Crassula Succulents – Varieties Plus Care & Growth Guide

Succulents are undoubtedly one of the easiest plants to grow because of their laidback and low-maintenance nature. This is the reason why many homeowners and plant enthusiasts are choosing popular succulent species. Aside from their aesthetic appeal, they also bring a lot of benefits to the house owner.

As an indoor plant, they also clean the air. They take in the carbon dioxide from the air to process the same and release back as the oxygen we can breathe safely. The more green plants you have, the cleaner your air becomes. 

Besides that, succulents like crassula are known among feng shui experts as ones that can nourish a person’s chi, keeping his mental health in check. The plant can also be used as a cure for diarrhea, corns, nausea, and warts. No wonder it’s a well-received plant within the community of succulent growers and lovers. 

We’ll get to know more about this plant, along with a few of its more well-known species, in today’s article. Then, we’ll discuss its kinds, growing needs, and even how to grow them in your backyard. Hopefully, you will be more encouraged to plant and groom this plant variety at the end of the discussion. So, read on and find out more. 

What Are Crassula Succulents

Crassula is an extensive and diverse succulent plant genus with over 350 species. The most succulent plant under this species is known as Crassula ovata or Jade plant. As most people know, the Jade plant is a type of houseplant that grows like a shrub in warm climates. 

Crassula plants grow into small trees, shrubs, groundcovers, woody plants, herbaceous plants, perennials, and annuals. Most of their species are usually small, including those creeping on the ground covering the floor and miniatures. They are easy to grow and readily available most of the time, that’s why they’re more popular. They grow best as container plants that are eye-catching, evergreen, and low maintenance. 

Benefits of Crassula Succulents

There are plenty of benefits that can be reaped in planting crassula succulents. For one, low-light succulents are easy to grow. Besides that, they can clean the indoor air by inhaling all the toxic carbon monoxide and exhaling oxygen back into the open air.

They also improve the room’s aesthetic value. By adding a lush green plant with pinkish rosettes, you can quickly transform a dull space into an aesthetically pleasing one. You can also plant eye-catching succulents and amazing colorful succulents to make your garden a head-turner. 

And as mentioned above, crassula succulents are known among feng shui experts as ones that can nourish a person’s chi, keeping his mental health in check. In addition, the plant can also be used as a cure for diarrhea, corns, nausea, and warts. All these benefits made the plant irresistible. 

How Do Crassula Succulents Work

While there are over 350 crassula plant species, and they all have different categories regarding toxicity, it’s safe to assume that most of them are toxic to animals. If a significant part of the plant is ingested, it can lead to severe and life-threatening conditions.

To avoid any accident, keep your plants away from your pets. If you feel like your cat or dog consumed a portion of the plant, look for the following red flags to be sure. 

• Depression
• Excessive sleeping
• Incoordination
• Increased aggression
• Lethargy
• Loss of muscle function
• Vomiting
• Weakness

Pros and Cons of Crassula Succulents

Pros

• The plant has over 350 species, so you have a lot of choices. 
• They beautify your home because of their rich and vivid color.
• They also clean the air you and your family breathe. 
• They are also good for curing such conditions as diarrhea, corns, nausea, and warts.
• They can keep your well-being in check because, as Feng Shui experts would put it, they heal your chi. 
• Planting succulents can also keep you busy and occupied in a good way. 

Cons

• These plants are said to be toxic to animals, most especially cats and dogs. 
• There are so many varieties of this plant, and some types are not so well-known. Unfortunately, this means that there is less to zero literature about them. With that, it would be difficult to determine their specific growth environment and needs. 

Types of Crassula Succulents

These are the main types of crassula succulents. Read on and find out how they are similar or different from each other. 

Crassula Ovata

This crassula succulent variety is commonly known as a money tree, money plant, lucky plant, and jade plant. It’s small with white and pink flowers. They are native to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa. They are also known as a houseplant. 

Crassula Perforata

They are known as strings of buttons and stacked Crassula because of their central stem and leaves that circle around them. 

Crassula ‘Morgan’s Beauty’

This is a hybrid crassula succulent cultivar with silver leaves dusted with white and pink flowers in spring. They can grow up to four inches. 

Crassula Erosula ‘Campfire’

This succulent plant variety has lime leaves that branch out and turn blazing red during the cold season. This clamping plant can spread for over two feet and grow as high as four to eight inches.

Crassula Pellucida Variegata

This plant has heart-shaped leaves in creamy yellow, green, or pink color. 

Crassula Succulent Requirements

Though crassula plants come in different varieties, they share these standard growth requirements. 

Light Requirements

During summer, crassula succulents need to hide under the shade. However, they also need bright light to achieve their rich and vivid color. If you intend to grow them outdoors, place them in a spot where they only get morning sun and afternoon shade. They are sensitive to temperature, so extreme heat can burn them. When indoors, give them bright but indirect light to grow properly. 

Temperature and Humidity

They can be grown outdoors with zone 9 to 12 of the hardiness scale. However, you have to bring them indoors and raise them as houseplants during winter because the temperature that could go as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit can kill them. 

Soil

Like any other succulent plant varieties, they prefer well-draining soil. They will also grow best in a mixture of sandy and rocky soil blend precisely mixed for succulents. 

Watering

As a general rule, you need to sparingly water your succulents since their roots could rot and die. Wait for the soil to dry out before watering them again completely. 

Fertilizing Needs

This plant doesn’t need frequent fertilization. Feed them as sparingly as you water them. The best time to fertilize is during mid-spring or where they start growing actively. There’s no need to feed them after. 

