Woolly Crassula (Crassula tomentosa) Indoor Care, Propagation and Problems with Solutions
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Crassula tomentosa (Woolly Crassula) prefers bright light with at least 4-6 hours direct sunlight, average warmth, moderate humidity and moderately moist, well-drained, succulents soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Woolly Crassula is one of the popular Crassula varieties which bears rounded disc-like, gray-green leaves in an overlapping manner and are covered with tiny white hairs along the edges.
Woolly Crassula is a compact, slow-growing succulent which spreads by means of stolons on which new plantlets grow around the mother plant forming small colonies which makes this plant ideal for an indoor garden or a wide shallow pot.
Crassula tomentosa is a monocarpic plant which means that each rosette flowers only once, sets seeds and then dies.
Crassula tomentosa has two subspecies; Crassula tomentosa var tomentosa Thunb and Crassula tomentosa var glabrifolia G.D.Rowley which is more densely branched.
Botanical name: Crassula tomentosa
Synonyms: Crassula lingufolia, Purgosea tomentosa, Crassula conspicua
Family: Crassulaceae
Common names: Woolly Crassula
Origin
Crassula tomentosa is native to Cape Province of South Africa and Southern Namibia where it is found growing in stony slopes, sheltered rock crevices and under overhanging rocks.
Size
Woolly Crassula only grows to a height of about half a foot and bears numerous plantlets at the base which can be used to grow new plants. On account of its compact size, it is one of the popular plants for limited spaces.
Flower
Woolly Crassula Succulent blooms in early to mid summer with white to yellowish flowers which are borne above the foliage on a 2 feet tall flower-stalk.
Toxicity
Crassula tomentosa (Wolly Crassula) 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.
Crassula tomentosa Care Indoors
Crassula tomentosa (Woolly Crassula) blossoms in bright light with at least 4-6 hours direct sunlight, average warmth of 15-260C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, well-drained, succulents soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.
Woolly Crassula requires repotting only when it becomes pot-bound or when the potting medium is completely broken down. Pruning is necessary to keep the plant neat, to create enough space for new plants and to minimize pest and disease infestations. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to provide them.
Watering
Water Crassula tomentosa liberally during the growing season and allow the soil to dry out between waterings to avoid rotting.
Lessen watering in the cold period as growth is minimal at this time, thus, the plant does not need a lot of water for growth.
Only use water that is at room temperature to water the plant to avoid plant shock as it can result in brown leaf spots and reduced growth.
Ascertain that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is fast-draining to prevent the Crassula tomentosa from sitting in soggy soil as it can lead to rotting and death of the plant.
Be careful not to wet the foliage to avoid fungal diseases or water from the bottom instead and always empty the bottom saucer (plate) once the plant has absorbed enough water.
Light Requirements
Crassula tomentosa requires bright light with at least 4-6 hours of morning or afternoon sunlight. Keep or shield it away from hot midday sunshine to prevent scorching of the leaves.
Woolly Crassula can also be grown under a grow light if the natural lighting is not adequate. Take a look at these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
Rotate the pot regularly to make sure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth.
It can be grown outdoors, however, gradually acclimate it and place it in a shaded place first to prevent scorching of the leaves.
Temperature and Humidity
Crassula tomentosa requires 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 breezy doors and windows, air conditioning units among others as prlonged exposure can cause the death of the plant.
Crassula tomentosa has no need for extra humidity. Average room humidity of 50-55% is ideal for this plant. Keep the leaves clean with a soft brush to get rid of dust and also discourage pest infestations.
Confirm that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal disease infestations which are prevalent in damp, poorly ventillated conditions.
Fertilizer
Crassula tomentosa is a slow grower, therefore, feed it monthly during the growing season with a cactus and succulents fertilizer to boost growth. Stop feeding in the cold season as growth is reduced and feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn and death of the plant.
Potting Soil
The best soil for Crassula tomentosa 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 easily. Cactus and succulents soils are ideal.
Repotting
Repot Crassula tomentosa at the beginning of the growing season only when it has become 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.
Make sure 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 with saucer on Amazon.
Before repotting, ensure that the soil is dry. Take the Crassula tomentosa 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 allow about 1 inch unfilled 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 tomentosa is easy as it involves removal of any dead or diseased leaves to keep it neat, allow enough space for new plants and also minimize pest and disease infestations.
Snip the leaves at the base with a sterilized knife or clean pair of pruning scissors to prevent diseases transmission from plant to plant. Minimize the number of cuts as much as possible to avoid unnecessary injuries to reduce fungal disease infestations.
Propagation
Crassula tomentosa (Woolly Crassula) can be propagated at the beginning of the growing season from offsets and leaf cuttings.
How to propagate Crassula tomentosa from offsets
Carefully seperate the offset from the mother Crassula tomentosa 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, fast-draining soil and place in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight.
Ascertain that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases infestation.
Keep the soil slightly moist through out until the new Woolly Crassula is well established after which you can begin routine care.
How to propagate Crassula tomentosa from leaf cuttings
Take leaf cuttings complete with the petiole from a healthy Crassula tomentosa. Allow the leaf cutting to dry out (callus) for a few days to prevent rotting.
Once calloussed, lay the leaf cutting on moist, fast-draining, rooting mix while ensuring that the cut end does not come into contact with the soil to prevent rotting.
Postion the set up in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight to prevent scorching of the leaf cuttings.
Maintain the soil slight moist through out. Ensure that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.
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.
Allow substancial growth of the rosette before transplanting the new Woolly Crassula into individual pot after which routine care can begin.
Crassula tomentosa Common Problems
Crassula tomentosa (Woolly Crassula) common growing issues include yellowing, wilting leaves, leaf spots, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.
Diseases
Crassula tomentosa is prone to powdery mildew which is 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 instructions. Improve ventilation and make sure that there is good air circulation for the plant.
Water the Woolly Crassula from the bottom to avoid wetting the foliage and always allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Do not let the plant sit in soggy soil; always empty the bottom saucer (plate) once the plant has absorbed enough water. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil drains easily to prevent it from getting soggy.
Pests
Common pests in Crassula tomentosa are scale insects, mealy bugs and spider mites. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the rest of plants. Spray the plant with an insecticidal soap to get rid of the pests. Make sure to follow the recommendations on the label.
Yellowing and undersized leaves
Yellowing and undersized leaves in Crassula tomentosa is due to two possible reasons. One possible reason is overwatering or soggy soil in the cold season.
Significantly, reduce watering in the cold season as growth is minimal at this time, therefore, the plant does not need a much water. In addition, ascertain that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil drains easily to prevent it from getting soggy.
The second possible reason for yellowing and undersized leaves in Woolly Crassula 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 not sufficient. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
Wilted (wrinkled) leaves
Wilted (wrinkled) Leaves in Crassula tomentosa are caused by underwatering which results in too little moisture in the soil. Therefore, the plant cannot get enough water to take up to the leaves which loss their turgidity and begin to wilt.
To prevent wilting and wrinkled leaves, water the plant deeply during the growing season and allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Decrease watering in the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely for a prolonged period of time. Learn more on how to water houseplants the right way.
Brown soft leaf spots
Brown soft leaf spots in Crassula tomentosa are caused by leaf spot disease which is prevalent in poorly aerated, overdamp conditions. Better the ventilation and make sure that there is good air circulation at all times. Water from the bottom to avoid wetting the leaves.
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