Crassula care: everything you need to know about crassula plants

Crassulas are easy houseplants to look after, just so long as you grow them in bright light and aren’t tempted to overwater. Illustration by Agata Wierzbicka

By Jess Snowball

Published: Thursday, 04 May 2023 at 12:00 am

Crassula make extremely good houseplants. They are easy to grow and, provided you allow them enough light and don’t overwater them, they look fabulous but don’t need a lot of care. The genus is quite varied and includes annual, deciduous, tuberous and aquatic plants. They are found all over the world with approximately 95 species growing in South Africa. They are more diverse than any other succulent group with varying shapes, textures, habits and colours.

Crassulas: everything you need to know

How to propagate crassula

Propagating crassulas is a great way to add to your collection. Take leaf cuttings by gently breaking the leaf away from the stem and leave to callus over for a day or two. Then, pop in a propagation tray of sand, or a generic cacti mix, on a bright windowsill. Roots should emerge in a few weeks, although they can be slow to establish.

Why crassula makes the best house plants

Like most drought-tolerant plants, crassulas have physically adapted to inhabiting unforgiving environments. They use their leaves to store water, which is what gives them their succulent, fleshy appearance. But when it comes to limiting water loss, crassulas have another trick: a process known as crassulacean acid metabolism, or CAM for short. Normally in photosynthesis, plants take in CO2 during the day through their stomata (pores in the leaves) and lose water while these pores are open.

In CAM plants, the stomata open only at night, when CO2 is taken in and stored as crassulacean acids. During the day these acids are broken down and the CO2 is used in the photosynthetic cycle. This mechanism means that crassulas and other CAM plants lose considerably less water while still being able to photosynthesise normally during the day. All of which makes them an ideal plant for a new houseplant enthusiast, as you can happily forget to water them for a little while without it becoming a problem.

© Dianna Jazwinski

How to grow crassula

Best compost for crassula

Crassulas need a free-draining, coarse growing media. For best results I always use a rich compost, such as John Innes No.3, and mix this with coir, perlite and a lot of grit. The most important thing to remember is not to overwater as they are prone to rotting as a result.

© Getty

How to water crassula plants

To water, always submerge the pot completely in a sink of water for at least 15 minutes but up to an hour, fully saturating the soil and then allow it to drain. You should always wait until the soil dries out completely before watering the plant again, although also keep an eye on their succulent leaves, which tend to go wrinkly and less plump when they need watering. I do this once a week during the summer months and less often in the winter.

Feed

Feed crassulas sparsely with balanced liquid fertiliser in the growing season, which is early to midsummer. Light should be as bright as possible, so try to place them in the brightest spot in the house – preferably a south-facing window.

Pests

Note that all succulents are susceptible to mealybugs and aphids. If you spot them, you can either pick them off by hand or gently rub them off under the tap or with a small paintbrush.