|

Crassula Rupestris Care (Baby Necklace Vine) Guide

Crassula rupestris is a succulent that can be grown as a houseplant or in the garden. It is one of the easiest succulents to grow and care for, making it an excellent choice for beginner succulent gardeners. This guide will teach you how to grow and care for Crassula rupestris, including tips on watering, fertilizing, and pruning.

Crassula Rupestris (Baby’s Necklace Vine) – A Quick Overview

Portuguese Guinea, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, and Zimbabwe are all home to the Crassula Rupestris, or Baby’s Necklace Vine. This succulent plant is frequently used as a dry-land ground cover. It may also be grown on top of rocks or walls to provide color to a scene that is otherwise desolate.

Crassula rupestris reaches a maximum height of one foot. It has few predators, and animals don’t consume it since it’s rough and nutrient-poor. A tiny, cylindrical stem emerges from the ground on the Crassula Rupestris plant. They feature compact clusters of cream-colored or greenish blooms that are typically buried in the leaves since they develop on short stalks about an inch above the earth.

It was planted for decorative purposes and because people love how easy these little succulents are to care for, therefore it was produced outside of its original habitat.

How To Care for Crassula Rupestris (Baby’s Necklace Vine)

Light Requirements and Sun Exposure for Crassula Rupestris: Crassula Rupestris enjoys the same light conditions as all other succulents. It should be placed in bright indirect sunlight and can tolerate up to six hours of direct sunlight a day. It is not recommended to place this plant in direct sunlight since it may burn and cause damage. It likes to be outdoors but can tolerate being indoors if kept at a cooler temperature. If used in a pot, it can be used indoors year-round. When kept outdoors, it will prefer to be kept in filtered light.

Soil Requirements

Because they are prone to root rot in extremely moist situations, Crassula Rupestris prefers soil that drains well. An excellent combination would be 50 percent potting soil and 50 percent sand. Sand helps these needy plants survive periods without rain during extended summer droughts by providing sufficient drainage while still retaining enough moisture.

Putting a piece of damp newspaper on top of the soil and checking back in an hour or two is a good technique to see if the soil is draining well enough. If all of the paper has dried up, you may need to add extra sand to your potting mix to ensure enough drainage for these plants.

Watering

The Crassula Rupestris needs to be done very sparingly. When watering, use a fine mist directly on the soil surface. Too much water can cause root rot and fungal diseases. Do not allow the potting soil to completely dry out between waterings, as this will also cause root rot. Watch out for over watering as well, as this can also cause root rot.

Temperature and Humidity Requirements

Crassula Rupestris is a tough plant that may thrive in a variety of environments. It does, however, require the proper temperature to flourish.

Temperatures for this succulent should be between 59 °F (15 °C) to 78 °F (25 °C). To grow and avoid rot or mold from the inside out, the Crassula rupestris demands less than 50% humidity.

Fertilizing

The Crassula Rupestris is a succulent that requires fertilizing more often than other plants. Use once-a-month fertilizers in the winter and twice-monthly fertilizers in the summer, according to the standard rule of thumb.

Watering your Crassula rupestris, or any other succulent for that matter is the optimum time to apply fertilizers since water goes through the soil taking dissolved nutrients with it.

If you want to go the additional mile, combine liquid houseplant food with a gallon of water and spray all surfaces until completely wetted before applying as directed above. The amount of fertilizer you use will be determined by the type of potting soil you choose.

Potting and Repotting for Crassula Rupestris

When choosing a pot for a Crassula Rupestris, a shallow container is an ideal choice. This plant does not tolerate sitting in water for lengthy periods of time, thus a container with drainage holes is required. The size of the pot is determined by the amount of soil used.

Give it less earth if there is a dry season, such as winter, so that water does not accumulate too rapidly and harm the plant. If you don’t have drainage holes in your container, your succulent may drown! The Crassula likes to be irrigated from both above and below. While they’re out of the sun, this is a terrific time to spritz them with tepid water using an atomizer bottle every day or two.

Half organic peat and half coarse sand should be used in the soil. This combination provides great drainage, allowing your succulent plants to live longer. A plant that has been in its container for too long might become root bound, which means that its roots have run out of room and are circling around on themselves.

A plant’s growth will be stunted or even killed if it is placed in a pot that is too tiny. Because there is no area for them to develop outwards, the roots will grow inwards towards the water. You may eventually need to cut through the hard outer bark with a saw to provide more roots access to fresh air. Allow adequate room for them to have a healthy life.

