String Of Pearls Mushy Stems

String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) is a succulent vine that thrives on infrequent water and bright light; it tolerates being left to dry out between waterings and is commonly grown indoors across zones 3-11 - if you’re keeping it in conditions like those found in zone 9, expect faster drying and more sun compared with cooler spots. Mushy stems are usually not a pest issue but a cultural one: either you’re watering too often for the given pot/soil mix, the pot lacks working drainage holes, or the soil has compacted into a water-retaining mass. Before you cut vines, confirm which of those is true so you don’t repeat the mistake after treatment. Our approach: diagnose quickly (smell, feel, look), stop the moist conditions feeding decay, remove any rotten tissue, then repot in a well-draining cactus/succulent mix into a pot with drainage holes; most growers who combine those steps with careful timing see better outcomes than those who only trim damaged stems. For practical step-by-step actions on drying and rewatering, use the methods described in our guide for remedying overwatered indoor plants to set a safe recovery routine.