Want fuller vines and more flowers? Learn the Secrets to Bloom String of Pearls with easy care tips that help it thrive indoors.
The bead-like leaves of String of Pearls make it famous, but do you know these plant can bloom too? Their delicate flowers are in white with a puffy appearance, filled with a soft cinnamon aroma, giving a treat to your eyes as well as nose. But the real problem is they are stubborn to remain flowerless, so this plant need a little extra attention and care. Read on Secrets to Bloom String of Pearls to trigger flowering.
Secrets to Bloom String of Pearls
1. Give Little Stress to the Plant
Stress doesn’t mean you have to fully neglect your plant; instead, just take a few negligent steps. Succulents like string of pearls bloom when they are mildly stressed, so let the soil dry completely between waterings. Grow them in a smaller pot to achieve root-bound conditions, as it results in more flowers. And don’t add fertilizer in winter.
These few steps help because they create their natural habitat, where succulents bloom to reproduce when there are limited resources.
2. Shower it with Bright Light
The String of Pearls likes to bask in the sun for at least 6-8 hours a day. So, if they don’t get enough light, you are not going to see any flowers. Keep them at a place where they get a few hours of soft, bright, indirect morning light. It will help the plant’s energy to boost flowering outdoors.
When you have kept them indoors in winter, give them light for 10-12 hours daily, using a grow light. If the spacing of the pearls had increased or they started appearing pale, then they need stronger light.
3. Use the Right Fertilizer
To get flowers on plants, they need phosphorus mainly as a special nutrient. A balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) should be used in small amounts throughout the growing season. A phosphorus-rich fertilizer (such as 5-10-5) should be used at the very beginning of spring to initiate the formation of floral buds.
It should only be done once every 4 to 6 weeks, and avoid overfeeding because nitrogen in excess amounts will result in more leaves rather than flowers.
4. Create Proper Base
To get flowers in a string of pearls plant, you need to give it a proper home. Pick a pot with proper drainage holes, which will keep the roots healthy, thus giving more blooms. The terracotta pot works best as it dries out moisture more quickly.
For soil, create a mix of 50% cactus or succulent soil, 30% perlite or pumice, and 20% coarse sand.
5. Keep them at Cool Spot
In nature, string of pearls responds to seasonal change, i.e., the winters trigger its flowering cycle. Place your plant in a cooler spot during winter for 4–6 weeks. Avoid extreme temperatures, and never let it sit in frost.
Reduce watering during this period, which will lead to dormancy, giving them a signal to start preparing for healthy and fresh spring bloom.
6. Improve Air Circulation
String of Pearls likes to breathe in air and poor airflow around it will lead to fungal problems, weak stems, and fewer blooms. It doesn’t like to sit in humid, stuffy conditions, so keep it where it receives fresh air and it moves around it.
If indoors, let them stand alone, as overcrowding with other plants will block the passing air. Place them near a fan on low speed to maintain the airflow without drying it too much.
7. Don’t Disturb the Plant
Don’t change the pots near their blooming season or when they are fragile, as it will irritate them and will take longer to bloom. Replant them once in 2-3 years and don’t shift their places randomly.
When you notice buds in your plant, avoid touching, repotting, or shifting it. Even the smallest disturbance might turn into a mistake and can cause the fall of buds.
