Coral Bead Plant – Indoor Plants

Coral Bead Plant is an ornamental plant that generally growing to 5-10 cm tall. It has round, tiny and dark-green leaves about 0.5 cm long. The thin, closely matted stems of this plant run along the surface of the potting mixture, rooting into the mixture at the nodes. Insignificant and stalkless blooms, which are produced in early summer, appear from leaf axils. The blossoms are tiny and greenish-white and they give way to shiny, orange-red berries. These berries are fully developed by late summer and they stay on the plant for several months.

Scientific Name: Nertera granadensis
Common Names: Coral bead plant, Pin-cushion plant, Coral moss, or English baby tears.
Synonyms: Coprosma dentata, Coprosma granadensis, Coprosma nertera, Coprosma taiwaniana, Cunina sanfuentes, Erythrodanum alsiniforme, Erythrodanum majus, Geoherpum alsinifolium, Gomozia americana, Logania dentata, Mitchella ovata, Nertera adsurgens, Nertera assurgens, Nertera montana, Nertera repens, Nertera taiwaniana, Peratanthe cubensis, Peratanthe ekmanii.

How to grow and maintain Coral Bead Plant (Nertera granadensis):

Light:
It grows best in bright indirect sunlight to partial shade, a south-facing window is ideal. Avoid direct sunlight.

Soil:
It prefers a moist but well-drained potting mix, use a combination of two-thirds of soil-based potting mixture and one-third of an equal-parts mixture of peat moss and coarse sand or perlite.

Watering:
Water moderately, during the growing season (spring and summer) and always keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Soil should be watered whenever it begins to feel dry. In autumn and winter, allow the top 1 inch of soil to dry out between each watering.

Temperature:
It requires cool to average temperaures of 55°F – 65°F / 13°C – 18°C.

Humidity:
Coral Bead Plant prefers moderate to high humidity. Mist it daily from the time it flowers until the berries have formed. You can increase humidity for the plant by putting it in a cachepot or on a tray with rocks or pebbles in the bottom with a little water.

Fertilizer:
Fertilize once a month with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half while the berries are on the plant.

Propagation:
Coral Bead Plant is easily propagated by division. In the spring, pull a clump of the plant away from the mother plant and pot it its own location. Also can be propagated from seed and tip cuttings, but require years to reach maturity.