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String of pearls is not prone to many pests, but the wrong conditions show up quickly as shriveled beads or a dying crown. When something looks wrong, note where the change is, on the beads, the strands or the crown, and work out whether it is a pest or a water and light problem.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Beads shrivel while the mix is damp | Root rot | Crown color and firmness, root color |
| Clusters of small insects on tips | Aphids | Strand tips and flower buds |
| White cottony tufts | Mealybugs | Bead joints and crowded strands |
| Tan or brown beads | Sunburn | The side facing the sun |
| Widely spaced beads on thin strands | Too little light | How bright the spot is |
Root rot is the most common killer
Wet compost is behind most losses. It is most likely in hot, humid weather. Rotting roots cannot take up water, so the beads shrivel even though the mix is damp. As it progresses the crown turns black and soft and strands detach at the base.
- Stop watering and check If beads shrivel in damp mix, stop watering at once. Feel the crown and see whether it has turned dark and soft.
- Unpot and inspect the roots Ease the plant out of its pot. White or tan roots are healthy; black, slimy ones are rotten and should be cut away with clean scissors.
- Repot into dry mix Let the trimmed plant air-dry for a few days, then replant in fresh, dry succulent mix. Wait about a week before the first watering.
- Restart from cuttings If the crown is badly damaged, cut healthy strands with firm beads and root them as cuttings. Starting over is usually more reliable than saving the old crown.
Prevention is simple: a shallow pot, a gritty mix, sparing water in summer and winter, and never leaving the pot standing in water.
Aphids gather on new tips
From spring into early summer, aphids may cluster on new strand tips and flower buds. Their feeding stalls the tips and new beads come out small. They multiply faster in still air, so improve airflow while you deal with them, and act while numbers are low.
- Check the tips regularly In spring and early summer, look at the strand tips and buds once or twice a week. Small green or black insects bunched together are aphids.
- Rinse or brush them off A light spray of water or a soft paintbrush removes small colonies. Support the strand with your other hand so beads do not snap off.
- Cut off heavy infestations Snip off tips that are thickly covered and throw them away. In the growing season new growth soon comes from below the cut.
White cotton means mealybugs
White, cottony tufts at the base of beads or along the strands are mealybugs. Beads they feed on shrivel, and a heavy infestation weakens the whole plant. They are most common indoors in still air and on plants with tangled, crowded strands, so thinning the strands also makes them easier to spot.
- Wipe them away Remove them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol or an old soft toothbrush, taking care not to crush the beads.
- Check the crown and rim Mealybugs hide in the crowded crown and along the pot rim. Lift the strands and check the hidden spots as well.
- Discard badly hit strands Strands that are heavily infested are easier to cut off and discard than to clean. Keep a close eye on the rest of the plant for a few weeks.
Problems caused by conditions
Some trouble comes from light and temperature rather than pests. The same thing will happen again unless the cause is fixed, so review the position and watering whenever these appear. The plant is also considered toxic to pets if eaten, so keep it out of their reach.
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Brown, scorched beads | Hot midday summer sun | Move to bright shade; remove scorched beads |
| Widely spaced beads on thin strands | Low light | Move somewhere brighter; reroot stretched strands |
| Glassy, shriveled beads after a cold night | Frost or chilling | Move to a warm window and trim damaged strands |
| Thin, bare crown | Old strands dying back | Pin strands onto the soil or add rooted cuttings |
Everyday habits that prevent trouble
Nearly every problem with string of pearls can be prevented with airflow and careful watering. Getting the routine right does far more than any spray. These habits also mean you spot trouble early.
- Keep air moving Hang the plant or set it on a high shelf where air circulates. Still air encourages rot, aphids and mealybugs alike.
- Water only when dry Wait until the mix is dry before watering, water less in summer and winter, and empty the saucer every time.
- Thin crowded strands When strands pile up so thickly you cannot see the crown, remove some older ones. You will be able to see pests and rot before they spread.
- Look it over weekly Once a week, check bead color and firmness, the strand tips and the crown. Small problems caught early rarely cost the whole plant.