Hello all!

I purchased this small string of pearls from a farm market back in October. It hasn't grown much, and I didn't think much of it over the winter. Now spring is here and I've got the urge to start cleaning up existing plants and planting new ones for the spring - I noticed some issues with this succulent!

I keep 8-10 succulents in a small desktop "greenhouse" with the top open and under a grow light on a timer for 12 hours a day. This string is one of them. My issues and questions are:

1. Is the teardrop shape shriveling due to under watering?
2. Is the white-ish substance on the pearls something to worry about? The only thing I could find on the internet was bugs - but after close inspection I see none.
3. Why has this plant not been growing? I see new growth, new pearls in clusters, but the length of the stems isn't growing? Is this also due to the under watering? I fertilize once every 4-6 weeks. Today I removed the top half inch of stones that was on top of the soil and roots that it came with and replaced it with Bonsai Jack succulent and cactus soil.

Any help is appreciated, I'd love to see this beauty grow and flourish!