The semitropical coral bead plant can be a bit fussy

They are strange animals and we treat them like they’re made of stone. Sea coral is indeed an animal that when dead and dry is sought after for jewelry.

While there is a wide range of colors of coral in the world, it is the deep red coral that is especially prized.

Red coral is becoming scarce due to overharvesting. Like all coral, red coral is even lost to the illegal use of explosives to blast fish, and coral they hide in.

Thankfully you can grow your own red coral in the privacy of your own home. And you do not need an ocean. 

Coral Bead Plant (Nertera granadensis) is a semitropical plant with dense mat of small dark green leaves, and stunning coral-like berries. Even when not in bloom or without fruit, the plant is pleasant, with tiny leaves that look just like the unrelated Baby’s Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii).

These are short plants, only 3 inches high. 

In early summer this houseplant bursts into bloom with masses of tiny white flowers. But the real show is the long-lasting berries that form after the flowers fade.

These sparkling jewel like berries often completely cover the leaves. This gives rise to the plant’s other common name, “The Pincushion Plant.” 

Coral jewelry is not cheap, and the coral bead plant can be a bit fussy. They really thrive in cooler temperatures; too high a temperature can prevent berries from forming. Try keeping them in a room 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit (13 to 18 degree Celsius). You can move potted coral bead plants outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. Set the pots sheltered from the wind and out of direct sun. 

Too much coral jewelry can make you look shallow and the coral bead plant indeed has shallow roots. 

This means it does best in a shallow pot, perhaps only 3 or 4 inches high. When the berries form, you can feed the coral plants about once a month with an organic liquid fertilizer meant for houseplants. 

If the plants get overcrowded, divide them and repot in early spring. Use potting soil mixed with peat moss and sand or perlite for drainage. 

For most of the year coral bead plants like soil that is evenly moist but not soggy. In fall and winter, let the soil dry out between watering.

Since they like moderate to high humidity, it helps to mist them daily until the berries develop. 

The best coral jewelry is when it is a gift. You can gift new coral bead plants propagated from one’s own plants. Propagation is simple. Just gently pull apart clumps of plants and pot them up. 

You can also grow coral bead plants from seed. 

And there you have it, a rare and unusual houseplant, the coral bead plant. It will give you baby’s tears leaves all year round, a mass of flowers in the spring and months of coral bead berries. And you don’t have to blow up a reef.