How to Cultivate Crassula 'Bashanbai' into an Old Specimen
This article provides a detailed explanation on how to grow Crassula 'Bashanbai' into an old specimen and the planting methods for the succulent plant Crassula 'Bashanbai', with a comprehensive introduction to follow.
Crassula 'Bashanbai' belongs to the Crassulaceae family, Sedum genus, and is one of the few species that grow rapidly and easily branch out, forming woody stems. Its stems are smooth and upright, making it very suitable for controlling the growth of succulent old specimens and cliff specimens. It is a perennial succulent plant, and once matured into an old specimen, its stems become semi-woody and the leaves densely grow at the top of the stems. The long, oval-shaped leaves have bright colors, spreading and arranging like petals, resembling tiny succulent flowers from a distance. Paired with a simple, rough陶 old specimen pot, it has the charm of a bonsai tree.
Introduction to Crassula 'Bashanbai':
Crassula 'Bashanbai' is native to Mexico and was popular mainly in Japan and South Korea in the early days, hence the name "Japanese Crassula 'Bashanbai'."
The plant has a succulent, small shrub appearance, with grayish-white epidermis on the stems that is relatively smooth. Once matured into an old specimen, it easily branches out, with smooth, powder-free, oval-shaped leaves that are mainly yellow-green jelly-like in color. In the fall and winter when there is sufficient sunlight and a large temperature difference between day and night, the leaf tips can also turn slightly orange or orange-yellow, making the leaf color more vibrant. Its similar varieties include 'O乙女心', 'Jelly O乙女心', and 'Spring Awakening', mainly differing in stem appearance, leaf size, and leaf color when coloring.新手 gardeners should pay attention to the differences.
Basic Habits of Crassula 'Bashanbai':
Crassula 'Bashanbai' belongs to the spring-autumn type species, with spring and autumn being its main growing seasons. It has a short period of dormancy in the summer when temperatures are high and should avoid strong sunlight and high humidity. It is not resistant to severe cold in winter, and the temperature for overwintering should not be lower than 5℃. During the growing season, it prefers a sunny, warm, and dry environment but can also tolerate semi-shade and drought. It dislikes moisture and积水, and when it lacks sunlight for a long time, it easily grows tall with green leaves. Propagation is mainly through stem cutting, leaf cutting, and beheading, with stem cutting being the simplest method. Beheading is mainly used for plants that have grown too tall, to break the apical dominance, shorten the plant, and promote branching.
Key Points for Maintaining an Old Specimen of Crassula 'Bashanbai':
Crassula 'Bashanbai' grows rapidly and easily forms branches and stems, making it not difficult to maintain as an old specimen. However, it also has the characteristics of easy stretching and a tendency to form aerial roots. To maintain a beautiful old specimen, proper pruning and shaping are required while ensuring sufficient sunlight. The main points for maintaining an old specimen of Crassula 'Bashanbai' are as follows:
【1】During the growing season, ensure sufficient sunlight, and water based on the moisture level of the potting soil and seasonal characteristics, avoiding waterlogging as a basic principle. Although it can tolerate drought, excessive water control causes the leaves to wrinkle and the lignified stems to form aerial roots, so attention should be paid to a balance between dry and wet conditions.
【2】Crassula 'Bashanbai' naturally has thin and tall stems with leaves mainly concentrated at the top. Daily maintenance should focus on shaping. For obviously leggy and weak branches, pruning can be done to promote branching and shaping. Pruning and shaping can also be done when the stems are semi-woody based on personal aesthetic needs. For an upright old specimen, the stems should be encouraged to grow straight and relatively clustered; for a cliff specimen, shaping should be done promptly by using gravity stretching and pot inversion methods according to the viewing needs.
【3】For an old specimen of Crassula 'Bashanbai', it can be repotted every 1-2 years. During repotting, in addition to a minor root pruning, the proportion of granular material in the soil mixture can be increased to about 75%, which is beneficial for future shaping and coloring.
【4】Succulents do not require much fertilizer, but after forming an old specimen, a diluted water-soluble fertilizer or a small amount of granular slow-release fertilizer can be applied in the spring, autumn, and early winter to thicken the leaves and increase cold resistance.
【5】Common pests and diseases for Crassula 'Bashanbai' include scale insects, sootycrust disease, and powdery mildew. These should be controlled regularly. Additionally, during the hot summer season, watering should be moderate, and the plant should be placed in a cool and well-ventilated area. In winter, the potting soil should be kept dry, and the plant should be placed in a warm and sunny environment.
The old specimen of a succulent is not only the result of time but also the outcome of long-term careful cultivation! Compared to rosette-shaped succulents that can only accumulate woody stems by gradually consuming the leaves at the base of the rosette, Crassula 'Bashanbai' naturally forms branches and has a fast growth rate, with a built-in "quick-grow" gene for old specimens, making it indeed a "shortcut" for cultivating old succulent specimens!
The above introduction on how to grow Crassula 'Bashanbai' into an old specimen and the cultivation methods for the succulent plant Crassula 'Bashanbai' can be used as a reference for everyone.