Crassula brevifolia (Crassula pearsonii) Care Indoors, Propagation & Common Problems

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Crassula brevifolia Succulent prefers bright light with some direct sunlight, average warmth and humidity, and moderate moist, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in spring and summer.

Crassula brevifolia also called Crassula pearsonii is among the popular Crassula varieties and bears thick, fleshy, green, triangular-shaped leaves which turn yellowish-green in bright light.

Crassula pearsonii is a small, much-branched, perennial, succulent shrub whose leaves have pink edges and small pink spots on the surface called hydathodes which are important for absorbing moisture from the air in their natural habitat.

Crassula brevifolia leaves are curved upwards, arranged in opposite pairs around the stem and are covered with a thick bloom. The branches start off green-colored but become woody with a flaking brown bark as they age.

Botanical name: Crassula brevifolia
Synonym: Crassula flavovirens, Crassula pearsonii
Family: Crassulaceae
Common names: Crassula brevifolia

Origin

Crassula brevifolia also called Crassula flavovirens is native to the arid western edge of South Africa and southern Namibia.

Size & Flower

Crassula brevifolia is a small bush which grows to a height of about 1.5 feet and about 2-3 feet wide. It blooms in fall although it is unlikely to flower when grown indoors. The flowers are pink and appear in a rounded or irregularly branched cluster.

Is Crassula brevifolia toxic?

Yes. Crassula brevifolia like its cousin, Jade Plant, is considered toxic to both humans and pets as indicated by ASPCA. If ingested it can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Keep the plant away from the reach of children and pets.

Where to Buy

If you would like to add Crassula brevifolia to your collection, you may obtain these plants online from Etsy (Link to Etsy).

How to Care for Crassula brevifolia Indoors

To care for Crassula brevifolia Succulent indoors, give it bright light with at least 4-6 hours of sunlight, warmth of 16-24⁰C, humidity of 50-55% and moderate moist, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in spring and summer.

Crassula pearsonii requires repotting only when it is pot-bound or when the potting medium is completely broken down. Pruning is necessary to keep the plant neat, to reduce pest and disease infestations and to rejuvenate growth. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to provide them.

Watering

Water Crassula brevifolia deeply in spring and summer and allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Avoid overwatering to prevent rotting, yellowing and leaf loss.

Lessen the amount and frequency of watering in fall and winter as growth is reduced at this time, thus, the plant needs very little water. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely to avoid wilting, drooping, yellowing and leaf drop.

Use water that is at room temperature to avoid cold shock which can cause stunted growth and leaf drop. Ensure that the water is free of chlorine and other dissolved chemicals to prevent browning of the leaves.

Ascertain that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent waterlogging which can lead to rotting.

Take care not to wet the foliage to minimize fungal diseases; you may water from the bottom instead.

Light Requirements

Crassula brevifolia requires bright light with at least 4-6 hours of morning or late afternoon sunlight. Keep it away from midday hot sunshine to avoid scorching the leaves.

If the light is not sufficient, the plant will become etiolated with elongated stems and pale leaves. Therefore, where the natural lighting is not adequate, you may use full spectrum grow lights to supplement it.

Regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth and to prevent lopsided growth.

You may also choose to grow the plant outdoors; gradually acclimate it and place it in a shaded place to prevent scorching of the leaves.

Temperature & Humidity

Crassula brevifolia thrives in warmth of 16-24⁰C in spring and summer with a minimum of 10⁰C in fall and winter.

Keep it away from drafts emanating from AC units, hot air vents, heat sources, windy doors, drafty windows and others as they can result in loss of leaf color and death of the plant.

Crassula pearsonii has no need for extra humidity; a humidity of 50-55% is ideal for this plant. Do not mist the plant and ensure there is good air circulation to discourage fungal disease infestations which are prevalent in damp, poorly ventilated conditions.

Fertilizer

Crassula brevifolia is not a heavy feeder, therefore, feed it monthly in spring and summer with a cactus and succulents fertilizer for a lush growth. Do not feed in fall and winter as growth is minimal and feeding at this time can cause fertilizer burn and eventual death of the plant.

To leach out excess salts, regularly run a stream of water through the soil until it drains through the drainage hole. Repeat the process several times to get rid of most of the salts.

Potting Medium

The best soil for Crassula brevifolia should be loose, low in organic matter and one that drains easily to prevent it from getting soggy. The soil should be loose enough to allow water to drain out easily. Most Cactus and succulents potting mixes are ideal for this plant.

Repotting

Repot Crassula brevifolia at the beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer), only when pot-bound or when the potting medium is completely broken down.

Use a pot that is 1 size larger than the current one to avoid overpotting and retention of excess water. Confirm that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent root-rot. Use a clay pot as it is porous and allows the soil to dry out faster to keep it from staying wet for too long. Take a look at these terracotta pots with saucer on Amazon.

Before repotting, ensure that the soil is dry. Slip the Crassula brevifolia out of its pot and brush off soil from the roots. Snip off any dead or dry roots and treat the wounds with a fungicidal solution.

Place the plant in its new pot and back fill with fresh, loose, free-draining soil while spreading the roots as you fill the pot. Do not fill the pot to the brim but leave about 1 in. unfilled to allow for watering space.

Put back the plant to its display position and keep it dry for about 5-7 days to reduce the risk of rot-root disease.

Pruning & Maintenance

Pruning Crassula brevifolia involves removal of any dead or diseased leaves to keep it neat and also reduce pest and disease infestations. Snip the leaves at the base with a sterilized knife or pair of scissors to prevent diseases transmission.

