Crassula dubia (Crassula cotyledonis) Indoor Care, Propagation & Common Problems

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Crassula dubia (Crassula cotyledonis) flourishes in bright light with some sunlight, average warmth and humidity, and moderately moist, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in spring and summer.

Crassula dubia is one of the popular Crassula varieties and bears broad, paddle-shaped, blue-gray leaves covered in a soft buzz which protects it from intense sunlight.

Crassula cotyledonis is a small succulent shrub whose leaves are borne opposite on the stem and develop a soft pink tinge along the leaf margin in bright light or under direct sunlight.

The thick, ovate leaves are smaller at the base and get larger towards the top of the stem. Avoid handling the leaves excessively as they lose their coating when they come into contact with oil.

The fleshy leaves and stems in Crassula dubia store water which enables this plant to go for a considerably long period without being watered making it one of the drought-tolerant plants for any space.

Botanical name: Crassula cotyledonis
Synonmys: Crassula dubia, Purgosea cotyledonis
Family: Crassulaceae
Common names: Crassula dubia

Origin

Crassula cotyledonis or Purgosea cotyledonis is endemic to South Africa in the arid Namaqualand and Karoo Regions where it grows on hilltops, slopes, very rocky ground and outcrops.

Size & Flower

Crassula dubia grows to a height of about 8 inches and about 1 foot wide. It blooms from late spring to summer with cream to yellow, bell-shaped flowers. The flowers are borne above the foliage on a tall flower-stalk.

Is Crassula dubia toxic?

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

How to Care for Crassula dubia Indoors

To care for Crassula dubia indoors, give it bright light with at least 4-6 hours of direct sunshine, warmth of 15-24⁰C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in spring and summer.

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

Watering

How often should I water Crassula dubia?

Water your Crassula dubia liberally in spring and summer and allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Avoid overwatering to prevent rotting, yellowing and leaf fall.

Reduce watering in fall and winter as growth is minimal at this time and the plant does not need a lot of water for growth. Do not allow the soil to dry out to prevent wilting, drooping and leaf loss.

Only use water that is at room temperature to prevent cold shock which can result in reduced growth and leaf drop. Use water that is free of chlorine and other dissolved chemicals to prevent browning of leaves.

Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is fast-draining to prevent waterlogging as it can lead to rotting and death of the plant.

Take care not to wet the foliage to avoid fungal diseases; water from the bottom instead. Always empty the bottom saucer (plate) once the plant has absorbed enough water.

Light Requirements

Does Crassula dubia need sunlight?

Crassula dubia needs bright light with at least 4-6 hours of morning or afternoon sunlight. Keep it away from hot midday sunshine to prevent scorching of the leaves.

If the light is not adequate, the plant will become leggy with elongated stems and undersized leaves. You may use a grow light if the natural lighting is not sufficient.

Rotate the pot regularly to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth.

Crassula cotyledonis can also be grown outdoors, however, gradually acclimate it and place it in a shaded place first to prevent scorching of the leaves.

Temperature & Humidity

Crassula dubia thrives in a warmth of 15-24⁰C in spring and summer and a minimum of 10⁰C in fall and winter (cold season).

Keep it away from sources of drafts like windy doors and windows, AC units, hot air vents, heat sources among others as they can cause stunted growth, leaf drop and death of the plant.

Crassula cotyledonis has no need for extra humidity; a humidity of 50-55% is adequate for this plant. Make sure that there is good air circulation to discourage fungal diseases which are prevalent in overwet, poorly aerated conditions.

Fertilizer

Crassula dubia is a slow grower, therefore, it does not require a lot of fertilizer. Feed it monthly in spring and summer with a cactus and succulents fertilizer to promote a healthy growth.

Withhold feeding in fall and winter as growth is reduced and feeding at this time can cause fertilizer burn and eventual death of the plant.

Flush out accumulated salts every 2-3 months by running a stream of water through the soil until the water comes out through the drainage hole. Allow it to run for a few minutes and repeat the process several times.

Potting Soil

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

Repotting

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

Use a pot that is 1 size larger than the current one to avoid overpotting and retention of excess moisture. Confirm that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is free-draining to avoid root-rot.

Use a clay pot instead of a plastic or ceramic pot as a clay pot 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 on Amazon.

Before repotting, make sure that the soil is dry. Remove the plant 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.

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

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

Pruning

Pruning Crassula cotyledonis involves removal of any dead or diseased leaves to keep it neat and 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.

Crassula dubia Propagation

Crassula dubia (Crassula cotyledonis) is propagated from offsets, leaf cuttings or stem cuttings. The best time to propagate is at the beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer) when the plant is in active growth phase.

1. Propagating Crassula cotyledonis 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.

2. Propagating Crassula cotyledonis 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 cotyledonis 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.

Crassula dubia Problems & Solutions

Crassula dubia (Crassula cotyledonis) problems are plant dying, leaf fall, yellow leaves, leggy growth, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.

Plant dying

Why is my Crassula dubia dying?

Your Crassula dubia is dying due to root-rot which is prevalent in soggy soil. The disease is characterized by yellowing and wilting of the leaves which is rapidly followed by browning and plant collapse.

How to fix it

1. Carefully slip the plant out of its pot and inspect the roots; brown-black mushy roots indicate root-rot.


2. Trim the rotten roots and treat the healthy roots with a copper-based fungicidal solution as recommended by the manufacturer.


3. Repot the plant in fresh soil and a fresh pot. Use a pot with a drainage hole and fast-draining soil to prevent it from getting soggy.


4. Place the plant in very bright light and stop watering for a few days to give the plant enough time to loss the excess water. After the dry period, resume routine care.

Leaf fall

Why are the leaves falling off my Crassula cotyledonis?

The leaves are falling off your Crassula cotyledonis 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 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

Some of the causes of yellow leaves on your Crassula dubia are inconsistent watering, soggy soil, too little light, drafts, nutrients deficiency or aging.

How to fix it

Soggy soil: Use free-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.

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 sufficient light in your home.

Drafts: Keep the plant away from drafts coming from 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 dubia is caused by underwatering, insufficient light or nutrients deficiency.

How to fix it

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

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

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

Pests

Common pests on Crassula cotyledonis 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 dubia is prone to powdery mildew and leaf spot disease which are prevalent in overwet conditions coupled with poor air circulation.

How to fix it

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


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


3. Maintain good air flow to discourage the diseases.


4. Water from the bottom to avoid wetting the 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 soggy soil.

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