Quick answer
Your string of pearls can droop when the soil is too dry or too wet, and the leaves can look the same in both cases. Check the soil first.
Rot at the base. Stop watering and let the soil dry out fully. Check that the pot drains. If only some roots are soft or brown, trim them and repot in fresh, dry, fast-draining mix. If the base itself is soft, the damage is more serious and recovery is uncertain. Only propagate using a method suited to this plant, not arbitrary pieces above the rot. Wear gloves before cutting. The sap can irritate sensitive skin. Keep cuttings out of reach of children and pets because eating the leaves can cause illness.
Not a match? Compare the signs below to find the one you have.
How to tell
The soil is bone dry and the whole plant has gone limp, often with shriveled pearls beforehand.
The fix
If the soil is dry, water thoroughly (for a string of pearls that’s usually every 11 to 17 days in summer). It takes a few days to firm up again.
How to tell
Cold exposure can damage the plant even with dry roots. Wet mix in a cold spot also increases the risk of rot.
The fix
Move it away from cold glass and drafts to a spot with suitable, steady temperatures. Water according to moisture, only when the top 5 cm (2 in) of soil feel dry. Check drainage and do not add water just because a tip is brown or a calendar says it is time.
How to tell
Drooping began after a purchase, move or repot. A move can change light and temperature without disturbing the roots.
The fix
Check moisture and roots before changing care. A move alone does not require a dry week. After actual root damage, follow this plant’s repotting guidance. Water according to moisture, only when the top 5 cm (2 in) of soil feel dry. Check drainage and do not add water just because a tip is brown or a calendar says it is time.
How to tell
Long strands hanging over the edge of the pot are how a string of pearls grows. It only counts as drooping when the leaves themselves look shriveled, flat or soft.
The fix
Nothing to fix if the leaves are plump and firm. Check the leaves, not the strands.
Before watering, check that the pot drains freely and never sits in standing water. If the mix is still damp, wait and check again.
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