The pea plant is a houseplant with green balls that grow on stems. These balls look very much like peas and that’s where the name of the plant comes from. In English this plant is called string of pearls and in Latin the pea plant is called Senecio rowleyanus. The pea plant is a popular houseplant that is mainly used in high pots and on cupboards. The stems with the small balls then hang nicely downwards. Taking care of and cutting the plant is very easy if you know how the plant works.
Taking care of the pea plant
The pea plant is easy to care for and can also withstand pruning if the plant grows too long or if you want to take cuttings.
Placement
The pea plant is a houseplant and cannot be left outside. Keep the plant in a warm room such as the living room. The pea plant loves light, but cannot tolerate the sun very well. So make sure you have a spot near a window, but don’t place the plant right in front of the window. A little sun is not harmful, but full sun all day long will certainly not do the plant any good. It is a hanging plant, so provide a place where the strands of pearls can grow down unhindered. For example, use a hanging pot or place the plant on a cupboard.
The pot
It is important that no water remains in the pot. In addition to a decorative pot, also use an inner pot with enough holes to drain excess water. For example, the pea plant does not constantly have its roots in the water. This way you prevent the roots of the plant from rotting.
Water
The pea plant is a succulent plant that uses its peas to store water. The plant therefore does not need a lot of water. Only water a little when the soil is completely dry. Do not only check the top of the soil, but also feel a little deeper in the soil and check the bottom of the pot. The plant may occasionally stand dry for a while before watering again. The plant prefers to be watered from the bottom. Do this by placing the perforated pot in a layer of water for a while until the soil is damp. In the winter months, the plant can remain dry for longer than in the summer. Because the plant then receives less light, a lot less water is also needed. It depends on the location and the size of the pot exactly how often the plant needs to be watered, but in the summer the plant can be watered about once a week and in the winter about once every two weeks.
Cuttings of the pea plant
Cuttings on water
To cut the plant, cut a piece of stem of about 10 centimeters. Cut between the peas so that they do not get damaged. Remove the peas from the bottom of the stem to prevent rotting and place the stem in the water. There should still be peas at the top, but they should not touch the water. The plant will grow roots by itself. When the roots are about 5 to 10 centimeters long, the cutting can go into the soil. Take care of the cutting like an adult plant.
Cuttings on Earth
It is also possible to take a cutting from a pea plant directly into the soil. To do this, cut a stem of about 5 to 10 centimeters from the mother plant. Just leave the peas on it. Place the stem on the soil in a pot and press the stem a little bit. The stalk is intended to touch the soil well, but the stalk does not need to be covered with soil. Give a little water every now and then and roots will grow on the stalk by itself. When the roots are large enough, a new stalk will grow and the plant has been successfully cut.
