Crassula Perforata – Surreal Succulent Perfect for Decoration

What Is Crassula Perforata

Have you ever wanted to have a pagoda-like succulent? Well, Crassula perforata looks just like it. This lovely plant goes by many names:

• String of buttons
• Necklace vine
• Pagoda plant
• Stacked crassula

Well, you get the picture. Like any succulent, Crassula perforata is easy to mix, and people have been naming it in different ways. So, we have a mission to tell the world everything we know about this gorgeous plant. 

How Does Crassula Perforata Work

Crassula Perforata comes from South Africa. It belongs to the Crassulaceae family. The other part of the name (perforata) means pierced or perforated in Latin. And its fleshy leaves do look perforated. Leaves are triangular, with red margins, if your plant has been receiving enough sun. They can be up to 1.5 inches long and up to one inch wide. In the spring, you might be surprised with white and yellow flowers shaped like a star. The whole plant can grow up to 2 feet high and three feet wide. So, if you ever feel like putting a tall succulent in your arrangement, Crassula perforata makes a decent choice. 

Pros and Cons of Crassula perforata

Pros

• Sturdiness. Crassula perforata can take a punch. Lower temperatures and the stronger sun won’t kill it. Although, it is not indestructible. 
• Lovely look. All Crassulas have an eye-soothing appearance. Some say it resembles a pagoda, while others think of it like a bowl of green noodles. Anyway, your garden will look better with Crassula inside. 
• Easiness of propagation. You can multiply your plant using our savvy guide, written few headings below.
• Crassula perforata is cute, available, and lovable. Of course, you can’t get wrong by gifting a succulent. One of our favorites is affordable dolphin succulents.

Cons

• Your outdoor Crassula perforata will attract bugs. Sometimes a lot. Nothing to be afraid of, though. It only means your birds will have more bug snacks to munch. 
• Sometimes you will overwater your plant. It happens to the best of us. Still, water your Crassula perforata only when the soil is dry.

Types of Crassula Perforata

Over 300 different plants are in the Crassula family. And of course, many of them look almost similar, so it can be a pain in the …neck to identify them. And of course, a pretty number of them is colloquially called ‘String Of Buttons’. Yep, the same problem with ‘Hens And Chicks’. Some of the world’s best rare succulents are Crassulas. 

Crassula Perforata Requirements

Indoor Lighting

If you keep your Crassula Perforata inside the house, you will need to provide it with many sunny hours. Five sunny hours would be perfect. If your winters are dark, investing in a grow light might be your best option. 

Outdoor Sunlight 

Being native to South Africa, Crassula Perforata will need its daily sun. So, find a sunny part of your garden, and place it there. Beware, however, because too much sun can burn your plant.  

Frost Tolerance

A little bit of frost won’t hurt your Crassula Perforata. However, if your winters are sharp, consider bringing your plant inside. Or even better, make a small greenhouse. 

Soil 

Like all its relatives, Crassula Perforata needs soil with good drainage. So, one part of perlite (or coarse sand) to two parts of potting soil will do the trick. 

Watering 

As with any other succulent, you should water your Crassula perforata only when the soil is completely dry. Always water just the soil, and don’t sprinkle your plant with water drops. 

Fertilization

If your plant is happy and healthy, it will need no fertilizer. However, sometimes you need to fertilize your succulents to help them grow healthier and help them bloom. Use a mild fertilizer diluted in water. 

Propagation

Crassula Perforata propagates from leaves and stems cuttings. Choose a healthy leaf without any damage. Remove the leaf from the plant and put it on some potting soil. Then, wait for the roots to appear. 

For stem cuttings propagation, take a look at our guide further in the article. 

Common Issues With Crassula Perforata

Brown Leaves

Brown leaves mean your Crassula Perforata has stayed too long in the sun. If you noticed it on time, reduce the number of sunny hours your plant is receiving. Long-term sun exposure can seriously hurt your plant. Or worse, even kill it. 

Shriveled Leaves

This means your Crassula Perforata is plain thirsty. Yes, succulents don’t need water all the time, but they still need it. Water your plant, and leaves will be back to normal in few days tops. 

Mushy Brown Leaves

Too much water will make your Crassula Perforata look mushy. If you notice this, stop watering your plant until the soil is 100% dry. This is a common issue for greenhorn gardeners. Remember, water your succulents sparingly.

How to Get Crassula Perforata to Bloom 

Age of the Plant

Blooming means your Crassula Perforata is ready to have kids. Hence, younger plants won’t bloom. Your Crassula Perforata needs to be at least three years old. 

Sunny Hours

Every plant thrives from the sun. It’s a source of life on Earth, and your Crassula Perforata needs its 5 hours of sunlight every day. If your office is not that sunny, consider decorating your office with low-light succulent. 

