Crassula PERFORATA

Crassula PERFORATA - String of buttons, Perforated crassula, Crassula perforata.

Crassula is a very interesting succulent plant. The familiar name 'stonecrop' or 'jade' plant, the genus received thanks to its thick leaves and stems, and indeed translated from Latin "Crassula" means "thick". Most representatives are native to Africa, some to Australia and Tasmania. In nature, it grows in swampy areas and on rocky slopes. There are many perennial and annual varieties, both herbaceous and growing in the form of shrubs. They live 10-15 years, but older specimens can also be found.

It grows quickly, and in a short time the smooth trunk of the plant can reach 30 cm (11.8 in) in diameter and 2 m (6.6 ft) in height. Opposite fleshy leaves (thickened toward the middle), shiny bright green in color and elliptical in shape, are situated on single or bushy (with age tree-like) shoots. Solitary inconspicuous white flowers bloom on a peduncle in the form of a half-umbel. Under home conditions, it blooms extremely rarely.

Crassula is very popular in home floriculture due to its decorative appeal, fairly rapid growth, and undemanding nature. In addition, many 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.

String of buttons is a small plant that has rhomboid leaves arranged in pairs that clasp the stem. The arrangement of the leaves is decussate (cross-shaped). The stem is rigid and sparsely branched. The leaves have a light green color with a glaucous bloom and a red border along the margin. The stem length is up to 20 cm (7.9 in), and the stem diameter with leaves is about 3 cm (1.2 in). There are varieties in which young leaves have yellow stripes, while older ones at the bottom of the stem are entirely green.

Seeds are sown into a shallow container superficially on a sandy substrate, previously mixed with its upper 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). Seedlings need ventilation. It is necessary to avoid waterlogging and drying out of the sowings. The cover is removed after sprouts appear. After two to three leaves appear, 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 dormancy period, needs bright lighting all year round. With insufficient lighting, the stems of the plant turn pale and stretch out, and the leaves become smaller. In the house, it feels great on southern and southeastern windows, and in summer also in the open air. In the spring-summer period, the optimal temperature is 21-25 °C (70-77 °F), in winter 10-15 °C (50-59 °F); the temperature should not drop below 8 °C (46 °F). In extreme heat, the plant may drop leaves; in cold conditions, the roots may rot.

From spring to autumn, the plant needs generous watering (1-2 times a week) after the top layer of the substrate dries out. From autumn to spring, watering is reduced to 1-2 times a month, and at temperatures below 12 °C (54 °F) it is stopped altogether. Air humidity does not matter much for Crassula, apart from the heating season when the plant is best kept away from radiators. It needs regular room ventilation, as well as periodic wiping with a damp cloth 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, thriving in a substrate of equal parts sod soil, humus, and sand with the addition of pieces of charcoal. Young plants are repotted annually into shallow containers, as the plant's root system is shallow. With age, the plant is repotted as necessary once every 2-3 years (when the roots become cramped) into a mix of equal parts sod soil, leaf soil, humus, peat, and sand. To give the plant bushiness, you can pinch the crown. It is rarely affected by pests.