Where to Keep String of Pearls: Bright Light, Moving Air, and No Harsh Midsummer Sun

Where to keep it through the year

The plant does best in bright light with good air movement. Hot, direct summer sun burns the beads, and frost or freezing compost damages them in winter. Rather than parking it in one spot year round, shift it a little with the seasons.

Give it plenty of light in spring and fall

During the spring and fall growing periods, strong light keeps the beads round and closely spaced along the strands. In poor light the gaps between beads stretch, the beads shrink and the plant takes on a sparse, stringy look that does not reverse. Indoors, choose the brightest window you have and move the plant outside on mild days if you can.

1. Acclimate gradually When a plant that spent winter indoors goes outside, keep it in light shade for the first several days and move it into brighter light step by step to avoid sunburn.
2. Keep it out of the rain Outdoors, a covered porch or the shelter of an overhang is ideal. Long spells of rain keep the mix wet and lead to root rot.
3. Turn the pot On a windowsill the side facing the glass grows fuller while the back thins out. A quarter turn once a week keeps growth even.
4. Pick a south or east window Indoors in the Northern Hemisphere, a south or east facing window gives the most usable light. A north window is usually too dim and the strands stretch.

In summer, filter the sun and keep air moving

Heat combined with humidity is what this plant handles worst. Once summer arrives, move it out of direct sun into bright shade where air circulates freely. Sunburned beads turn tan or brown and never recover. Indoors, a sheer curtain filters the light well, but a closed, stuffy room is risky; open a window or run a fan on low.

1. Move to bright shade Before the hottest weather, shift the plant to a spot with only morning sun or the dappled shade of a tree. Avoid west-facing positions that bake in the afternoon.
2. Hang it up high Surfaces near the ground radiate heat and trap humidity. A hanging basket or a high shelf catches more breeze and stays drier.
3. Use shade cloth if needed If a sunny spot is the only option, cover it with roughly 50 percent shade cloth. Beads turning pale or yellowish mean the light is still too strong.

In winter, protect it from frost

Cold tolerance is moderate: the plant can survive down to about freezing if the compost is dry. In mild climates it can winter outdoors under cover, but frost or frozen compost turns the beads glassy and soft. Where nights drop below freezing, bring it in to a bright window.

Windowsills can get very cold at night. On the coldest nights, pull the plant back from the glass or close a heavy curtain behind it.

Show off the trailing strands

The strands trail for a long way, so the plant looks its best in a hanging basket or on the edge of a tall shelf. A raised position also gives better airflow, which suits a plant that hates stuffy conditions. Strands that drag on the floor or press against a wall tend to break or die back, so trim them as they lengthen.

1. Use a hanging basket A hook near a bright window lets the strands fall straight and evenly lit. Take the basket down to water it and let it drain fully before rehanging.
2. Set it on a shelf edge Place the pot at the front edge of a shelf with the strands falling forward. Pushed against a wall, the back of the plant gets no light and dies off.
3. Trim to length Cut overlong strands to the length you want during spring or fall. Every trimming is a ready supply of cuttings for new pots.

Signs the position is wrong

The plant shows quite clearly whether its spot suits it. Tight, round, bright green beads mean all is well. Stretching gaps, pale color or brown patches are a cue to rethink the light.

Variegated forms burn more easily than the plain green plant, so give them light shade even in spring and fall.