Light
Very bright / some direct • approx. 20,000–40,000 lux
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Asteraceae
Curio rowleyanus
- Curated selection:
Every plant is hand‑picked for health and visual appeal, so you receive a strong, well‑established plant.
- Representative photos:
Product images show a typical plant of this variety. Natural differences in leaf number, shape or variegation are normal, your plant will still match in type and quality.
- Size details:
Listed sizes refer to pot diameter (cm) and approximate overall height (cm) from the base of the pot to the tallest leaf or stem.
- “Get What You See” items:
If you are buying the exact plant shown in the photos, this is clearly stated in the size section.
- Individual photos:
One‑off photos are only provided when this is explicitly mentioned in the size section. - For special traits or small quirks, please check the full product description.
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Your new plant has just travelled a long way and needs a calm start in its new home. For step-by-step unboxing and first-week care, check our after-delivery care guide. For deeper tips on how your plant settles in over the next weeks, read our houseplant acclimatization guide.
- Care basics , Main hub with links to all houseplant care guides.
- After delivery & first week , Unpacking, first placement, and early recovery.
- Light, How much light houseplants really need indoors.
- Watering , When to water and how to avoid root rot.
- Substrates & roots, Potting mixes and drainage for strong root systems.
- Humidity, When humidity matters and what actually helps.
- Fertilizing, Simple feeding routine without burning roots.
- Problems & pests, Yellow leaves, brown tips, bugs, and fixes that work.
- Semi-hydro, How to run low-maintenance mineral substrates.
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Curio rowleyanus
Quick Care Guide
Watering
Water when ~90–100% dry
Substrate
Airy + gritty • Fast-draining • Mineral-leaning • Medium
Temperature
Ideal: 18–27 °C • Avoid below: 10 °C
Humidity
Normal 40–50 %
Growth habit
Trailing succulent perennial.
Support
optional
Growth speed
High
Max size indoors
Max. trail length: 90 cm • Max. spread: 90 cm
Toxicity & safety
Toxic
Origin & habitat
Native to Cape Provinces
Outdoor growing
Outside from 12 °C · dry, rain-sheltered setup
How to read these values
These care values are quick reference points for indoor growing. Use them as a guide, then adjust for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.
For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.
- Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
- Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
- Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
- Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
- Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.
- Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
- Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
- Growth speed: expected pace under suitable indoor conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.
- Max size indoors: realistic long-term indoor size under good conditions.
- Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
- Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
- Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.
Curio rowleyanus
Curio rowleyanus is the classic string of pearls: thin trailing stems covered with small, round succulent leaves. Each bead stores water for dry periods and gives the plant its pearl-like shape.
The stems can hang from the pot or move across the substrate, rooting where nodes touch the surface. Indoors, the top of the pot needs as much attention as the trailing strands, since crowded, damp growth there is where problems often begin.
String of pearls features
- Round pea-like succulent leaves
- Thin trailing stems that can creep or hang
- Leaves with a small pointed tip and translucent stripe
- Stems can root along the substrate surface
- Small white flowerheads possible on mature plants
Pearls, stems and Cape-region origin
Curio rowleyanus is native to South Africa’s Cape region, where it grows in bright, dry habitats. Its spherical leaves store water, and the stems can creep along the ground, rooting where nodes touch the substrate.
The leaves are round with a narrow translucent stripe and a small tip, while the stems remain thin and flexible. Indoors, it needs bright light, fast drainage and dry substrate between waterings. Mature plants may produce small white daisy-family flowerheads in bright positions.
String of pearls care
- Light: Provide very bright indirect light with some gentle direct sun. The top of the pot needs just as much light as the hanging strands.
- Watering: Water thoroughly only after the substrate has dried through. Soft beads can indicate excess moisture, while slightly less firm beads can indicate thirst.
- Substrate: Use a fast-draining succulent mix with added mineral components such as pumice, lava rock, grit or coarse sand.
- Pot: A pot with drainage holes is essential. Shallow containers suit the fine roots.
- Temperature: Keep warm and above 10 °C. Cooler conditions require drier care.
- Humidity: Normal indoor humidity is sufficient. Good light and quick drainage matter more.
- Feeding: Feed lightly during active growth.
- Pruning: Trim long strands and use cuttings to refill the top of the pot.
- Propagation: Place stem cuttings on gritty substrate and keep nodes in contact until rooted.
- Repotting: Refresh the substrate when it becomes compacted or drainage slows.
Common string of pearls problems
- Soft or rotting top growth: Often caused by wet substrate and low light at the top of the pot.
- Shrivelled beads: Check whether the substrate is dry and whether the roots are healthy. A dry plant with active roots usually firms up after watering; damaged roots will not recover just by watering more often.
- Stretched growth: Usually caused by insufficient light.
- Bead drop: Beads can drop after rough handling, hot glass, sudden drought or damaged roots.
- Pests: Mealybugs and aphids can hide between beads.
Safety and botanical name
Curio rowleyanus is toxic if ingested, so keep it away from pets and children. Sap may irritate sensitive skin.
Curio rowleyanus was previously known as Senecio rowleyanus, and rowleyanus honours Gordon Douglas Rowley.
Curio rowleyanus stays healthier when the top of the pot gets enough light and dries after watering.
Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.
Curio rowleyanus
Sale price€9,50
FAQs about Curio rowleyanus
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