Help! My Water Pearl Beads Are Covered In Algae

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Help! My Water Pearl Beads Are Covered In Algae

Oh no! My water pearls beads turned green!! YUCK!

Quite a few customers have written to say that their water pearl beads in a vase with an orchid have been turning green, kind of like an algae growing.  It is not a very attractive look for your home.  Unfortunately, with certain conditions of where and how the orchid is placed in your home, it can happen.

If you ever have received or placed flowers in a vase with water and allow the leaves to sit in water and sun for a while the vase gets real murky, stinky and grows a sort of algae. The same thing happens with the orchid and the water pearl beads. It should not be placed somewhere where sun hits the vase all day long. Also, it has been very cold out and everyone has their heat on. Double whammy! Essentially, you are  growing your own swamp!  The orchid is surrounded by moss, which is covered by a plastic grower’s pot.  The water from the pearl beads, sun and heat can cause the algae to grow. BUT!!!! All is not lost! The orchid can be pretty again. (PHEW!)

To remove the green algae:

  • Carefully remove the orchid from the vase and place it in another container.
  • In a colander, drain the beads and wash them with mild dish soap.
  • Return the beads to the vase and at this point you can add water to them to allow them to expand.
  • If the orchid feels a little dry add water to it.
  • Gently place the orchid back into the vase.

Voila! No more green algae. 🙂

 

Aneta Zurawski

Aneta is your "go-to" person here at Plainview who will answer your questions on how to best care for your gorgeous new Plainview Growers plant. She wears many hats, and serves as our photographer, plant stylist and nascent flower blogger.

5 Comments
  • margarita kuhlmann
    Reply
    Posted at 10:53 AM, April 9, 2016

    Thank you for answering my question, I am going to follow you advise and I will report back to you in due time with the results. than you Margarita

  • Sketch Hamm
    Reply
    Posted at 10:46 AM, August 10, 2016

    Where can I find more information about this?

  • Kerry
    Reply
    Posted at 5:45 PM, May 27, 2018

    Hello my water pearls have come to the end I think, does anyone know where I can purchase new one? as I have only found water beads online! Or are these the same thing?

  • Diane Baugh
    Reply
    Posted at 11:56 AM, July 24, 2021

    Where can I purchase new water pearls?

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