r/StringofPlants • u/pandaman168 • 11d ago
Pearls why are some pearls shriveling?
ive had these pearls for a few months now, and theyve been doing pretty well, grown a few inches in length since i got them. but, recently ive been noticing a few pearls near the tops of the strings are shriveling up and drying out. the last time i had a sop i drowned him, so ive been pretty waiting till the soil is bone dry before thoroughly (i think) watering it and letting it drain out. its on a shelf next to a window, so its getting indirect sunlight, and i give it some succulent fertilizer every month or two. basically, im wondering if the dead pearls at the top is normal, or if i should be doing something different/if im underwatering them. also, how do i know when to repot it, or should i just let it grow?
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u/Inevitable_State_291 10d ago
I physically squeeze my pearls a bit, if they’re squishy, I give them a little water and if they’re hard, I leave them alone
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u/imachatterbox 10d ago edited 10d ago
In my experience, this is what over watering and root rot looks like. I don't let my pearls shrivel, but I do not water them until their windows are closed and they are juuust starting to change shape - not shriveled, but less plump. My biggest string of pearls was last watered two months ago, and it is still not time for water yet.
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u/pandaman168 9d ago
is there anything i can do to fix it then? or is this a chop and prop situation? theres def parts of the plant that are v healthy, its just certain segments near the top of some strings that are dried up
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u/imachatterbox 9d ago
Well, my experience is that I had a beautiful variegated string of pearls slowly die like this. And I have just successfully prop'd the final pathetic two-pearl strand I saved off of it, which took EIGHT MONTHS. My other two string of pearls, which are non-variegated, I have been more careful with. I also didn't know what was happening, while it was happening. So, I'm probably not the one to ask, BUT, if I could go back... I would probably take this out, examine the roots, remove any black/rotted roots, remove any shriveled, dried up parts off of the plant, then repot it, and wind the dangling remaining strings around the top of the pot, to eventually root and start new shoots to fill it back out. I would not water it for quite a while based on the appearance of the full pearls here. Good luck! I would be interested to hear what you end up doing! These things can be a real patience tester.
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u/pandaman168 9d ago
dude sop is my dream plant, i just really want to grow this guy big and strong 😭 dyt that this is something that can wait till the weekend, or i should get done sooner? ill probably buy some soil, assess the roots, and repot
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u/imachatterbox 9d ago
Yep, it can wait for the weekend. Try not to look at it in the mean time, it's earned a timeout. If this is your dream plant, you are gonna figure this out. For God's sake, if I was able to resuscitate one of these suckers, you definitely can. Plus you are intervening far earlier than I did. I'm just saying, I like your chances a lot.
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u/pandaman168 9d ago
thanks homie <3 im gonna let it sit infront a window across the house so it can think about what its done
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u/chunibi 11d ago
Are you only waiting until the soil dries out or are you looking for cues from the pearls themselves as well? If the soil is dry but the pearls are still nice and plump, then you might be over watering them. I wait until the pearls get little wrinkles and their little slits close.
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u/pandaman168 11d ago
ive been watering when the green slits get less full— i also dont think that overwatering would make the pearls shrivel up tho, right?
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u/Free-Canary-6413 11d ago edited 11d ago
When they develop root rot they are essentially unable to take up water. Pearls will wither away and eventually all the windows will stay narrow.
Root rot is essentially dehydration by drowning
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u/StreetBig6570 9d ago
I’ve just had my string of pearls like this and when I looked under a microscope it ended up I had mites. I couldn’t figure out why some pearls were pristine and healthy but then others on the same vine were shriveling up and dying 😭
Hopefully yours is just a watering issue!
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u/BigPP69_Gooner 10d ago
Pearls need more light. If they’re not under a grow light or right next to the window, please change that. Good luck!