Crassula Tetragona: Grow, Care and Propagate Guide
If you’re seeking a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and easy-to-produce and propagate the plant, the Crassula Tetragona, also known as the Miniature Pine Tree, might be the answer. This guide will assist you in caring for and propagating this unusual plant.
It explains how to care for it, how to correctly water it, how to produce new plants from cuttings or leaves, and how to avoid typical pitfalls while cultivating this sort of plant.
Taking Care of Crassula Tetragona ‘Mini Pine Tree’
Miniature Pine Trees are succulent plants that require careful maintenance to remain healthy and beautiful.
As long as they are given enough water and sunlight, they are easy to handle and are popular houseplants.
Listed below is a comprehensive guide to help you get started.
Light Requirements & Sun Exposure
Each day, the Crassula Tetragona plant requires at least six hours of sunlight. It thrives in filtered light, making it excellent for a shady porch or patio away from direct sunshine.
Place the succulent in a location with plenty of indirect light and no more than four hours of direct sunshine. Ensure that the succulent gets at least six hours of indirect sunshine every day.
With care and proper pruning procedures, the Crassula Tetragona may be cultivated inside under fluorescence or grow lights. Place the succulent in bright, filtered sunshine for up to four hours, then provide it with partial shade or more if you wish to shield it from direct sunlight.
Remember that it’s not only a question of shading your window sills; it’s also a matter of keeping them shaded in all areas of the home where they get sunlight.
Watering Requirements
The Crassula Tetragona is a remarkably fast-growing succulent. Although it does not require any special care, it may experience rapid growth spurts if neglected. As with other succulents, the watering requirements of this one will vary from one location to another.
There are many succulents that like to be left completely dry, while others prefer a more moderate moisture level. Water your Crassula Tetragona when the top 1/4 inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Soil Requirements
The Crassula Tetragona may thrive in a variety of soil types, although cacti or succulent potting mix is the best option.
This is due to the fact that they require well-draining soil with little water retention. However, suppose you have any reservations regarding the sort of soil you have. In such a scenario, it’s usually advisable to go forward and use the succulent potting mix to avoid any complications later on.
The soil should really be permeable and well-draining in general. If it isn’t, you’ll have a plant with decaying roots or stems as a result of excessive water retention. It’s crucial for succulent plants of this sort since they need to be kept dry at all times.
Checking whether any sections of your soil are still damp after being completely irrigated is a fantastic technique to determine if it requires improvement.
When reproducing Crassula Tetragona from cuttings, we recommend using cactus mix potting soil instead of standard dirt/potting soil to ensure that the new growths are not killed when transplanted into pots. It’s important to remember, though, that the soil still should drain effectively.
Temperature and Humidity Requirements
While C. tetragona is a very hardy succulent, it also happens to be quite sensitive to extremes in temperature and humidity. It does best with temperatures between 60-80F and humid environments of 50% or more. For best results, do not allow the soil to dry out more than 1/3 of its original weight. Because C. tetragona is a very slow grower, it is also important to limit the amount of water that is given to it over time.
Keep the Miniature Pine Tree succulent plant at a temperature of at least 18°C in the winter to keep it from becoming too dry. Because the temperature and humidity requirements for this variety of succulent differ depending on where you reside, double-check your local climate before making any changes. As long as the correct circumstances are supplied, caring for Crassula tetragona is not difficult.
Fertilizing Requirements
It is vital to fertilize your succulent in order for it to remain healthy and attractive. Fertilize Crassula Tetragona ‘Mini Pine Tree’ plants during the growing season, which begins in late spring for Crassula Tetragona ‘Mini Pine Tree’ plants.
Use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to 14 strength to fertilize your succulent. Before fertilizing your plant, make sure it is well watered. For this, you can use any type of moderate or indoor-safe, slow-release houseplant fertilizer. Just make sure it’s not too rich in nitrogen, as Miniature Pine Trees prefer potassium and phosphorus over nitrogen.
