Similar to the String of Pearls, this is a trailing succulent with slightly larger, elongated leaves that showcase green and purple stripes likening them to a watermelon rind. Given the right amount of light, the purple tones will deepen in the leaves and stems, making for a remarkable showcase of color.

• Light – Bright, indirect light
• Water – Water once the soil is dry
• Difficulty – Intermediate
• Pet Friendly – Toxic

Grow pot plant sizes: small [4” ], medium [6”], large [8”], extra-large [10”] – All these are diameter measurements

Corresponding pot measurements: small [5-6” pot], medium [7-8” pot], large [9-11” pot], extra large [11-13” pot]

BOTANICAL NAME:  Curio herreanus

COMMON NAMES:  Gooseberry plant, String of Beads, String of Pearls String of Raindrops, String of Tears, String of Watermelons

ORIGIN: South Africa

GOOD FOR: Intermediate plant parents

HEIGHT: Trails can be as long as 12”

LIGHT: Full to partial sun is best when grown indoors. When outdoors, it prefers to be in partial shade. Too much shade will make the plant become leggy. More sun will create stronger color striations in the beads, while less sun will keep them looking greener.

WINDOW PREFERENCE: South or West facing window

WATER:  They are drought tolerant, but the soil should never be kept dry for too long. Excess water should be avoided.  Do not let the plant sit in water.  Use the soak and dry watering method with succulents to avoid over watering your plant.  Let the bottom of pot sit in two inches of water, and allow it to soak into the soil.  Remove excess water after 15 minutes.

HUMIDITY: Regular household humidity

TEMPERATURE: 65-75 degrees is preferred. Keep away from drafts and heat vents.

SOIL / REPOTTING:  Use a well-draining cactus and succulent soil with coarse sand, pumice or perlite added. This plant has a small root system, so better to keep in smaller pots. Only repot when the roots outgrow its current container, and size up 1 container size. 

PLANT FOOD: Feed monthly in the spring/ summer growing season. We recommend using Joyful Dirt Succulent Plant Food. Stop feeding in fall and winter due to slower growth and dormancy.

PRUNING: Prune away dead leaves or flowers to prevent rot or disease from taking over.    

PESTS: Mealybugs 

TOXICITY: Toxic

ANGRY PLANT PROBLEMS:  Shriveled leaves – not enough watering. Younger plants need more water than mature plants. Make sure to water thoroughly as the soil dries out. This may be every 2 weeks in the spring/ summer growing season, or monthly during the winter months. Leaves may also shrivel if you overwater. The beads can actually burst from too much water and then shrivel and become mushy.

INTERESTING FACT:  Blooms in the spring with white flowers