How to style and keep alive the String of Pearls

One plant - three styles - Urban Jungle Bloggers June 2016

It's a been a while that I've been able to join in with Urban Jungle Bloggers, which is a shame as I do love taking photos and writing about my plants!

​It was a tough choice about which plant should be my focus - however the String of Pearls - Senecio Rowleyanus has won out in the end, as it is such a striking plant, with its almost magical strands. I also thought I'd offer a few care tips as I am always seeing people post that they have just killed it, or are struggling to look after it.

So first up for my favourite plant model is a little scenario in my studio, where I like to surround myself with inspiration from the sea, with these little sea-urchins and the sea-coral. The mood is slightly eceletic with a nod to vintage with the porcelain milk bottle and the illustrated Observer flower book. I also love the very modern concrete planter that I bought from the Future Kept, which keeps my white porcelain vessels company.

In the house the look is more scandi inspired, with green and white as the main focus, a vintage fern print, a very contemporary original watercolour of a Monstera leaf from American Botanical artist, Living Pattern, as well as a couple of my handmade porcelain planters.

For my final scenario I'm using a number of original terracotta pots that I was recently gifted to show off this family of succulents on a peg-board shelf that I bought from John Lewis. The little illustration is from a German lady who I have met through Instagram, and who has a shop on etsy, RekersdressDesign.

With a little perserverance anyone can keep a string of pearls alive. They store water in their little beads and they don't like to be overwatered. I make sure that I barely wet the surface of the soil, and I always wait for it to dry out before I water again. They like light but not direct bright sunlight.

On the subject of caring for plants I send out an illustrated plant care card with all of my hanging planters. Since my planters don't contain drainage holes I tend to keep the plants in their original plastic containers. Keep an eye not to overwater or let the roots sits in water. If you want to transplant succulents or cactus that's fine  - you can add sand and pebbles to the bottom of the pots to improve drainage.

The beautiful macramé hanger pictured above is from fibre artist, Knotty Bloom who has a shop on Etsy - this is her mini-hoop hanger teamed with one of my porcelain pots.

​I often get asked where I buy my plants from. I'm based in the Midlands and don't have access to many specialist plant shops, however I do have some favourite on-line shops which I know are currently stocking Pilea (Geo-Fleur) and string of hearts/pearls (Botany).

​So, that's all. I hope you found this interesting, and if you are a plant lover I encourage you to join in with the Urban Jungle Bloggers community.

Best wishes,
​Katie