How Do You Care For Crassula Orbicularis?

How do you care for Crassula orbicularis?

Crassula Orbicularis is most renowned for its stunning appearance. As the plant develops, it will reach a diameter of around 50 cm (20′′). The succulent is most recognized for the lush green, meaty, and flat leaves that surround it.

From winter through spring, the shrub produces white blooms. The following are some factors to consider when providing care;

Soil

The plant is sensitive to the pH of its soil. The soil should be around 7 — 8.0 (neutral). The size of the pot it is in also determines its need for water, if a small pot is used then it will require more water than a larger one, as the size of the pot dictates how quickly water evaporates, thus leaving less water for the plant. Soil should also be well-drained and rich in organic material.

Light

Crassula plants need a great deal of indirect light to maintain their color and grow. It is recommended the plant receives at least 6 hours of bright indirect light per day, if the plant does not receive this amount it may start to stretch and turn dark green in color.

Watering

Because of the succulent nature of this plant, it should not be watered too much. The best way to water is using a soilless mixed with a small amount of gravel? After watering it should sit in the pot for 30 minutes to help the soil retain more water. This plant will also shed many leaves in the beginning months, and if you over water this may cause injury upon the plant due to being able to release its excess water weight from its leaves.

Temperature

This plant; like most succulents, is susceptible to low temperatures. It should receive temperatures around 15-30 degrees Celsius (60-90 Fahrenheit). Keep the plant away from direct light in order to keep it from receiving too high of a temperature.

Humidity

High humidity is not good for this plant. It should be kept at 50-60 percent. This can be accomplished by using a wet mat underneath the pot.

Propagation

To propagate this plant, simply start off with a cutting from the mother plant. Make sure to select mature leaves, as the fresh cuttings may produce more flower buds than mature leaves that haven’t bloomed. The cutting should be placed in a small pot and put into direct sunlight until it forms roots.

Repotting

This plant is a very small plant, and is very prone to root rot. The root system of this plant is shallow, so the soil in the pot should be able to hold only 1 — 2 inches of water. Because of this depth, it may need to be repotted every two years or so.

Pests and Diseases

This succulent is not susceptible to many pests or diseases. The most prone to attack is the mealy bugs that may affect it. These little bugs are often attracted to the plant because of the nectar-rich flowers. The best way to treat these insects is by using a mix of neem oil and water, as a spray or as a drench to your plant.

Pruning

This plant can be cut back any time during the growing season. In early spring, it can be cut back significantly to remove any dead leaves and new growth. This will help to keep the plant at its maximum height.

How do you propagate Crassula orbicularis?

To propagate this plant, simply start off with a cutting from the mother plant. Make sure to select mature leaves, as the fresh cuttings may produce more flower buds than mature leaves that haven’t bloomed. The cutting should be placed in a small pot and put into direct sunlight until it forms roots. The following are steps when propagating by stem cutting;

• Cut stem of plant, using a pair of clippers or an ordinary hedge trimmers to remove the dead/soft parts.
• Remove bottom 2 inches of the stem and place in a small glass of water, a kitchen blender or spoon (or any other suitable container) will work well.
• Simmer in water for 15 minutes, if the stems are cut very short like ½ inch the transplanting will require less time to grow roots underneath them.
• When removing from the water, remove from the container and plunge into a jar of clean water to wash away any impurities.
• Plant in soilless mix with a small amount of gravel.
• Water well with soilless mix and place in bright, indirect light until rooted; keeping the soil evenly moist all the way through this time frame.

The following are procedures when propagating by leaves cutting;

• Cut a leaf off of the mother plant, a mature one is best.
• Remove the top leaves and cut off any spines from the bottom side of the leaf.
• Make sure to leave the bottom two or three leaves intact on the cutting.
• Place cutting in water for about 15 minutes until leaves are pliable and soft; immersing them completely in water will speed up this process.
• Remove from water and place in a small glass of water, a kitchen blender or spoon (or any other suitable container) will work well.
• Simmer in water for 15 minutes, if the stems are cut very short like ½ inch the transplanting will require less time to grow roots underneath them.
• When removing from the water, remove from the container and plunge into a jar of clean water to wash away any impurities.
• Plant in soilless mix with a small amount of gravel.
• Water well with soilless mix and place in bright, indirect light until rooted; keeping the soil evenly moist all the way through this time frame. Propagation by stem cutting is best because it will grow into a healthy plant quicker than when using leaves.

What is Crassula orbicularis?

Crassula orbicularis is an excellent shade garden plant. Its exquisite appearance and ease of cultivation make it a delight for both viewer and gardener.

Crassula orbicularis is a succulent perennial that grows to a height of 0.25 m when in bloom. It has a shallow root system, forms rosettes with a few to many leaves, and occasionally produces runners.

