String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) care

Vines & trailers · needs attention to keep

Last updated 3 November 2026

String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) wants bright light with some direct sun. Water it every 2 weeks. Water thoroughly when the pot is completely dry and the leaves have just started to look slightly flat or wrinkled. Every two to three weeks in summer, monthly in winter. Pot it in cactus mix with extra perlite. A weak cactus feed two or three times over the summer, and repot every 2 years. Humidity: indifferent; dry air suits it. Toxic to cats, dogs and people; causes vomiting and, on contact, skin irritation.

String of pearls: strands of spherical leaves, each with a translucent window along one side that lets light into the interior — an adaptation to reduce surface area in a dry climate. It has shallow fine roots and a deep pot of wet potting mix is the standard way it dies.

Quick facts

Water: Water every 2 weeks. Water thoroughly when the pot is completely dry and the leaves have just started to look slightly flat or wrinkled. Every two to three weeks in summer, monthly in winter.
Light: Bright light with some direct sun.
Humidity: Indifferent; dry air suits it.
Soil: Cactus mix with extra perlite.
Feeding: A weak cactus feed two or three times over the summer.
Repotting: Repot every 2 years.
Toxic to pets: Toxic to cats, dogs and people; causes vomiting and, on contact, skin irritation. The ASPCA lists Golden Ragwort (Senecio species), the genus as a whole, as toxic to cats and dogs (checked 26 October 2026).
Difficulty: Needs attention.
Mature size: Strands to 2–3 ft (60–90 cm).
Native to: Southwest Africa.

Watering a String of pearls

Water every 2 weeks. Water thoroughly when the pot is completely dry and the leaves have just started to look slightly flat or wrinkled. Every two to three weeks in summer, monthly in winter.

That cadence is the one PlantParlour sets for this species when you name it, and it is deliberately on the cautious side — a plant that asks a day early is safer than one that asks a day late. Log each watering and the reminder moves with the plant rather than with the calendar.

Light

Bright light with a few hours of direct sun. Too dark, and string plants stretch into bare threads with the leaves far apart.

Humidity and temperature

Indifferent; dry air suits it. Central heating in winter is what turns a comfortable room into a dry one, and it is the usual reason an established plant suddenly browns at the edges or picks up spider mites.

Soil and potting

Cactus mix with more perlite still, in a shallow pot. The swollen leaves are water stores and the roots are fine and shallow — depth of wet potting mix below them is what kills these plants.

Feeding

A weak cactus feed two or three times over the summer. Stop feeding in autumn and start again when you see new growth in spring — feeding a plant that isn't growing just builds up salts in the pot.

Repotting

Repot every 2 years. Every two or three years, into a shallow wide pot rather than a deep one.

Common problems

Shrivelled, flattened leaves
Thirsty — or rotting roots that can no longer take water up.

Fix: Check the roots before you water. Firm roots mean it needs a drink; mushy ones mean rot.
Bare strings with leaves only at the ends
Too little light.

Fix: Move it into direct sun and cut the bare strings back; they will branch.

Leggy, stretched growth: how to read it on any plant
Mushy stems at soil level
Rot from overwatering.

Fix: Take healthy strand cuttings and start again.

Propagation

Lay a strand on damp potting mix and pin it down — it roots at the nodes within a few weeks. Or push cuttings in a circle around the pot's edge to thicken it.

A cutting taken in PlantParlour keeps its link to the plant it came from, so a propagation years later still traces back to the mother plant — which is the point if you ever sell or trade it.

Toxicity and safety

Toxic to cats, dogs and people; causes vomiting and, on contact, skin irritation.

The ASPCA lists Golden Ragwort (Senecio species), the genus as a whole, as toxic to cats and dogs (checked 26 October 2026).

If your pet has eaten a plant, call your vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435, or the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661. Both are open around the clock and may charge a consultation fee. Take the plant or its label with you.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. We don't test plants: what we say about toxicity follows the ASPCA's published plant list as it stood on 26 October 2026, and that list can change. "Non-toxic" means not poisonous — a pet that eats enough of any plant can still vomit, and fertilizer, pesticide or leaf shine on a plant can harm it. It also only helps if the plant is what you think it is. It covers cats and dogs only; ask your vet about rabbits, birds, reptiles or anything else, and a doctor about children. Read our terms.

Every houseplant in the library the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs

Questions people ask

How often should you water a String of pearls?

Water every 2 weeks as a starting point — that is the cadence PlantParlour sets for Senecio rowleyanus. Water thoroughly when the pot is completely dry and the leaves have just started to look slightly flat or wrinkled. Every two to three weeks in summer, monthly in winter. Light, pot size and the time of year all move that number, so treat it as a reminder to go and check rather than a rule.

How much light does a String of pearls need?

Bright light with a few hours of direct sun. Too dark, and string plants stretch into bare threads with the leaves far apart.

Is String of pearls toxic to cats and dogs?

Toxic to cats, dogs and people; causes vomiting and, on contact, skin irritation. The ASPCA lists Golden Ragwort (Senecio species), the genus as a whole, as toxic to cats and dogs (checked 26 October 2026). If a pet has eaten part of a plant, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 straight away.

How do you propagate a String of pearls?