Image - Wikimedia / The Titou
La Crassula ovata It is a widely cultivated plant, and there are many reasons: it does not grow much, it multiplies easily, it does not usually have problems with pests or diseases, and when it blooms it produces small flowers but of great ornamental value.
As if that were not enough, it is capable of withstanding drought, extreme heat and frost, provided they are weak. But, How do you take care of yourself?
Origin and characteristics
Image - Wikimedia / Aniol
First of all, let's see how it is first, since although it is a fairly common plant, you can always learn something new. Thus, in the case of our protagonist, it must be said that it is an evergreen shrub, succulent, native to South Africa that reaches a maximum height two meters, although the usual thing is that it stays in about 50-60cm.
Its trunk is thick, about 10cm, with smooth, brownish bark. The leaves are fleshy, jade green, with a reddish edge if exposed to high levels of insolation. Blooms from fall to winter, producing white or pink flowers composed of five petals.
Cultivars
There are different:
- Crassula ovata cv Gollum: it is very compact, with tubular blades with the tip reminiscent of a suction cup.
- Crassula ovata cv Hobbit: It is similar to the previous one, but its leaves curve backwards.
- Crassula ovata cv. Oblique variegata: it is similar to the type species, but its leaves have yellow-whitish, green and pink stripes.
What are the cares?
If you want to have a copy, we advise you to provide the following care:
Location
It will depend on where you want to have it:
- Interior: it must be in a bright room, close to but not right in front of the window, otherwise its leaves will burn. It is also important that it is away from drafts, both cold and warm.
- Body exterior:: prefers direct sun, although it also tolerates partial shade.
Earth
- Flower pot- You can use universal growing medium, but it is better to mix it with 10-20% perlite (depending on whether it was already included in the composition or not). In this way, the risk of rotting will be less.
- Garden: grows in well-drained soils. As it is a small plant, if yours is not like that, make a hole of about 50cm x 50cm, cover it with shade mesh and then fill it with the substrate mentioned above.
Irrigation
La Crassula ovata It is a plant that resists drought well, but you don't have to go to the extreme of never watering it either. This could only be done if you have it planted in the garden and it rained in your area at least 300mm a year; otherwise, you must give it water every time you see that the earth is dry, something that will happen frequently in summer.
But, exactly how often to water? It depends a lot on the climate and the characteristics of the soil or substrate. To give you an idea, in my area (Mediterranean coastal climate, maximum temperature of 38ºC and minimum of -1,5ºC, and annual rainfall of 350mm distributed between spring and autumn) it is usually watered about 3 times a week during the season. of more heat, and every 10 days the rest. If where you live is colder or rains more, the frequency of waterings will be less.
Do not wet its leaves or branches as they could burn and / or rot. It is also not a good idea to put a plate under it, unless you remember to remove any excess water within 30 minutes of watering.
Subscriber
From early spring to late summer It is advisable to fertilize with specific fertilizers for cacti and other succulents, whether liquid or granulated, following the instructions specified on the product packaging.
Multiplication
La Crassula ovata multiplies by stem cuttings in spring-summer. To do this, what is done is to cut a twig that you like, let the wound dry for a week in a place protected from sunlight, and finally plant it in a pot with universal cultivation substrate mixed with perlite in equal parts.
If it is kept moist but not waterlogged, it will emit its own roots after about two weeks.
Planting or transplanting time
In springWhen the temperature stays above 10 degrees Celsius, it will be time to plant it in the garden or move it to a larger pot with holes.
Plagues and diseases
It does not usually have, but if the environment is dry and warm you can see some cottony cochineal that you can remove with a brush soaked in pharmacy alcohol or with diatomaceous earth.
Pruning
It can be pruned in spring, removing dry, diseased, weak or broken branches, and taking advantage of it to give it a more compact shape.
Rusticity
La Crassula ovata resists weak frosts up to -2ºC if it is sheltered (under a porch for example), but it can lose the leaf if it goes lower.
What uses is it given?
Image - Wikimedia / Arch. Attilio Miletus
Ornamental
The jade tree is a very decorative plant, so much so that It looks great both in a pot and in the garden. Some even work it as bonsai, because it grows very easy to control.
Medicinal
It is used as a poultice to heal burns, and treat the symptoms of arthritis and osteoarthritis. This is made with the juice of 10 to 15 leaves.
What did you think of this plant?
Hello, good regards, from Fixed Point Falcón State Venezuela, here in this state we live surrounded by beaches and we live with a constant temperature of 30-36 ° C always during the day and at night about 24-26 ° OSEA in the afternoon on Sun and heat are strong but there is always a harsh breeze that refreshes, that is, it is hot and sunny but breezes, and at night there is a cool breeze, I would like to know if I could grow it here in Punto Fijo Falcón State, since I bought one in a nursery Where do they bring plants from cold lands and I bought that crassula but I put it inside the house and it rotted not by watering, but its leaves began to fall until it rotted everything, they told me that maybe it was because of the heat inside the house and that stresses them, portulacaria afra if I have and it does excellently but the crassula ovata I have not had luck but I have only had them inside my house and the leaves fall on the other hand I have the portulacaria outside receiving sun and breeze
Hello Eli.
This plant in the conditions you have needs a soil type volcanic sand, such as the pomx or river sand, and about 2-3 weekly waterings. So I can pull forward 🙂
Greetings.
Hello Mrs. Monica, thank you for answering another question. Is crassula ovata ajuro in need of a winter break? That I read and I articles and he says that he needs a winter break but in my city winter does not happen because we only live in summer with always constant heat and strong breeze and sometimes rains there about five times a year no more, in advance hands thanks
Hello Eli.
Due to its origin, it does need the temperatures in winter to drop a little, but not too much. It is still a tropical plant, from a region not far from the desert.
It is sure to thrive well in your area 🙂
Greetings.
Hello, with the frosts of these days in Madrid (-12 °), I found my crassula with fallen branches, the leaves have frozen and some of the less fat branches are somewhat soft. I had it outside, covered with cardboard but it has not withstood the cold. Now I have put it inside but I do not know what to do to revive it, do I remove the frozen leaves and prune the branches that are soft or do I let it heal itself? Thanks a lot
Hi Ali.
Yes, it is best to cut everything that is wrong, and ... wait.
You can water it with a little biostimulant (you will find it for sale in nurseries, or in amazon), following the instructions for use.
Regards!
Hello Monica,
I'm going to prune it, it has all the leaves soft from freezing and almost all its branches are down, due to the weight of the leaves. I hope it revives. Thank you so much for your advice.
Hopefully yes. Lucky!