A Cone of Pearls

Those “in the know” say pearls are the right choice for any occasion. Far be it for me to say otherwise. And when it comes time to find a unique gift for Valentine’s Day or any other happy occasion, the String of Pearls plant, Senecio rowleyanus, is indeed “right”. This is especially so when the lovely String of Pearls foliage is draped over a handmade Victorian-style paper cone.

The “String of” plants are varied. Some have heart-shaped foliage, perfect for February and beyond. String of Needles could be gifted with a Valentine’s message along the lines of, “I’m all ‘pins and needles’ when I see you.” There are even varieties with foliage that looks like dolphins and turtles. But I am sticking with the ever-appropriate String of Pearls. String of Pearls will not let me down for Valentine’s Day, and it will be equally nice as a March pick-me-up, May Day gift, Mother’s Day surprise… you name it.

Senecio rowleyanus has nothing in the way of leaves in the typical form. Its foliage is, instead, spherical. The String of Pearls plant is all about baubles gracing string-like stems. 

I find the stems delicate, so I minimize the number of times I move my String of Pearls plants. At least among the Senecio rowleyanus plants I have tended, the stems grow closely together, clustered at the base and fanning out as they extend. An overzealous tug on one stem could put others at risk. But although I handle it with care, for a houseplant with dainty looks, Senecio rowleyanus has considerable strength.

Choosing between solid green and variegated Senecio rowleyanus is a matter of taste, and I admit my taste changes every time I set sight on String of Pearls plants. I love the healthy look of the solid green orbs. I also love the way Senecio rowleyanus ‘Variegata’ looks, as though its tiny baubles have rolled through a dish of sweet cream. Both "styles" of String of Pearls plants are very eye-catching.

Now, String of Pearls is nothing I want pets to notice, as it is not healthy for them… no nibbling this one. But keeping Senecio rowleyanus away from pets is manageable. It is most graceful when it sits high and drapes down. Sometimes, growers let the orbs sit atop the surface of the soil. For example, in a fairy garden, the little spheres of Senecio Rowleyanus can mimic plump and spherical veggies (perfect heads of green cabbage, for example) growing in a garden. But I am going for the classy necklace look. I will ensure my plant is ready to hang, foliage draping beautifully.

So, on to the hanging container: Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to make something old-fashioned and pretty for others. Victorian-style paper cones are not run-of-the-mill. They typically are handmade. And taking the time to make something tends to show that we care.

Even if you are short on time or not crafty, you can make a paper cone. I keep the crafting simple by using a rectangular sheet of the common size, 8.5 by 11 inches. Forming the cone is easiest if the sheet is of cardstock weight. I like affixing a plain sheet of paper to a single layer of a file folder to serve as the main material for the cone that will hold my String of Pearls plant.

I follow these simple steps to construct the cone:

1. Work on a table and position the paper the wide way.
2. Place left forefinger at the bottom-left corner of the paper. Keep it there, pressing paper to table.
3. Use finger and thumb of right hand to grasp lower-right corner.
4. Keeping bottom-left corner in place, pull bottom-right corner up on a diagonal, toward the upper left. Corner should not meet corner. Instead, focus on making sure a point forms at bottom-left, and allow the paper above it to overlap as necessary.
5. Cup both hands around the “cone” that emerges. Manipulate it to ensure the part that remains in left hand forms the truest point. 
6. Wrap point with tape so it maintains its shape. Tape edges of paper together at the top, as well. This will become the rim of the opening of the cone.
7. Leave the cone as is or snip off the extra corner of paper that appears at the top. 
8. Supplement tape with hot glue. Then decorate.

These easy-to-craft cones look especially nice when made with interesting paper, such as a sheet of music or printout of a poem affixed to cardstock. With a ribbon attached to opposite points along its rim, the cone is ready for hanging. It is an attractive temporary container for a living plant (for me this year, Senecio rowleyanus) in a small grow-pot wrapped with cellophane. For Senecio rowleyanus, I might even decorate the cone with tiny faux pearls to play up the String of Pearls aspect of this Valentine’s Day or “anytime” gift.

If you savor the cone-decorating and fail to get this gift completely ready for Valentine’s Day, remember it is never the wrong time to share appreciation for someone. Sure, February 14 is a perfect time to do this, but the 15^th works well, the 16^th is also a good choice, gifting someone on the 17^th will cause the recipient to smile no less…. You get my meaning. Pearls are always the right choice, and so is Senecio rowleyanus, the String of Pearls plant.