The intervals at that you should fertilize your Crassula Tetragona’ Mini Pine Tree’ is determined by the amount of light and water it gets, as well as its age. Begin by giving young plants three half-strength feedings every six weeks for the first year, then modify as needed as the plant grows.
Repotting Your Crassula Tetragona
You can repot your “Mini Pine Tree” by using a pot that is as small as ten inches in diameter and six inches deep. Always use well-drained, fast-draining potting soil. Use a mix that is one part sand to four parts coarse bark, or one-part perlite to three parts coarse bark.
The pot should be filled about three-quarters full, and then watered well before repotting. Miniature Pine trees are not tolerant of root disturbance. They are best repotted in a pot with a hole at the bottom to drain excess water and prevent root rot.
You can propagate new plants by removing leaf nodes and placing each section into a small pot filled with soil. Top-dress these pots with fertilizer and keep them indoors during winter.
Pruning Crassula Tetragona
The majority of species in the Crassula genus do not require pinching back in winter. However, if you wish to maintain a more compact habit and reduce the leaf size, you can pinch back the tip growth and then cut it back hard at the base.
If you wish to maintain a more upright habit and reduce the leaf size, pinch back the tip growth and then cut it back hard at the base.
Prune out dead or diseased branches as soon as they become noticeable. Remove any damaged or dead branches at the base. Prune out any limbs that are rubbing against neighboring plants and those that touch the soil surface. Keep the foliage trimmed to allow sufficient light to reach the crown of the plant. Remove any diseased or damaged branches at their bases.
Pests and Diseases
A number of soft-bodied insects are known to feed on the leaves of this plant: Mealybugs, scale insects, and whiteflies. Aphids, a common pest of all plants, can be particularly troublesome on young plants. They secrete a sticky honeydew which can lead to the sooty mould that appears on plants, particularly those growing in containers. This mould appears as a grey or black sooty deposit on the leaves and is not harmful.
A good insecticidal soap spray will have an effect on controlling aphids. In addition, there are a number of parasitic wasps that can be introduced to control aphids. Problems with scale insects can be controlled by pruning out infected branches, and in some cases spraying the plant with insecticidal soap.
How To Propagate Crassula Tetragona ‘Mini Pine Tree’
There are a number of methods by which one can propagate Crassula and these include leaf cuttings and stem cuttings. It is advisable to use the latter method since it avoids the risk of cutting through roots.
Stem Cuttings Method
Preferably, a stem cutting should be taken from a healthy plant. The cuttings should be approximately 2-5 cm long and 0.5-1 cm in diameter. The stem cutting must be placed in a plastic bag and immersed in water overnight. The next day, the cuttings should be placed on moist peat moss until they root.
The stem cuts can be planted in the same pot or container used for the parent plant. The container should be filled with moist peat moss. It is advisable to put the container at an angle so that the water will drain out of it.
Thereafter, water should be applied regularly in order to keep the cuttings moist. Prune the stem cutting when it is about half-grown. This can be done after six weeks of growth or at any time thereafter.
Leaf Cuttings Method
This method is very similar to the stem cutting method. The only difference is that a leaf-cutting is taken from the parent plant and placed in a pot of moist peat moss. The cuttings should be kept at room temperature until they root, which takes about four weeks.
After rooting, the cuttings should be placed in a pot of moist sand or perlite. It is advisable to put the container at an angle so that the water will drain out of it. Thereafter, water should be applied regularly in order to keep the cuttings moist.
Learn More About Crassula Tetragona
Conclusion
For succulent fans wishing to add diversity and color to their collection, the Crassula tetragona ‘Mini Pine Tree’ is a terrific choice. This plant’s easy-to-care-for needs make it ideal for beginners. Still, the nicest part about this succulent is that it doesn’t require any special care, making it an ideal plant for the busy succulent grower.
