Crassula dejecta (Doily Crassula) – Succulent plants

Crassula dejecta (Doily Crassula) is a decorative, densely branched, upright, perennial shrublet (up to 40 cm tall). The leaves are slightly fleshy, green, often tinged red, with a row of rounded, bead-like hairs on the margins that give the leaves a silvery edge. There are also small, downward-pointing hairs on the young branches that give the stems a silvery dusting. The leaves are opposite, more or less the same length on the whole plant and arranged densely in neat rows up the stems, giving a tidy, geometric effect. The blooms are white, sometimes tinged pink, with red sepals, red ovaries that color the center of the open flowers red and red anthers that age to brown. They are carried in flat to round-topped, tight clusters at the ends of the branches during midsummer. The blooms develop into small capsules, each holding many tiny seeds.

Scientific Classification:

Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula

Scientific Name: Crassula dejecta Jacq.
Synonyms: Crassula alba, Crassula albiflora, Crassula microsquamata, Crassula undulata, Curtogyne albiflora, Curtogyne dejecta, Curtogyne undata, Curtogyne undosa, Curtogyne undulata, Rochea albiflora, Rochea dejecta, Rochea undulata
Common Names: Doily Crassula

How to grow and maintain Crassula dejecta (Doily Crassula):

Light:
It thrives best in bright light with some direct sunlight. A sunny windowsill will be an ideal position for these plants. They will not flower without sunlight and inadequate light will cause developing spindly growth.

Soil:
It grows well in well-drained soil with a neutral pH. Add coconut coir and Pine bark to make the soil more drainage friendly.

Water:
Water regularly, during the growing season (April to September), but water sparingly when dormant (autumn and winter). Allow the top of the soil to slightly dry out before watering again.

Temperature:
It prefers ideal room temperatures of around 60°F – 75°F / 15.5°C – 24°C. During winter no less than 50°F / 10°C. Cold weather and damp weather is not good. It loses its color and turns yellow and mushy.

Fertilizer:
Fertilize every two weeks during the growing season, from spring through summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half. Do not fertilize during the winter.

Re-potting:
Re-pot in spring when the plant becomes root bound or the soil needs renewing. A good solid and heavy pot is best to use because of these plants are well known for being top-heavy. A heavy pot will prevent them from tipping over.

Propagation:
It can be easily propagated by stem cuttings, leaf cuttings or by basal offsets. The cuttings or offsets should be taken in spring. Take 2-3 inch long stem cuttings and plant it in a 2-3 inch pot of equal parts mixture of peat moss and sand and keep it at normal room temperature in the bright filtered light.

Pests and Diseases:
It has is no serious pest or disease problems. But they are susceptible to mealy bugs, aphids, and fungal diseases. Overwatering may cause the roots to rot.