Temperature

If you live in a 9a -11b USA hardiness zone, your plant will be safe outdoors. For an indoor plant, keep the night temperature around 65 F.  Day and night temperatures must be different from mimicking the Crassula Perforata’s natural habitat. In the winter months, keep your plants in temperatures between 35F and 45F. 

Fertilizer

Although Crassula Perforata doesn’t need fertilizer for growth, a few drops will encourage the blooming. Fertilize your plant in spring and summer. Use one part of fertilizer to four parts of water, and apply it every two weeks. 

How to Grow Crassula Perforata

Crassula perforata can be propagated in four ways:

• grown from seeds
• grown from offsets
• leaves cutting 
• stem cutting

For this guide, we will use the stem cutting method. It has proven to be the most trustworthy and foolproof. So, let’s start.

Step 1 – Take stem cutting

Pick a healthy Crassula perforata plant to take stem cutting from. If your plant has recently been sick or stressed, don’t do it. Let your stem cutting dry for 24 hours. After that, you can dip it in a rooting hormone, but this is just optional. Use a rooting hormone just if you tried propagating before and failed.

Step 2 – Fill a container with a potting mix

Then, stick your cutting in the soil, and water it. Use soil that drains quickly. Water your cutting occasionally, and don’t leave it in direct sunlight. After 15 days, your new plant will have small, weak roots. Gently cover them with a thin layer of soil.

After five weeks, more or less, the roots will be firmer. You will also notice a new plant base growing from the stem. This means your plant is almost fully formed. 

Step 3 – Repot

When the roots fully develop, re-pot your plant. Now is the time for gradually exposing your Crassula perforata to sunlight. Congrats! You successfully propagated your plant. 

 

How to Care for Crassula Perforata 

Succulents don’t need to be repotted often, and Crassula perforata is no exception. However, repotting is a necessary part of the process. Over time, soil loses its nutritional value and needs replacement. Also, your plant’s roots are getting bigger and thus, need some extra space. So, grab your equipment for repotting succulents, and follow us. 

Step 1 – Wait for the soil to get dry

Crassula perforata should be repotted in spring, just before the active growth, to avoid too much stress. Then, remove the old pot gently.

Start removing all the old soil from your plant’s roots gently. After that, remove all the sick, rotten or dead roots.

Step 2 – Use a mild fungicide to treat root cuts

Neem oil is a great choice. Take your well-cleaned plant and put it in a new pot.  Fill the pot with a new potting soil mix. Avoid watering your plant for the next ten days. The fresh batch of potting mix has enough humidity inside. 

 

Do’s and Don’ts With Crassula Perforata

Do’s

• Do water only when necessary. A lot of gardeners make mistakes with succulents by overwatering them. 
• Do provide your plant with love and care. Think of succulents as your little green pets that make you feel good and clean your air. Succulents can improve your health and mood dramatically. 
• Do check your hardiness zone to see if you can plant your Crassula perforata outside. This plant can take low temperatures, but it can also die of freezing. 

Don’ts

• Don’t spray-paint your plant. Seriously. That’s just plain cruel. Buying realistically looking artificial succulents is so much better than spraying paint on an innocent plant. 
• Don’t leave your Crassula perforata too much in the direct sunlight.  Too much sun can harm your plant. 

FAQ About Crassula Perforata

Is Crassula perforata toxic to pets?

Crassula Perforata is safe for cats, dogs, and human beings. Other members of the Crassula family are known for their toxicity, so don’t mix them. Always keep your pets and children away from toxic succulents.

Why is my Crassula perforata dying?

The usual problems are too little or too much water, poor temperature choice, pest attack, or too much sun. If you notice the problem immediately, you will usually be able to save your plant. 

How often should you water Crassula perforata?

Like almost all succulents, you should water your Crassula Perforata only when the top layer of soil is dry. That depends on the climate, temperature, and air humidity. In the winter, Crassula Perforata needs little to no water. 

Where can you buy Crassula perforata?

You can buy it almost anywhere. Crassula perforata is easy to transport and hard to kill. Hence, from Amazon to your local dollar store, you can find Crassula perforata everywhere. 

What are different types of Crassula perforata?

Crassula has a few hundred different species and hybrids. Telling one from another is sometimes complicated, even for the experienced succulent gardeners. The popular hybrids include Buddha’s Temple, Ivory Pagoda, Variegata, and Giant String Of Buttons. 

Conclusion

Just like miniature bunny ear succulents, Crassula perforata became popular due to the interesting shape. Succulents have never been more popular due to their availability, appearance, and variations. If you want to decorate your living or working space with a little green buddy, Crassula perforata is the right choice. Keep it happy, and it will bloom every spring, reminding you how life is miraculous. 

Photos from: jessicahyde / depositphotos.com.