Caring for pea plants: watering, fertilizing, etc

When caring for the pea plant, as with most succulents, less is more. The green strings of beads quickly suffer from too much devotion.

After Planting the pea plant (Senecio rowleyanus, Synonym: Kleinia rowleyana), appropriate care is crucial for the String of Pearls to develop well. Like most succulents, the String of Pearls requires little care as it requires little water and fertilizer. We show what you should pay attention to when caring for pea plants.

Caring for the pea plant: Water correctly

Correct watering is fundamental to successful pea plant care. Since it is a succulent, you should definitely not water it too much or often. The String of Pearls can store water in its leaves, which, thanks to their round shape, also transpire less water than plants with flat leaves. Nevertheless, the substrate should be examined regularly with a finger sample. If the soil is almost completely dry and the leaves are already starting to shrivel, you should water the pea plant at the latest. Low-lime water is desirable - but since the String of Pearls is quite tolerant of irrigation water, the water does not have to be completely free of lime. After watering, wait a few minutes before removing excess water from the planter, as the pea plant cannot tolerate waterlogging at all. In winter, when it is cooler and darker, the pea plant grows less and therefore needs almost no water. It can dry out completely for a long time in winter, especially if its location is cool.

Should you fertilize the string of pearls?

Like any plant, String of Pearls occasionally needs nutrients to grow. However, it is a low-eating houseplant. This means it only needs to be fertilized rarely. If the pea plant has just been repotted and it has received a portion of nutrients from the fresh substrate, it will not need to be fertilized at all in the coming year. After that, fertilizer application approximately every 8 weeks during the growing season is sufficient. A special cactus and succulent fertilizer that meets the needs of the pea plant is best. Fertilizing the pea plant in winter does not make sense.

Repot the pea plant

Since the String of Pearls has a fairly shallow and not extensive root system, it is sufficient to repot it every 2 to 3 years. However, if the container has already been completely rooted, you should repot the pea plant immediately.

Shallow clay pots or plant bowls with a drainage hole are best. First, a thick drainage layer is created, which consists, for example, of pottery shards or expanded clay. Then the pea plant is carefully lifted out of the old pot, the old substrate is shaken off and the plant is placed in the new pot. A nutrient-poor and permeable soil, such as ours, is suitable as a substrate Plantura organic herb & seed soil. It is made without peat and has fewer nutrients than potting soil, making it ideal for the low-consuming pea plant. Be careful not to plant the String of Pearls too deep.

Is the pea plant hardy? The String of Pearls is not hardy and must not be exposed to cool temperatures in winter. It is best to overwinter the pea plant in a light and dry place so that only the root ball does not dry out completely. Slightly lower temperatures than in summer at around 15 to 18 °C are ideal for the String of Pearls in winter.

Pea plant dries up and dies: what to do?

The pea plant is drying out and the green pearls look shriveled? You immediately think of a lack of water. But often the opposite is the case.

• Watered too much: Excessive watering causes waterlogging and root rot. The rotten roots are no longer able to absorb water and direct it upwards. The leaves dry out as a result of overwatering and the pea plant dies. If you have watered too much, you should repot the pea plant in fresh soil and be sure to create a drainage layer. Cut off rotten roots and dried parts and water less. Alternatively, to save the pea plant, you can cut cuttings from the healthy shoots and let them root in fresh soil.
• Watered too little: Of course, too little water can also be the cause, but the pea plant tolerates that much better than waterlogging. If the substrate is completely dry, it should also be repotted into fresh soil, which will retain water better. In the future, water more regularly once the top 2 cm of soil is dry.
• Direct sun: If the leaves get brown spots, this may be due to direct sunlight - especially, if you put the pea plant outside in the summer and have not previously gotten used to the increased light has. If the leaves turn completely brownish-purple, this is also a sign of too much light.

At the String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii) there are heart-shaped instead of spherical leaves on the hanging shoots. You can find out everything about the special houseplant in our article.