Daily Care of Crassula Plants
This article provides you with knowledge about succulent plants, focusing on the daily care of Crassula succulents. Here is a comprehensive introduction.
When it comes to caring for Crassula plants, it can be said that it's more challenging in the south (south of the Yangtze River) than in the north due to the high temperature and humidity, which can easily lead to the plants' demise. However, the highest temperature in Shanghai can reach 47 degrees Celsius, and even though the climate can be very闷 (stuffy), it's not as闷 as in a greenhouse! Last summer solstice, the outdoor temperature was 41 degrees, while inside the greenhouse, it was 47 degrees. I estimate that the surface temperature could have been around 50-60 degrees, and the Crassulas still survived. Although there is a loss rate of 3-5% each summer, they manage to pull through. Inside the greenhouse, there is no red jade or deer marsh, and the highest-quality planting material is the cottonseed hulls that have been used for growing mushrooms for a year and the炉渣灰 (slag ash) exposed to sun and rain. Some of it is old soil rich in pathogens and pests, and there is also plenty of yellow sand everywhere.
Beginners should not be afraid, as the ones that die are usually unhealthy. In fact, their adaptability is beyond imagination! Here, I share my care experience for reference.
The question of whether Crassula plants are summer or winter types is an old issue and also one that is not easily clarified.
Let's take an easy-to-understand example: Have you eaten cucumbers and tomatoes? These are undoubtedly summer crops, but why can we eat fresh cucumbers and tomatoes in winter? Are they summer or winter types? This simple principle is about the growing season of plants, but it often refers to the original environment, which is not comparable to artificial environments. For example, Echeveria species, many of which are native to Mexico. Mexico is famous for cacti, and we know that most cacti are summer types. So what about Echeveria? Shouldn't we wonder why the ones we grow seem more like winter types? The reason is that Mexico is roughly at the same latitude as the Jiangnan region of China, but it doesn't have endless rainy days without sunshine in the summer, and it doesn't have sauna-like weather. So we can understand it this way: Echeveria is originally a summer-growing plant, but because of our humid climate, it easily rots, so we need to shade it, control the water, or even stop watering to force it into dormancy to survive the summer. Some robust varieties, like Sempervivum,霜之鹤 (Frost's鹤), and Queen's Flower笠, can survive outdoors in the summer with plenty of sun and rain, growing very quickly! In winter, the original environment would be dormant, but in artificial environments, there is no winter, so except for the coldest periods with continuous low temperatures due to consecutive cloudy days, there is only a brief dormancy.
Dormancy is a self-protective measure that plants take when they are not suited to the growing season. If the environment is suitable, dormancy will be broken, so looking at whether it's a winter or summer type is just a reference. Don't pay attention to the temperature of a small environment; as long as the temperature is suitable, it will grow. Generally speaking, 5-30 degrees Celsius is a growing temperature. If the temperature is 5-15 degrees, 10-20 degrees, 15-25 degrees, or 20-30 degrees, then it is an excellent temperature: large temperature differences, relatively cool climates, which are basically comfortable temperatures for both humans and Crassula plants.
About daily care:
Initial planting: Wet soil, not dry soil. Mix a little water into the soil, so it's not sticky and can't form a ball. Wait for it to settle before watering, giving the plant time to adapt to the new soil and grow new roots. Don't expose it to direct sunlight in the early stages, but provide bright scattered light.
Soil: Retain water and allow air to circulate, finding a balance, without waterlogging, and ensuring good ventilation. I usually use the formula: peat, perlite, vermiculite, and pumice in a 1:1:1:1 ratio, which is not strict. If these are not available, you can use a compound medium like evergreen soil mixed with small particle orchid stones or planting stones or other granular materials. Evergreen soil is a bit too water-retentive for succulents, so mix some granules to balance it. Be cautious when buying those two-pack nutrient soils, as their quality is not guaranteed.
Light: Most Crassula plants enjoy plenty of sunlight, but in the initial planting stage, they need bright scattered light and should not be exposed to direct sunlight. In the middle of summer, they need to be shaded to prevent burns.
Temperature: Crassula plants are relatively cold-tolerant. Generally, varieties above zero degrees Celsius will not suffer significant damage. The plants feel comfortable between 5-30 degrees, and the greater the temperature difference, the better.
Watering: Don't water on a fixed schedule. If the soil layer is 6-7 centimeters thick, the top 2 centimeters should be dry before watering. This means that the bottom soil has about 45-50% moisture. Too dry can hurt the roots, and too wet can rot them. If you're not sure, you can insert a toothpick into it to check the soil moisture. Water in winter during sunny middays, in spring and autumn in the evening or early morning (evening is recommended), so that the soil is relatively dry when the sun comes up, avoiding too much humidity leading to suffocation. Control watering in summer, and water in the cool, clear weather of the evening.
Spraying water is a bad habit. Many hobbyists like to spray water here and there, which looks beautiful with water droplets sparkling, but it comes at a cost. Once the sun hits, the water droplets act as magnifying glasses, first burning the leaf surface, then causing infections, leading to spots, and if severe, leaf drop. If the water accumulates in the leaf base or the most important growing point of the plant, it could be fatal. Therefore, it's not that you can't spray water for cleaning, but it should dry quickly, and avoid direct sunlight. If water accidentally accumulates in the plant's heart when watering, you can absorb it with a paper towel. It's a bit troublesome, but safety comes first!
Wind: Ensure good ventilation to avoid high temperature and humidity and low temperature and humidity simultaneously.
The above is a detailed introduction to the daily care of Crassula succulents. Did you get it?