Pests and Diseases

When grown indoors, crassula succulents suffer from pests like aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites. To tackle this problem, treat them with horticultural oil like neem oil.

Pruning

You can remove stems from the weakened plant and allow them to dry entirely before growing them again. 

Propagation

This plant can be propagated in three ways — cutting the leaves, dividing the plant offsets, and using the stem cuttings. Cut them, allow them to dry out, and regrow them in a new pot. Finally, let the soil moisten to enable the roots to sprout. 

How to Grow Crassula Succulents 

Step 1 – Repot them

When you just bought a new crassula succulent, the first thing you should do is to transfer them into a new pot. There are powerful tools for succulent repotting, so invest in them. Most of the time, these plants come in smaller pots or garden bags that can hamper the growth of their roots. This is why you need to repot them as soon as you take them home. 

Step 2 – Only use well-draining soil and pot

As you already know, succulents are sensitive to overwatering. When you repot them, make sure only to use a terracotta pot with holes for proper drainage. If you’re unsure what kind of soil to use, go for cacti mixes, as they are best for drought-resistant plant varieties. 

Step 3 – Place them in an area where they’ll get enough sunlight

As mentioned above, crassula succulents can be grown outdoors with zone 9 to 12 of the hardiness scale. However, you have to bring them indoors and raise them as houseplants during winter because the temperature that could go as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit can kill them. So, when planted indoors, place them in an area where they only get bright yet not direct sunlight. When outdoors, ensure that they experience the morning sun and afternoon shade. 

Step 4 – Water them sparingly

Only water them when you see this soil dry out completely. Remember, this plant is sensitive to overwatering, so keep their water intake in check to avoid killing them and rotting its roots. 

 

How to Care for Crassula Succulents

Step 1 – Determine their ideal growing conditions

There are over 350 varieties of crassula succulents, and these plants have unique needs. So, you should know which environment will they thrive in best. 

Step 2 – Avoid exposing them to direct sunlight

Crassula succulents hate scalding heat as it can cause burn them. To recap, during summer, crassula succulents need to hide under the shade.

However, they also need bright light to achieve their rich and vivid color. If you intend to grow them outdoors, place them in a spot where they only get morning sun and afternoon shade. They are sensitive to temperature, so extreme heat can burn them. When indoors, give them bright but indirect light to grow properly. 

Step 3 – Feed them with fertilizers only when necessary

Feed them as sparingly as you water them. The best time to fertilize is during mid-spring or where they start growing actively. There’s no need to feed them after. 

Step 4 – Use non-chemical when treating pests

When grown indoors, crassula succulents suffer from pests like aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites. To tackle this problem, treat them with horticultural oil like neem oil.

Does More Spending Mean More Quality

You don’t have to spend a lot of money when growing crassula succulents. They are low-maintenance plants, and everything you need to take care of them properly is in your garden. There’s no need to buy expensive fertilizers either, as organic ones made of water and gentle detergent are enough. The same is true for curing succulent diseases. You don’t need to buy expensive formulas to fix your plant. 

 

Do’s and Don’ts With Crassula Succulents

Do’s

• Remember that Haworthia succulents are preferred in residential and commercial spaces. 
• Try planting fascinating Echeveria succulents.
• Invest in the world’s best black succulents to be planted at your home. 
• Navigate the designing aspects of cacti.
• Try planting and propagating rich colors of purple succulents.
• Beautify your indoor spaces with premium artificial succulents.

Don’ts

• Leave your succulents where your pets can play with them.
• Place your succulents under the scalding heat of the sun.
• Leave your plants in the cold. 

FAQ About Crassula Succulents

How often should I water a Crassula plant?

As mentioned above, only water them when you see this soil dry out completely. Remember, this plant is sensitive to overwatering, so keep their water intake in check to avoid killing them and rotting its roots. 

Do Crassula plants need sunlight?

You have to bring them indoors and raise them as houseplants during winter because the temperature that could go as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit can kill them. So, when planted indoors, place them in an area where they only get bright yet not direct sunlight. When outdoors, ensure that they experience the morning sun and afternoon shade. 

Where do you keep a Crassula plant in the house?

Please refer to the answer to the previous question. 

What does an overwatered Crassula plant look like?

The plant’s root can rot. As a result, its leaves and stems will look brownish and mushy. 

Is Crassula an indoor plant?

As mentioned above, crassula is an extensive and diverse succulent plant genus with over 350 species. The most succulent plant under this species is known as Crassula ovata or Jade plant. As most people know, the Jade plant is a type of houseplant that grows like a shrub in warm climates. 

Why is my Crassula plant dying?

They might be overwatered or overexposed to sunlight. 

Should I mist my Crassula plant?

No, you shouldn’t. These plants grow naturally in a dry and arid climate, so misting them can cause them to rot and experience problems with mildew. 

Conclusion

Growing Crassula succulents may be easier compared to growing other plants. However, to keep your plant from dying, you need to understand its growing conditions. They are sensitive to temperature, so extreme heat can burn them. If you intend to grow them outdoors, place them in a spot where they only get morning sun and afternoon shade. 

They will also grow best in a mixture of sandy and rocky soil blend precisely mixed for succulents. Besides that, wait for the soil to dry out before watering them again completely. Feed them as sparingly as you water them. When you see pests infesting on them, use organic oils like neem oil to cure them. 

Keep these tips in mind to ensure the health of your crassula plants. Then, again, for as long as you need the basics of growing them, you will never say goodbye to any of your crassula succulent plants. 

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