Variegated Showy Trailing Jade (Crassula sarmentosa Variegata) Indoor Care and Propagation
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Variegated Showy Trailing Jade (Crassula sarmentosa Variegata) flourishes in bright light with at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, average warmth, moderate humidity and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Crassula sarmentosa Variegata is one of the popular Crassula varieties with trailing stems and mid-green leaves with golden yellow serrated edges.
Variegated Showy Trailing Jade is a much-branched succulent plant whose leaves are elliptic to lance-shaped. In bright light, the leaves are a brighter green with red highlights along the margins.
Crassula sarmentosa Variegata stems are reddish-pink to green mottled with white and are about 3.3 feet long placing this plant among the best succulent plants for a hanging basket or pedestal where it can display its beauty.
Botanical name: Crassula sarmentosa 'Variegata'
Synonym: Crassula sarmentosa 'Comet'
Family: Crassulaceae
Common names: Variegated Showy Trailing Jade
Origin
Crassula sarmentosa Variegata is a cultivar of Crassula sarmentosa which is native to South Africa along the eastern coastal belt where it is found growing in the semi-arid scrub and grasslands, on rocks or in ravines.
Flower
Variegated Showy Trailing Jade blooms in summer although it is unlikely to flower when grown indoors. The flowers are small, star-shaped, white or cream-colored and occur in terminal clusters.
Toxicity
Variegated Showy Trailing Jade (Crassula sarmentosa Variegata) 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 this beauty to your collection, Crassula sarmentosa Variegata is available online at Etsy (Link to Etsy).
Crassula sarmentosa Variegata Care Indoors
Variegated Showy Trailing Jade (Crassula sarmentosa Variegata) flourishes in bright light with at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, average warmth of 15-260C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.
Crassula sarmentosa Variegata requires repotting is only needed when it is pot-bound. 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 Variegated Showy Trailing Jade deeply during the growing season and allow the soil to dry out between waterings to prevent rotting.
Decrease watering in the cold period as growth is reduced and keep the soil barely moist but do not let it dry out completely.
Use water that is at room temperature to water the plant to avoid shocking it as it can cause sudden leaf drop.
Make sure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent the Crassula sarmentosa Variegata from sitting in soggy soil which can lead to rotting. Be careful not to wet the foliage to avoid fungal diseases or water from the bottom instead.
Light Requirements
Variegated Showy Trailing Jade requires bright light with at least 4-6 hours of morning or late afternoon sunlight. Keep it away from too hot direct sunshine to avoid scorching the leaves.
If the light is not sufficient, the plant will become leggy with elongated stems, wide spaces between the leaf nodes and small pale leaves.
You may grow Crassula sarmentosa Variegata under a grow light if the natural lighting is not adequate. Take a look at these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
You may grow the Crassula sarmentosa Variegata outdoors, however, gradually acclimate it and place it in a shaded place to prevent scorching of the leaves.
Regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth and to prevent lopsided growth.
Temperature and Humidity
Variegated Showy Trailing Jade prefers an average warmth of 15-260C during the growing season and a minimum of 100C in the cold season. Keep it away from frost and cold drafts like windy doors and windows as they can cause brown leaf spots.
Crassula sarmentosa Variegata has no need for extra humidity. Average humidity of 50-55% is ideal for this plant. Clean the leaves regularly by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and discourage pest infestations.
Make sure that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal disease infestations which are prevalent in damp, poorly aerated conditions.
Fertilizer
Variegated Showy Trailing Jade is not a heavy feeder, therefore, feed it monthly during the growing season with a cactus and succulents fertilizer for a lush growth. Stop feeding in the cold season as growth is reduced at this time and feeding at this time can cause fertilizer burn and death of the plant.
Potting Mix
The best soil for Variegated Showy Trailing Jade should be loose, rich in organic matter and well-drained to prevent it from getting soggy. The soil should be loose enough to allow water to drain out easily. Cactus and succulents mixes are great for the plant.
Repotting
Repot Variegated Showy Trailing Jade at the beginning of the growing season only when it becomes pot-bound. Use a pot that is 1 size larger than the current one to avoid overpotting.
Confirm that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy to avoid root-rot. Use a clay pot as it is porous and allows the soil to dry out faster preventing 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 sarmentosa Variegata 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 inch unfilled to allow for watering space. Replace the plant in its display position and keep it dry for about 5-7 days to minimize the risk of rot-root.
Pruning
Pruning Variegated Showy Trailing Jade is easy as it involves removal of any dead or diseased leaves to keep it neat and also discourage pest and disease infestations.
Snip the leaves at the base with a sterilized knife or pair of scissors to prevent diseases transmission.