The fleshy leaves are thin, flat, elliptic, and oblanceolate in shape, measuring 15–100 mm in length and 5–26 mm in width. They range in color from green to dark bronze, have ciliate margins, and occasionally have red or purple undersides.

It produces a terminal, compound, or very rarely spike-like inflorescence that can reach a height of 250 mm and contains leaf-like buds.

The cup-shaped flowers have a musty scent and are occasionally blackish when in bud. The petals are 2–5 mm long and pale in color, but may occasionally be brownish red. They bloom from June to November.

Where is Crassula orbicularis from?

Crassula orbicularis is found throughout the Western Cape, from Worcester to KwaZulu-Natal. It thrives in protected areas, frequently on rocky outcrops, cliff sides, and the like. It thrives in a range of habitats, ranging from semi-desert to afromontane woodland.

It is extremely resistant to adverse circumstances like as cold, extreme heat, and minimal rainfall. It thrives practically anywhere, with the exception of locations such as the Northern Cape, which endures intense arid conditions, and areas with extremely sandy soil, such as the West Coast.

Crassula comes from the Latin word Crassus, which means ‘thick’, referring to the fleshy leaves present in members of the genus, and orbicularis comes from the Latin word orbicular, which means ’round’ or ‘disc-shaped’.

There are presently approximately 200 identified species of Crassula. The genus is widespread, with species found in Africa, Madagascar, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and Australia, with the majority of species found in South Africa (+/- 150 species in total).

Linnaeus described the first Crassula species, including orbicularis, in 1753. However, their existence had been known for a long time before to it, with the first illustrations appearing in the late 17th century. Other well-known species that are frequently used in gardens are Crassula ovate, Crassula arborescence, Crassula Cochineal, and Crassula multicava.

How often do you water Crassula orbicularis?

Crassula is a very drought resistant plant, almost identical to other succulents. But because of its shallow root system, it is suggested that you water it once every two weeks or less depending on the area and its climate.

The soil should be kept evenly moist at all times during growth and early in the flowering season. It will not require copious amounts of water when in bloom as it has a short period of time when it “breathes”. It will also not require water after the first frost in mid- to late autumn as it goes into a dormant state in preparation for winter, stopping water intake and letting its leaves die back.

If you have store-bought plants, it is important that you do not overwater the plant. If overwatered, the roots can become waterlogged and will rot.

How long does it take Crassula orbicularis to flower?

Crassula orbicularis is a very short-lived plant and will bloom only once in its 5-year lifespan. In extremely hot climates, this can extend to 7 years, with the flowers not blooming at all in the Southern hemisphere winter months. Crassula is an annual and will not flower more than once per life span.

The flowers of Crassula species only last for a few days, this is due to the fact that the plant relies on naturally produced sexual hormones to stimulate flowering. Crassula flowers can also be affected by seasonal changes in temperature, this will cause all lerp to dry out and die. In dryer regions, these problems become more prevalent.

It is important to know that the plant can only reproduce asexually, which means that all offspring will be identical copies of the parent.

How big does Crassula orbicularis grow?

Crassula orbicularis is a succulent perennial, growing to 0.25 m high when in blossom. It forms a shallow root system, grows in rosettes of few to many leaves and sometimes generates runners.

The leaves are thin, oblong, elongated and serrate with a more or less rounded apex. They measure 5–25 mm long and 3–15 mm wide. The leaf colors range from green to dark bronze, with the underside being lighter in color than the upper side.

The flowers are solitary, terminal, or in spiked inflorescences that measure up to 200 mm long and may spread out at their base into a flat or round rosette of 4–10 leaves.

There are 3 types of leaves: the terminal leaflet 2–2.5 cm long and 1.5–3 mm wide, all leaflets (known as “iris leaves”) measuring 2–6 cm long and 1.1–3 mm wide, and also the basal leaflets, which are 1-3 cm long and 0.7–1 mm wide.

Why my Crassula orbicularis is drooping?

It is a common misconception that Crassula orbicularis has no requirements for water and is not prone to drooping. It must be watered regularly, but it does not require a lot of water, so don’t neglect it.

Crassula orbicularis has a short period of time when it “breathes” in the summer (June–August for the Cape region). It uses photosynthesis to create energy during this period.

If in this period the plant has not been watered for several days, it will start to show signs of dehydration. The leaves will become thinner, small and wither. The most serious thing is that the root system will become weak and start to rot and crumble. This can happen extremely quickly in hot climates and should be avoided completely.

In general, drooping is a sign of the onset of dehydration. There are several reasons why a plant may droop. The most common one is drought, which can occur in various forms.

There are other factors that can cause it:

Fungus infection: In this case, there is fungus on the leaves or root system (caused by different types of molds).