Crassulas: The Coolest Houseplants
Wanted: Easy-To-Grow Houseplant that doesn’t look like it is!
Crassulas, commonly referred to as Jade Plants, are fascinating succulents. Their sculpted shape make fine specimens not unlike bonsai trees. They are easy to grow, they grow slowly, can live pot-bound for years, easily propagated, adapt to temperature variations, and don’t require a lot of water. What more could you ask?
There are as many as 300 species of Crassula, and most are native to the dry areas of southern Africa. Although the jade is the best known, and most commonly grown, there are a number of unusual crassulas that share all of those wonderful characteristics with their cousin, Jade!
The jade plant can reach a height of almost 2 feet, and has smooth, fleshy leaves 1 to 2 inches long. There is a miniature variety, Crassula ‘Baby Jade’, that is noted for its small round leaves rimmed with red tones. Clusters of delicate white flowers bloom in the summer if the plant receives fertilizer. When the plants are old or pot-bound, they often bear small, fragrant white flowers in the winter.
Jades do best in full sunshine, so make sure to find a bright sunny location. They will grow well outside as a patio plant during the summer and their leaves tend to color with a reddish tinge. It will stop growing at temperatures much above 90 degrees, and they can survive cold conditions to just above freezing as long as the soil is dry and frost free.
However, they do best with nights in the 50’s and days near 70 degrees. The soil should be allowed to dry out between thorough watering, and if you have less sunlight, water less. Feed the plant every 3 to 4 months. And, remember to keep an eye out for pests, particularly mealy bugs. If you notice these critters in the crevices where the leaves meet the stems, treat them immediately with alcohol and a cotton swab.
A word of caution: One of the most common mistakes plant owners make is to love this plant to death by overwatering. In order to avoid disaster, simply close your eyes and envision a dry hillside covered with crassulas under a blazing African sun. Rain is infrequent, and usually happens in the winter months. As long as you can keep that picture in your head, you’ll do just fine!
In 1985, Briscoe White opened The Growers Exchange in an abandoned Texaco station on a busy urban street corner in Richmond, Virginia. The facility has grown over the years, and is now 5 distinct growing environments with 5 acres under cover. Briscoe has over 25 years of gardening experience. He has now gone virtual, and in the fall of 2006, he launched his online garden center. For further information on gardening products or gardening tips please contact Briscoe White at bwhite@thegrowersexchange.com
Tags: crassulas, growing succulents, how to grow succulents, jade, succulents
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