The optimal time to do this procedure is in the spring or summer, but before the fall season arrives. Take the plant out of the container. Any roots that are looping back on themselves should be pulled apart. To let new roots grow outward anew, cut through the outer bark with a sharp saw.

When transplanting a Crassula Rupestris, be careful not to harm or rip out too many roots. Root tips are vital to the plant’s survival, so don’t chop off too many. If you plant it in new soil, the root tips will regrow over time.

Pruning

To encourage new growth and avoid rot, remove old leaves from Crassula Rupestris (Baby’s Necklace Vine). Pull up on a leaf or use sharp pruning shears to cut it off. It is preferable to cut the stems of the leaves first so that they do not bleed excessively. This means you can handle them for extended periods of time without getting sap on your hands.

New leaves will sprout from the rosette’s core. Trim your Crassula Rupestris (Baby’s Necklace Vine) as needed to keep it looking clean and well-groomed, but don’t overdo it or you’ll end up with a lanky plant!

Pest and Diseases

Pests and Diseases Crassula Rupestris (Baby s Necklace Vine) can be prone to aphids and mealy bugs. These insects can cause a lot of damage if they are not controlled. As a general rule, aphids are best controlled by giving your plant thorough spraying with insecticidal soap, or by planting it in an area where the aphids won’t be able to get to it.

Mealybugs can be controlled with insecticidal soap. If you have a problem with mealy bugs, try mixing 1 tablespoon of neem oil in a gallon of water and spraying the plant thoroughly when it s wet. Neem oil is also good for controlling scale insects and mealy bugs.

How To Propagate Crassula Rupestris’ Baby’s Necklace Vine’

Leaves, stem cuttings, and seeds can all be used to propagate Crassula Rupestris.

Leaf Cutting

Leaf cuttings can be used to grow smaller plants. Before planting in potting soil or similar well-draining media, cut a healthy, thick leaf off the plant and callous it for two days.

To encourage the formation of roots on the undersides of leaves, place this cutting in a sunny spot. Continue to water until new growth occurs.

Keep an eye out for any symptoms of rot or decay, as these might indicate that your cutting requires extra time to root properly.

Stem Cuttings

Take cuttings from the Crassula Rupestris succulent to produce a bigger version. There should be many nodes on the length of a cutting off three inches. A sharp, clean blade is needed to cut the stem into three-inch sections. Stris also requires less than 50% humidity to thrive and not rot or mold.

Remove all leaves from each branch’s bottom. You’ll need at least one node with two sets of leaves that are approximately an eighth inch in diameter to start a new plant. Mist your cutting in a cylindrical container filled with well-drained soil mix for several days until sprouts develop.

Transfer them to their pots once they’ve grown to four inches tall so they may grow larger together before planting outside or gifting as presents. If you’re trying to grow succulents from cuttings, putting some rooting hormone on the ends of the branches where you cut could assist.

Cut off any leaves that touch the dirt once the plants are in their new container. Remove a few inches of stem from the plant. When you move the plant outside or give it as a present, it will be stronger as a result of this.

Propagation of Seeds

Late winter or early spring is the best time to plant Crassula Rupestris seeds. You may use a cactus mix of 50 percent pumice and 50 percent perlite for the soil. If this isn’t possible, transplanting the seedlings into separate pots with any excellent quality succulent potting mix will suffice.

You’ll need a sterile container with holes for drainage. In addition, the hole should be deep enough to accommodate the length of your plant’s stem without burying any of the leaves beneath an excessive amount of growth material.

Just fill the container halfway with potting soil, push your seeds in, and softly cover them. Plants should not be placed in saucers of damp soil until their roots have established themselves sufficiently to avoid root rot. Overwatering is one of the leading causes of plant mortality, so be cautious.

To avoid the plants from frying out and becoming “leggy,” they should be put in half-shade or strong indirect light.

Is the Crassula Rupestris Toxic?

Humans, dogs, and other common pests are not poisoned by Crassula Rupestris. It is safe for pets to consume. The presence of thorns on this plant is a popular fallacy. On the Crassula Rupestris species, they are still non-existent.

If someone comes into touch with the leaves for a lengthy amount of time or at sensitive occasions such as sunburns or open wounds, the leaves might cause irritation. Unlike other plants, its stems and branches generally do not produce latex, which would render them toxic.

Conclusion

Crassula rupestris is an easy-to-care-for succulent that can be propagated easily. It is a great choice for those new to succulents, or for those who are looking for a low-maintenance plant. Crassula rupestris is drought tolerant and can survive in a wide variety of climates.

Similar Posts