Cut back the plant at the beginning of the growing season if it is has become too large and unruly to encourage a compact growth. Minimize the number of cuts as much as possible to avoid unnecessary injuries to reduce fungal disease infestations.

Clean the leaves regularly by splashing water on them to get rid of dust and also discourage pest infestations.

Crassula brevifolia Propagation

Crassula brevifolia is propagated from leaf cuttings, stem cuttings or offsets at the beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer) when in active growth for faster establishment.

1. Propagating Crassula brevifolia from stem cuttings

1. Take 3-5 inches stem cuttings from a healthy plant and allow the cutting to dry out (callus) for a few days to prevent rotting.


2. Fill a small pot with a fast-draining soil and moisten it slightly. Use a pot with a drainage hole to avoid rotting.


3. Once callused, insert 2-3 inches of the lower cut end of the stem cuttings in the moist soil.


4. Place the set up in a well-lit, warm place away from direct sunlight to prevent scorching.


5. Ensure good air circulation to discourage fungal diseases.


6. Maintain the soil slightly moist until the stem cuttings have rooted. Rooting may take upto 4 weeks.


7. Allow substancial growth before transplanting the new plant into a pot one size larger after which you can begin routine care.

2. Propagating Crassula brevifolia from leaf cuttings

1. Take leaf cuttings complete with the petiole from a healthy plant. Allow the leaf cutting to dry out (callus) for a few days to prevent rotting.


2. Fill a rooting container with a fast-draining soil and wet it slightly. Ensure the container has a drainage hole to avoid rotting.


3. When calloussed, lay the leaf cutting on moistsoil while ensuring that the cut end does not come into contact with the soil to prevent rotting.


4. Postion the set up in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight to prevent scorching of the leaf cuttings.


5. Maintain the soil slightly moist through out and ensure that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.


6. With time, the leaf cutting will form roots and eventually a small rosette will form at the base of the leaf cutting. This may take from 4-6 weeks.


7. Allow substancial growth of the rosette before transplanting the new plant into its own pot after which you can begin routine care.

3. Propagating Crassula brevifolia Succulent from offsets

1. Carefully seperate the offset from the mother plant by cutting with a clean, sharp knife while ensuring that the offset has adequate roots.


2. Fill a small pot one thirdway with a well-draining soil and moisten it slightly.


3. Position the offset in the center of the pot and continue to cover the roots with the soil while firming the soil lightly. Maintain the offset at the same soil level as it was in the previous pot.


4. Place the set-up in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight to prevent scorching.


5. Maintain good air circulation to discourage fungal diseases.


6. Keep the soil slightly moist through out until the new plant is well established after which you can begin routine care.

Crassula brevifolia Problems & Remedies

Crassula brevifolia problems are leaf loss, yellow leaves, leggy growth, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to solve them.

Leaf loss

Leaf loss on Crassula brevifolia is due to too little light, inconsistent watering, soggy soil, drafts, use of cold water, nutrients deficiency, pest infestations, excessive touching or aging.

How to fix it

Too little light: Position the plant in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunlight or use a grow light if you do not have enough light in your home.

Inconsistent watering: Do not water on a schedule. Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out but never allow the soil-ball to dry out completely.

Soggy soil: Use well-draining soil and a pot with a drainage hole.

Drafts: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like windy doors, drafty windows, AC units, hot air vents among others.

Nutrients deficiency: Feed the plant with a cactus and succulents fertilizer every 4 weeks in spring and summer.

Use of cold water: Use water that is at room temperature to prevent cold shock.

Pest infestations: Regularly inspect the plant for pests and carry out timely control measures.

Excessive touching: Keep the plant away from the line of traffic and avoid unnecessarily moving it around and take care when moving it.

Aging: This is a natural process. As the lower leaves mature, they turn yellow, brown and eventually fall off.

Yellow leaves

The main causes of yellow leaves on your Crassula brevifolia are insufficient light, soggy soil, inconsistent watering, drafts, nutrients deficiency or aging.

How to fix it

Insufficient light: Position the plant in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunlight or use a grow light if you do not have adequate light in your home.

Soggy soil: Use well-draining soil and a pot that has a drainage hole.

Inconsistent watering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

Drafts: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like hot air vents, AC units, hot surfaces, windy doors and others.

Nutrients deficiency: Feed the plant monthly in spring and summer with a cactus and succulents fertilizer.

Aging: This is a natural process. As the lower leaves mature, they turn yellow, brown and eventually die.

Leggy growth

Leggy growth on Crassula brevifolia is caused by inadequate light, nutrients deficiency or underwatering.

How to fix it

Inadequate light: Position the plant in bright light with 4-6 hours of sunlight or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not enough.

Nutrients deficiency: Feed the plant with a cactus and succulents fertilizer every 4 weeks in spring and summer.

Underwatering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil feel dry to the touch. Never allow the soil to dry out completely.

Pests

Common pests on Crassula brevifolia are scale insects, mealybugs and spider mites.

How to fix it

1. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other plants.


2. Treat the infested plant with neem oil or an insecticidal soap as per the manufacturers' instructions on the labels.


3. Regularly check underneath and between the leaves for these pests and carry out timely control measures.


4. Keep the plant well pruned and heighten humidity to depress the pest infestations.

Diseases

Crassula brevifolia is prone to powdery mildew and black leg disease which are prevalent in overwet conditions coupled with poor air circulation.

How to fix it

1. Isolate the affected plant to minimize spread to other plants.


2. Treat the affected plant with neem oil as per the manufacturer's directions.


3. Improve ventilation and make sure that there is free air circulation for the plant.


4. Water from the bottom to avoid wetting the rosette of leaves.


5. Always allow the soil to dry out between waterings.


6. Use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil to prevent waterlogging.

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