An overwatered string of pearls will have soft, mushy, yellowing leaves. The leaves may also turn brown, and the plant could also develop edema and root rot.
A string of pearls can become overwatered for several reasons: if they are watered too often, if they are given more water than needed per watering, if their soil is not well-draining, or if their pot does not have drainage holes at the bottom. Any one of these factors, or a combination thereof, can result in your string of pearls becoming overwatered.
In this article, we will discuss the signs to look out for, and how to save an overwatered string of pearls.
What are the signs of an overwatered string of pearls?
Root rot
Root rot may not be the most obvious sign of overwatering, since it happens underground, but if you suspect overwatering and remove the plant from the pot to inspect the roots, this sign is the most definitive of them all.
A plant owner will be prompted to check the plant’s roots when they notice any of the other signs discussed in this article.
Root rot is a condition in which the roots of your plant get infected by opportunistic pathogens because they have died from lack of oxygen and thus become vulnerable. When a plant is overwatered, its roots are constantly in soggy soil. This leaves them unable to get access to oxygen, and they will drown. Once the roots have died, they will rot, and fungi, bacteria and pests will spread the rot from the roots up into the stem and leaves, until the entire plant is consumed.
The earlier you catch the infection, the easier it will be to salvage the plant.
Soft and mushy leaves
An overwatered string of pearls will also become soft and mushy. This is because the plant’s cells and tissue become filled with an excess of water, causing the leaves and stems to rupture. The bead-like leaves will feel soft and mushy to the touch and will burst, and the strings will feel limp and weak.
Yellowing leaves
Another indication that your string of pearls is overwatered is when the leaves turn yellow. This goes hand in hand with the leaves becoming soft and mushy because the cells in the leaves rupture due to all the excess water.
If the leaves have turned yellow it means the cells in the leaves are dead, so there is no saving any of the affected leaves. The more yellow the leaves become, the more serious the effects of overwatering.
Leaves turning brown
Leaves turn brown after they turn yellow. This is simply an indication that the rot has made its way up the string and to the leaves.
The leaves can also turn brown when a string of pearls is underwatered, but in this case they are dry and will shrink. Leaves on an overwatered string of pearls will feel slimy and mushy.
Edema
We know that the cells in the leaves will eventually rupture when they take in too much water. However, there is a point when the leaves have not yet ruptured, when the elastic cell wall stretches to accommodate all the excess water. The stretched cells will expand and will manifest as bumps on the leaves, resembling blisters. This condition is called edema, and it also causes the leaves to turn yellow and fall off.
How do you water a string of pearls?
The best way to avoid overwatering your plant is to know how to water it properly. The string of pearls is a succulent, which means it does not need to be watered as much as most plants, because it can store water in its body for use in times of drought.
Water the plant from the bottom
One way of watering your string of pearls is to stand the pot in a shallow dish of water for ten minutes. The plant will absorb the water from below. This is a good method to adopt since the roots get the water first and you will not need to soak all of the soil in the pot every time you water it.
Water the plant from the top
Watering from the top is a classic method for good reason; it does a good enough job of keeping the plant hydrated.
If you do choose to water your plant from the top, just make sure you soak the soil deeply to reach all of the roots. You can use a watering can with a long spout to pour water directly onto the soil. Try not to get the leaves or the beads wet, as this encourages the growth of fungi.
Watering frequency
Keeping track on your calendar can help you remember when to water your plant. A string of pearls needs to be watered approximately once every two weeks.
Remember that this schedule is not set in stone; you can touch the soil in the pot to see if it needs to be watered. If the top inch of soil is dry, water your plant; if the soil is still a bit damp, wait one or two days and check the soil again.
How do I save my overwatered string of pearls?
Check the pot to see if there is any stagnant water. Get rid of any sitting water to avoid further damage to the roots. Simply tilt the pot to the side to allow the water to flow out.
You can help encourage faster evaporation and drying by placing the plant under a bright light for several hours. Place it under direct sunlight so that the increased temperature will increase the transpiration rate. The plant will start to lose water through its stomata, and this way the number of ruptured cells will be greatly decreased.
If you suspect that your string of pearls is overwatered, avoid watering the plant for some time. The soil is probably still soaked, so it will be fine without water for a while.
Try also to lengthen the time between waterings. If you used to water the plant every seven days, try to water it every ten days and see if the plant prefers that schedule.
Remove any beads that have been damaged and are yellow or brown. Check the roots and remove any parts that have turned brown or black. Doing this will help prevent further rotting, as well as encourage the growth of new strings and beads.
Repot the string of pearls in a pot that has drainage holes at the bottom, using well-draining soil.
Make sure to not water the plant immediately after repotting. Wait at least a week to give the roots enough time to recuperate from the transplant trauma.
Conclusion
If your string of pearls is overwatered, it can develop root rot and edema. The leaves will be soft and mushy, and either yellow or brown.
A string of pearls is a succulent and is therefore very easy to overwater. If the plant is in a pot with no drainage holes, or if it is planted in poorly-draining soil, overwatering becomes even easier.
You can salvage your overwatered plant by draining out any excess water, placing the plant under the sun, avoiding watering for some time, pruning any damaged leaves and roots, and repotting the plant.
The best way to avoid overwatering is by checking the soil before watering. If the soil is still damp, hold off on watering for one or two days.
Image: istockphoto.com / Tatyana Consaul