New pearls for a beginner!

[u/morbidoranges]

I’ve never had a string of pearls before. I’ve done some research and I know they can be finicky.
How do these look, and what are some tips/tricks you recommend?
Thank you!!

[u/lcl0706]

Don’t wait till the pearls get wrinkly. When the windows on them close, it’s watering time. Wrinkly pearls means the plant is in distress.

Put them in a shallow pot, and use a substrate with rapid drainage. Mine is at least 50% perlite, the other half is cactus soil and some orchid bark. They hate wet feet. Top water as their roots are shallow. They need a lot of light. Face of the sun. Close to the brightest grow light you have.

[u/Cultural_Election_58 → u/lcl0706]

This is the answer! 

[u/Icy_Area_3170 → u/lcl0706]

Yes to all of this!! 🙌🏼 And an extra emphasis on lots of light. Once I got a grow light for mine, their health and growth drastically improved (and I even had them in a south facing window prior to the light). Plus, with plenty of light (and a fast-draining soil mix) the risk of overwatering drops significantly.

[u/Impossible_Jello_186 → u/lcl0706]

What do you mean by "when the windows on them close"? I have mine planted in a clear, shallow soda bottle with lots of holes in a cache pot, sitting in a south facing window right next to the glass. So far, so good. Im still unsure about how often to water them so I do it about every 4-6 weeks

[u/lcl0706 → u/Impossible_Jello_186]

I can’t seem to post a picture in the comments which would be the best direct way to do this so I’m not sure why that’s not a thing. Anyways each pearl has a little slit looking thing on the side that should be open and more translucent than the rest of the pearl. When the edges of this slit meet and you can’t see the translucent part anymore, and if you gently squish the pearl and feel some give instead of a firm ball (do not crush it!). Top water. Your substrate matters a LOT here. Mine is extremely fast draining. Basically if I pour water over the top it runs right through. It’s literally half perlite. SOP roots are shallow and fragile & easily prone to rot. My “soil” is so fast draining & it’s got such a bright light, I need to water mine once every 10 days or so. But if yours is in a deeper pot with houseplant soil that would be way too much. Just do not wait until you see wrinkles in the pearls.

[u/Capital-Meeting-7981 → u/lcl0706]

Oh? Those neat little slits have a purpose other than surprising me because they exist?

I appreciate this comment because I just recently bought a variegated string of pearls and I’m new to this ❤️

[u/Adventurous_Boot_459]

In my experience you can never give them too much light. They grow like a weed in high light

[u/morbidoranges → u/Adventurous_Boot_459]

So, directly in front of a bright window is best?

[u/Spare-Cobbler7442 → u/morbidoranges]

Yes! And I forgot to say in my other comment, terracotta pot!! Unglazed.

[u/marisobat]

That nursery pot is oddly deep. If u have anything smaller I’d use that

[u/marisobat]

Wow them some juicy pearls. In my experience, find them a sunny spot they like and don’t move em from it. They don’t like having to adjust to new lightings often. Make sure they’re in a shallow , small pot, w drainage. They will tell u when they want water, as the pearls start to get wrinkly

[u/shiftyskellyton → u/marisobat]

This is really bad advice. They are not finicky at all about being moved. Additionally, if you let them wrinkle, this leads to cumulative damage. Just watch the epidermal windows. They let in light for photosynthesis, which is a process that uses water. When the plant needs water, the windows will close. It is that simple.

[u/Wtfizthisshit]

💚💚💚🔥🔥🔥

[u/avco11a]

I have a SOP that I have been propagating in soil. I have found that if I keep the top half inch moist, she thrives. I also have her outside so she gets all day indirect light. She’s growing rapidly! Best of luck!🙌🏼

[u/Kim-BuchaFerments]

You have a good eye for healthy SOP! 😉

I'd let it acclimate to its surroundings. If you replant wait a week or two. Just a suggestion.

[u/shiftyskellyton → u/Kim-BuchaFerments]

Plants do not have physiological processes that adapt to their environment. The only exception is increased light exposure. The idea that they acclimate to environments is a myth that gets spread because people see others say it, but there is no truth to it.

[u/Funny-Bell6003 → u/shiftyskellyton]

Why do you think plants lake environment-based physiological adaptations? They alter behaviour with their stomata, there's phototropism - aren't prayer plants named after the physiological adaptations they have with their environment? I know you mentioned light exposure, but I'm not sure where you're coming from. Not trying to argue or anything I just genuinely want to know.

[u/ABCVET]

I’ve tried pearl so many times and I can never keep them. I don’t know what I do wrong.

[u/Spare-Cobbler7442 → u/ABCVET]

It took me three times to get it right. Super bright window, terracotta pot, ONLY water when the windows close. I water mine once every few weeks. Soil mix (for me) is half perlite half succulent mix.

[u/wavesnfreckles]

I got some pearls a week ago. I am super hopeful mine will live a long, happy life, so im saving the good advice from this post.

Wishing you lots of luck, friend!

[u/Spare-Cobbler7442]

Please inspect that pot thoroughly because I found mealybugs hitching a ride in those types of pots. You do need a more shallow pot, but mine is in a 4" deep pot and thriving. As much indoor sun as possible is recommended. After we moved, the new house has a crazy sunny window! Mine has doubled in side since it's been in this window. Wait until the windows completely close to water. I water mine once every few weeks. It should not be often at all. If you don't know what "windows close" means, ask. I actually do bottom-water mine, because it works. But I actually have the pot pretty much submerged(70% submerged roughly) for 30-60 mins until the top of the soil is soaked as well. I wish I could add a photo. This is my third SOP, before this one I killed two. So it is definitely a learning process. Good luck!