How To Grow & Care For Crassula Muscosa (Watch Chain)

In its natural habitats, Crussula muscosa grows in well-draining rocky quartz fields of the Western and Eastern Cape, in the winter and summer rainfall areas. It is also common to see the stem segments that drop off as the plant grows larger growing in nearby plant pots or nearby locations in your garden and yard. As the plant grows larger, it can produce lower-growing stem segments that tend to drop off and root wherever they land.

As its tiny leaves form tight rosettes resembling jewelry chains and watches, Muscosa is Latin for mossy and is known as “Watch Chain Plant” because of its moss-like appearance.

Lighting Conditions

This plant thrives in full sun or very bright light. A sunny window or patio is the ideal location. Although ample ventilation is needed in the summer if grown in the intense midday sun. The leaf segments can become brown and hard and woody when exposed to too little sunlight or too much intense sunlight without ventilation, and they will drop off more easily. In the event that you do not have a sunny window or a place to place them, these plants do well under full spectrum LED plants to grow lights.

Soil Conditions

Succulent plants, like all other plants, need soil that has an excellent drainage system so that the soil drains quickly and does not remain wet for long periods of time. As an alternative to buying cactus and succulent soil, you can use good quality commercial cactus and succulent soil, or make a mix using loam, grit (or perlite), and horticultural sand in equal amounts.

Watering Conditions

When the soil looks or feels extremely dry, water the Crassula Muscosa “Watch Chain” once to three days a week. Keeping your succulent plant from getting root rot from overwatering is very important. If the soil looks or feels very dry, it’s wise to use the ‘soak and dry’ method by only soaking the soil when it looks or feels very dry. Make sure you do not overwater or underwater the soil.

Potting Your Crassula “Watch Chain”

It’s critical to select a succulent container with drainage holes. This will allow excess water to flow out of the drainage hole’s bottom, keeping the soil dry and avoiding root rot from occurring. It’s critical that your succulent container includes a drainage hole; most experienced succulent growers understand that having a drainage hole is essential when growing any succulent. No worries if your succulent container doesn’t have a drainage hole. 

Where Should Your Crassula “Watch Chain” Be Planted?

Because the Crassula Muscosa “Watch Chain” isn’t cold-resistant, you should avoid growing it outside during the winter months. It will perish in cold and freezing conditions and should not be grown in temperatures below 30° F (-1.1° C). During the frigid winter months, bring this succulent indoors and cultivate it. Once the weather warms up, you may transfer it back outside.

Make sure you plant it in a succulent pot or container outside so you can simply transfer it if necessary. Plant at a location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunshine each day.

Make sure this succulent receives plenty of sunlight so it may thrive, generate its hues, and prevent etiolation. If you’re growing it inside, make sure it receives adequate light. If your home does not receive enough sunshine, consider purchasing grow lights.

Pest or Disease Issues with Crassula Muscosa Mealy bugs and scale insects attack the zipper plant. These pests can spread from other plants in the area that are infected. Apply a Neem oil pesticide to the plant and relocate the afflicted plants to a new location. Overwatering is the root of most ailments. When plants are over-fertilized and have excessive greenery, fungi can become a problem.

How To Propagate Crassula Muscosa “Watch Chain”

Cuttings

Similar to leaf propagation, however, you’ll need trimmers this time to obtain a clean cut of the cuttings. With trimmers, cut the cuttings at an angle and make sure there’s enough place to plant the cuttings. Allow 2-4 days for the cutting to create a callus. Once a callus has formed, place the cutting in moist, well-drained soil.

Leaves

To propagate a leaf, carefully twist and pull the leaf away from the stem. It’s critical that you obtain the entire leaf and don’t leave any of it on the stalk. You can purchase some trimmers and snip the leaf off to get a very exact cut. Allow your leaves to sit out for 2-4 days after cutting them from the stem so that they can grow a callus. Plant the leaves in well-drained succulent soil after they have grown a callus.

Learn More About Caring For The Crassula Muscosa “Watch Chain”

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Crassula Muscosa a plant that may be kept indoors?

Because Crassula muscosa is not cold-resistant, it should be taken indoors when the weather drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6.7 degrees Celsius). Plant at a location in your garden that receives 6 hours of direct sunshine every day.

Why is my Crassula Muscosa Brown?

If the plant is going brown and you’re watering it properly, it’s possible that it’s being affected by too much light. The sun must shine on crassula muscosa on a regular basis for it to grow, therefore if yours has been sitting in a spot in your house that doesn’t get enough sun, it will become yellow.

Is a watch chain plant a succulent?

Crassula lycopodioides (watch chain) is a small, vertically growing succulent with pointy, light-green leaves that are closely packed around the narrow stem and resemble scales. It may grow up to a foot tall and form an elaborate shrub. Flowers are small and yellow-green in color. It’s an excellent choice for a dish garden with an underwater theme.