Crassula AUSENSIS 'TITANOPSIS'

Crassula AUSENSIS 'TITANOPSIS' - Aus crassula 'Titanopsis', Crassula ausensis 'Titanopsis', Jade plant.

Crassula is a very interesting succulent plant. The common name 'jade plant' or 'fat plant' was given to the genus due to its thick leaves and stems, and in translation from Latin 'Crassula' means 'thick'. Most representatives are native to Africa, some to Australia and the island of Tasmania. In nature, it grows in wetland areas and on rocky slopes. There are numerous perennial and annual varieties, both herbaceous and growing in the form of shrubs. They live for 10-15 years, but older specimens can also be found.

It grows rapidly, and in a short time the smooth trunk of the plant can reach 30 cm (12 in) in diameter and 2 meters (6.6 ft) in height. On solitary or bushy (with age tree-like) shoots, opposite fleshy (thickened toward the middle) leaves are located, having a shiny bright green coloration and elliptic shape. Solitary inconspicuous white flowers open on an inflorescence stalk in the form of a corymbose cyme. Under home conditions, it flowers extremely rarely.

Crassula is very popular in home floriculture thanks to its decorative appeal, fairly rapid growth, and unpretentiousness. In addition, many folklore beliefs are associated with it. The plant looks very impressive both individually in a separate planter and in arrangements with cacti and other succulents. Some species can be grown in bonsai style.

Crassula ausensis 'Titanopsis' has very succulent club-shaped silvery-green leaves growing up to 3 cm (1.2 in) long and 1 cm (0.4 in) thick. It very quickly forms a clump of shortened decumbent shoots. It blooms with small white flowers typical of the species, gathered in a flat corymbose cyme on an inflorescence stalk up to 10 cm (3.9 in) tall.

Seeds are sown shallowly on the surface into a sandy substrate in a shallow container, after preliminary mixing with its top layer. They are moistened with a spray bottle, covered with glass or film, and germinated in light at a temperature of 17-21 °C (63-70 °F). Sprouts require ventilation. Waterlogging and overdrying of crops must be avoided. The cover is removed after seedlings emerge. After the emergence of two to three leaves, seedlings are transplanted into individual pots. Obtaining seeds under home conditions is impossible.

Special notes: Seeds are very (!) small.

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Crassula is an easy-care plant. It tolerates direct sunlight well and, regardless of the winter dormant period, requires bright lighting year-round. With insufficient light, stems pale and stretch, and leaves become smaller. Indoors, it thrives on south- and southeast-facing windows, and in summer outdoors in open air as well. In the spring-summer period, an optimal temperature is 21-25 °C (70-77 °F), in winter 10-15 °C (50-59 °F); temperature should not drop below 8 °C (46 °F). In extreme heat, the plant may drop leaves; in the cold, roots may rot.

From spring to autumn, the plant requires generous watering (1-2 times a week) after the top layer of substrate dries out. From autumn to spring, watering is reduced to 1-2 times a month, and at temperatures below 12 °C (54 °F) stops altogether. Air humidity is not of particular importance for Crassula, apart from the heating season when it is best not to keep the plant near radiators. It needs regular room ventilation, as well as periodic damp wiping or a hygienic shower. During the warm season, the plant is fed once a month with liquid fertilizer for cacti and succulents.

Crassula is completely undemanding regarding soil; it thrives in a substrate of equal parts sod soil, humus, and sand with the addition of charcoal pieces. Young plants are repotted annually into shallow containers, as the plant's root system is shallow. With age, the plant is repotted as needed every 2-3 years (when roots become cramped) into a mix of equal parts sod and leaf soil, humus, peat, and sand. To give the plant bushiness, the crown can be pinched back. It is rarely affected by pests.