Cutback the plant at the beginning of the growing season if it is too straggly to rejuvenate growth. Minimize the number of cuts as much as possible to avoid unnecessary injuiries to reduce disease infestations.
Propagation
Variegated Showy Trailing Jade (Crassula sarmentosa Variegata) can be propagated at the beginning of the growing season from offsets, leaf cuttings or stem cuttings.
How to propagate Variegated Showy Trailing Jade from offsets
Carefully seperate the offset from the mother Variegated Showy Trailing Jade by cutting with a clean, sharp knife while ensuring that the offset has adequate roots.
Pot the offset in its individual pot in moist, loose, free-draining soil and place in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight.
Maintain the soil slightly moist through out until the new Crassula sarmentosa Variegata is well established after which you can begin routine care.
How to propagate Variegated Showy Trailing Jade from leaf cuttings
Take Variegated Showy Trailing Jade leaf cuttings complete with the petiole. Allow the leaf cutting to dry out (callus) for a few days to prevent rotting.
Once calloussed, lay the leaf cutting on moist, free-draining, rooting mix while ensuring that the cut end does not come into contact with the soil to prevent rotting.
Place the set up in a warm, well-lit place and maintain the soil slightly moist until a new rosette forms at the base of the leaf cuttings. This may take up to 8 weeks.
Allow substancial growth of the rosette before transplanting the new Crassula sarmentosa Variegata into individual pots after which routine care can begin.
How to propagate Variegated Showy Trailing Jade from stem cuttings
Take 3-5 inches stem cuttings from a healthy Variegated Showy Trailing Jade and allow the cutting to dry out (callus) for a few days.
Once callused, insert the lower cut end of the stem cuttings in moist, well-drained, rooting soil.
Place the set up in a well-lit, warm place and maintain the soil moist until the stem cuttings are rooted. Rooting may take about 4 weeks.
Allow substancial growth before transplanting the new Crassula sarmentosa Variegata after which routine care can begin.
Crassula sarmentosa Variegata Problems
Variegated Showy Trailing Jade (Crassula sarmentosa Variegata) common problems include leaf drop, leggy growth, leaf spots, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to solve them.
Pests
Common pests in Crassula sarmentosa Variegata are scale insects, mealy bugs and spider mites. Isolate the affected plant to reduce spread to other houseplants. Spray the plant with an insecticidal soap to get rid of the pests. Make sure to cover the entire plant.
Diseases
Variegated Showy Trailing Jade is attacked by powdery mildew and black leg disease which are prevalent in overwet conditions coupled with poor air circulation. Isolate the affected plant to minimize spread to other plants and treat it with neem oil as per the manufacturer's recommendations. Improve ventilation and make sure that there is free air circulation for the plant.
Water the Crassula sarmentosa Variegata from the bottom to avoid wetting the rosette of leaves and always allow the top half of soil to dry out between waterings. Maintain the soil moderately moist during the growing season and barely moist in the cold period.
Do not allow the plant to sit in soggy soil by ensuring that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy. Learn more on how to water indoor plants the correct way.
Leggy growth
Leggy growth in Variegated Showy Trailing Jade is due to two possible reasons. One possible reason is overwatering or soggy soil in the cold season.
Significantly lessen watering during the cold season to keep the soil barely moist as growth is reduced at this time, therefore, the plant does not need much water. In addition, make sure that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil drains easily to prevent it from getting soggy.
The second possible reason for leggy growth in Crassula sarmentosa Variegata is too little light during the growing season. Position the plant in bright light with at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight during the growing season or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is too little. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
Sudden leaf drop
Sudden leaf drop in Variegated Showy Trailing Jade is due to two possible causes. One possible cause is watering the plant with very cold water which results in plant shock. Use water that is at room temperature to water the plant to avoid shocking this tropical plant.
The second possible cause of sudden leaf drop in Crassula sarmentosa Variegata is underwatering which results in too little moisture in the soil. This means that the plant cannot obtain enough water to take up to the leaves for food making. To save energy needed for the vital functions, the plant drops the leaves.
To prevent leaf drop, water the plant liberally during the growing season and allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Reduce watering in the cold season to keep the soil barely moist but do not allow the soil to dry out completely for too long.
Brown dry leaf spots
Brown dry leaf spots in Variegated Showy Trailing Jade are due to keeping the soil dry for too long during the growing season. Water the plant liberally during the growing season while allowing the to dry out between waterings but do not allow it to be too dry for extended periods.
Brown soft leaf spots
Brown soft leaf spots in Variegated Showy Trailing Jade are caused by leaf spot disease which is prevalent in poorly aerated, overwet (damp) conditions. Improve the ventilation and ensure that there is free air circulation at all times. In addition, water the plant from the bottom to avoid wetting the leaves.
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