Watch chain crassula — a quick note to anchor this piece for readers.
Watch chain crassula: Quick notes
Fungus gnats infest oversaturated soil. The immature grubs feed on the tender roots of young plants while the adult flies hover above the soil, a beacon to growers of the potential for damage below.
They are easily avoided by using appropriate soil, a well-draining pot, and not overwatering.
Capture the adults with yellow sticky traps and sprinkle food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) on the soil surface to destroy emergent grubs and eggs.
Vine weevils are beetles. The adults chew foliage while the grubs feed on roots.
Avoid overwatering, hand-pick and destroy night-feeding adults, and apply food grade diatomaceous earth to kill eggs and grubs.
Disease
Succulents, including those in the Crassula genus, are prone to fungal diseases that thrive in moist conditions.
Gray mold, powdery mildew, and rust cause foliar discoloration and softening.
Root rot and southern blight affect the roots first. By the time the leaves become limp, the damage may be irreparable.
Avoid overwatering and ensure that pots drain well. Remove stems with powdery, grayish coated leaves and those with a rusty brown cast. Treat the remaining foliage with neem oil.
If unpotting an oversaturated plant reveals dark, malodorous, mushy rootstock, you can try to salvage healthy, unaffected portions.
Cut off rotten roots and foliage, rinse the remaining with water, and replant it in a clean pot with fresh potting mix.
Learn more about rotting succulents here.
Texturally Rich Vertical Interest
Watch chain crassula is easy to love when you meet its cultural requirements for gritty, well-draining substrate, bright, indirect sunlight, and water when the pot is completely dry.
Diluted liquid food once a month during the growing season, fresh potting mix every two to three years, and a container with an inch of extra room for watering complete the regimen.
C. mucosa draws the eye upwards along its link-like, leaf-laden stems, rising above the rosettes, spheres, and spirals of other succulent species.
Add it to your collection today, as an accent in a mixed grouping or a striking standalone specimen.
Do you grow a watch chain crassula? Please share your tips in the comments section below.
If you found this article informative and want to read more about Crassula species and cultivars, we recommend the following:
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