Crassula elegans (Elegant Crassula) Care Indoors, Propagation & Common Problems

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Crassula elegans Succulent requires bright light with some sunlight, average warmth and humidity, and moderately moist, fast-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in spring and summer.

Crassula elegans commonly called Elegant Crassula is among the popular Crassula varieties whose thin stems are densely packed with oval to triangular fleshy leaves occuring in 4 rows.

Elegant Crassula is a compact, dwarf, much-branched succulent whose leaves are smooth or covered with fine hairs or coarse rounded papillae and are green to brown or purplish-red in color. The thin stems resemble vines and are highly branched into a wide network of branches which grow quickly to fill and sprawl over its pot.

Crassula elegans has two subspecies: The first one is Crassula elegans ssp elegans Schoenland and Baker f. The second one is Crassula elegans ssp namibensis Toelken whose leaves are green covered with coarse rounded papillae becoming brownish red or deep red in direct sunlight and is native to Southern Namibia.

Botanical name: Crassula elegans
Synonym: Crassula alstonii
Family: Crassulaceae
Common names: Elegant Crassula

Origin

Crassula elegans also called Crassula alstonii is native to Western Cape province of South Africa to Southern Western Namibia where it grows on sandy or gravelly slopes.

Size & Flower

Crassula elegans is a small compact plant which grows to a height of about 4 inches only. It blooms in late summer to fall although it is unlikely to flower when grown indoors. The flowers are small and creamy with a light fragrance.

Is Crassula elegans toxic?

Yes. Crassula elegans like its cousin, Jade Plant, is thought 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 elegans Indoors

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

Elegant Crassula needs repotting is 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

How to water Crassula elegans?

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

Decrease the amount and frequency of watering in fall and winter as growth is minimal at this time, thus, the plant does not need much water. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely to prevent wilting, drooping, yellowing and leaf fall.

Use water that is at room temperature to avoid cold shock it as it can cause reduced growth and sudden leaf loss. Only water with chlorine-free water like rain water to prevent browning of leaves.

Confirm that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is fast-draining to prevent waterlogging which can result in rotting and death of the plant.

Take care not to wet the foliage to discourage fungal diseases; water from the bottom instead. Discard excess water from the catch plate to prevent the soil from becoming soggy.

Light Requirements

Does Crassula elegans need sunlight?

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

If the light is not sufficient, the plant will become etiolated with elongated stems and pale leaves and may drop its leaves. You use grow lights if the natural lighting is not adequate.

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

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

Temperature & Humidity

Crassula elegans prefers 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, heat sources, stoves and others as they can cause stunted growth, leaf drop and eventual death of the plant.

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

Fertilizer

Crassula elegans is a light feeder, therefore, take care not to overfertilize. Feed it with a cactus and succulents fertilizer monthly in spring and summer to promote a lush growth.

Do not feed in fall and winter as growth is reduced and feeding at this time can cause fertilizer burn and eventual death of the plant.

Ocassionally, flush out excess salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it drains through the drainage hole. Let it run for 5-10 minutes.

Potting Mix

The best soil for Crassula elegans should be coarse, 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 mixes are ideal for this plant.

Repotting

Repot Crassula elegans 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 moisture. Ascertain that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy to prevent root-rot.

Use a clay pot rather than 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, ensure that the soil is dry. Slip the Crassula elegans 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, fast-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 & Grooming

Pruning Crassula elegans involves removal of any dead or diseased leaves to keep it neat and also minimize pest and disease infestations. Cut 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 as well as discourage pest and disease infestations.

Crassula elegans Propagation

Crassula elegans is propagated from offsets, stem cuttings or leaf cuttings. The best time to propagate is at the beginning of the growing season when in active growth for faster establishment.

1. Propagting Crassula elegans 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.

2. Propagting Crassula elegans 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.

3. Propagting Crassula elegans 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.

Crassula elegans Problems & Solutions

Crassula elegans (Elegant Crassula) common problems are plant dying, leaf drop, 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 elegans dying?

Your Crassula elegans 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 indicated 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 recover. After the dry period, resume routine care.

Leaf drop

Why is my Elegant Crassula dropping leaves?

Your Elegant Crassula is dropping leaves 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 elegans are inconsistent watering, soggy soil, too little light, drafts, nutrients deficiency or aging.

How to fix it

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

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

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 Elegant Crassula 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 elegans are scale insects, mealybugs and spider mites.

How to fix it

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


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


3. Check between the leaves for these pests and carry out timely control measures.


4. Maintain the plant well pruned to discourage the pest infestations.

Diseases

Crassula elegans 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 minimize spread to the other plants.


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


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 waterlogging.

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