Care Methods for the Crassula 'Bride's Veil'
The editor would like to share some experiences about succulent plants, specifically the care methods for the Crassula 'Bride's Veil', as follows:
The Crassula 'Yomeiri Musume', also known as 'Bride's Veil', belongs to the Cotyledon genus in the Crassulaceae family, and is native to Namibia in西南非洲. The leaves of the 'Bride's Veil' are spoon-shaped, forming an upright, succulent shrub that can grow tall. The leaves are opposite, long and spoon-shaped with purplish-red tips and a white powdery coating on the entire surface. Under strong light, the tips and edges of the leaves turn redder. It blooms in early summer with compound corymbose panicles, which are tall with drooping, tubular flowers that are orange-red and five-lobed, resembling small hanging chili peppers.
The 'Bride's Veil' requires plenty of sunlight and a cool, dry environment. It can tolerate semi-shade but is afraid of waterlogging and dislikes humid heat. It has the habit of growing in cool seasons and dormant in high summer temperatures. The growing period for the plant is from September to June of the following year (this can vary depending on different environments), and if there is insufficient light, the plant may become leggy, with longer distances between the leaves, resulting in a loose growth habit and fragile stems. Plants that grow in full sunlight will be shorter and stockier, with leaves that are relatively compact. The 'Bride's Veil' grows relatively slowly within the Cotyledon genus.
The editor's 'Bride's Veil' is kept in a sunlit greenhouse during the growing period. The soil should be kept slightly moist but avoid waterlogging. A mixture of coal slag, peat, and a small amount of perlite is used for the soil, with a ratio of approximately 6:3:1, and the surface is covered with pumice stones. The 'Bride's Veil' can tolerate temperatures as low as -2°C when the potting soil is dry, which is the indoor temperature, not outdoors. If the temperature drops further, the growing tips of the leaves may get frostbitten, dry up, or even die, but as long as the main stem survives, new lateral branches will sprout from the withered areas the following year.
Watering is generally stopped throughout the winter, and it should be gradually reduced when the temperature drops below 5°C. When the temperature exceeds 35°C in summer, the growth of the entire plant basically stops. During this time, watering should be reduced to prevent root rot due to overly moist potting soil. Ventilation should be enhanced, and the plant should be shaded appropriately to avoid direct sunlight. This is the basic care routine for the entire summer. It should be noted that during the summer, the editor does not completely stop watering but provides a small amount of water near the edge of the pot, about twice a month, between 7-9 PM when the sun has set, which does not affect the plant's roots.
During cultivation, it is important to avoid rain to prevent the white powdery coating on the leaves from washing off, which would make the plant look like a 'big flower face'. Since the 'Bride's Veil' grows slowly, repotting every 2 to 4 years is sufficient, preferably before the first watering in early spring.
The 'Bride's Veil' has a branching growth habit and is not too small in size. It can be propagated by cutting the top, dividing the plant, or using leaves. Leaves should be placed flat on the soil surface in a shaded, well-ventilated area and left alone. New leaves will slowly grow, and once roots form, watering can resume. It is even simpler to propagate from stems; healthy old stems can be planted in slightly moist sand. In a shaded, well-ventilated area, roots will generally form within 15 to 20 days. It is best to propagate by stem cuttings in spring and autumn, while leaf propagation can be done at any time except winter.
The above-mentioned green plant care experience for the 'Bride's Veil' (Crassula) in the Crassulaceae family is hoped to be helpful for you in your daily life!