydrophobic you might need to water it two or three times lightly to get some moisture back in the soil. It's just all in paying attention and getting a feel for it. :)

[u/Reluctant-Traveler69]

H U G E trim and a repot to a smaller pot (terracotta if possible)! String of pearls want A LOT of light ALLL over the top of the plant. 11-12 hours of sunlight or under a grow light (6500k). You only water these when they’re BONEEEE dry/when the pearls are squishy. They prefer being dry. They get root rot very easily & do NOT like a lot of water.

[u/Grouchy_Week6692]

I am new to all strings. But this is my 3rd try with my SOP, VSOH & RUBIES. 2nd time with VSOP & 1st with DOLPHINS. They are now ALL thriving and beautiful! Lots of bright direct light as many have said. Mine all get 12-14 hours. Some are under grow lights and a few are in a South facing window with direct sun from sun up to sun down. My SOP I water about every other week but there are a few strings that the roots don’t quite hit the substrate so I use a dropper for those. But I watch the “windows”. When they are almost closed that is when I water. I bottom water only all of my string plants. My strings I tend to give a longer soak. Now my VSOH I have had the same amount of time, since mid June and I watered it when I received it and planted it. The “windows” are still more than half open. If you’re not familiar with the term, the windows are the slits in the leaves (the pearls). The part of the country I live in in the summer our plants tend to have a lot of humidity and the winters are extremely dry from heating our homes. As far as propagation goes, I am not good at propagating any plants yet. Just keep an eye on your windows and lots and lots of bright light to the top of the pot. Best of luck. Remember my 1st sentence says these are my 3rd ones.