Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 11:50 am
Crassula muscosa, also known as the watch chain succulent or princess pine, is a succulent plant native to the eastern and southern parts of Africa. It can grow up to 25 cm tall with long, narrow leaves that are green on top but have silver beneath. The species name translates as “mossy crassula” because this shrub appears mossy in appearance when its leaves are dusted with silver down.
Description of crassula muscosa ‘watch chain succulent’
The crassula muscosa ‘princess pine’ is a hybrid of both the princess palm and crassula muscosa. These plants are smaller than regular garden varieties, but they will grow to roughly 12 inches tall when in optimal conditions.
This succulent originates from Cape Province of South Africa but has become more popular due to its drought tolerance and long life span.
The leaves on these plants are green with white stripes, as well as pinky or light green flowers at the end of their stems.
These plants are more tolerant of being placed in the ground than other varieties but will still require care and pruning to keep them healthy.
Crassula muscosa is best for hanging baskets, dish gardens, or small pots where they can be used as a focal point or border around the house with taller plants like trees.”
What should you know about crassula muscosa?
One thing to note is that it’s very sensitive to both cold and heat, so it may be a good idea not to let your plant get too hot or freeze during the winter months.
Crassula muscosa varieties
There are many varieties of crassula muscosa, some of which will grow taller than others. The most common types have green leaves with purple or white stripes on the side and either a pinky or light-green flower at the end of their stems.
The plant has a tendency to grow quickly and can be cut back in the wintertime if it’s not looking as healthy as it should or is taking up too much space.
A variety of crassula muscosa with brown or red-brown leaves is known as ‘Variegata‘. It has green and white variegated stripes on its leaves that are quite distinctive from other types of crassula muscosa.
Variegata is an excellent indoor plant that can be placed in a bright sunny window or under artificial light for the winter months.”
How to propagate crassula muscosa
One way to propagate this plant is by cutting off a stem and sticking it into the soil. To provide extra protection against desiccation, coat the cut end of the stem with petroleum jelly or clear nail polish before inserting it into the soil.
The propagation of crassula muscosa is easy and can be done by separating off the plant’s offsets. These “pups” will take root when replanted in a pot with well-drained soil but still retains some moisture. You may also try to propagate this succulent from its leaf cuttings.
Propagating steps:
- Cut off an end from one plant, put it into the soil (with leaves on), and cover with more soil.
- Cut off the end of another plant and place it into a pot with soil, cover in more soil. Make sure to leave an air space near the top of the soil for gas exchange or water drainage (the leaves will poke out).
The crassula muscosa will need ample sunlight but also needs a little shade to keep its leaves from getting scorched. This plant is drought-tolerant and can withstand periods of dryness without any issues. The overall lifespan for the species is about fifteen years when cared for properly: this does not include cold or heat exposure.
Crassula muscosa care
The crassula muscosa is a plant that doesn’t need much care. It thrives in bright sunlight but can also grow well with some shade as needed, and will withstand periods of drought without any issue whatsoever. The only real consideration to have about this species when caring for it would be the type of soil mixture used: avoid using a clay pot, as it’s too hot and will affect the plant.
Soil requirement
The soil requirements for crassula muscosa are different than what you would use with most other succulents. Crassula prefers a sandy, gritty mix that is well-drained but still retains some moisture. It will not thrive in moist or wet conditions and it cannot be overwatered without the possibility of rotting and leaf loss.
How do you repot Crassula Muscosa?
This is a plant that does not grow well in clay pots, because the roots and leaves are sensitive to heat. A better pot for this particular species would be one made out of plastic or terra cotta. As mentioned before, the crassula muscosa is succulent and can withstand periods of dryness, so the pot will need to be well-drained.
Pruning
Pruning crassula muscosa is not necessary. The plant may be pruned if it has become too large and needs to be re-shaped or when the new growth becomes leggy as a result of having grown on its own without any human intervention, but otherwise, there’s no need for you to get involved with it.
The plant should be cut back to just below the lowest set of leaves. These will grow into new stems and branches for you, so it’s important that they are left untouched as these are the only ones that can provide this service.
You may also want to take off some old or dry leaves from time to time, but this is not a necessity, as it needs no human intervention.
Why is my crassula muscosa dying?
The most common reason for a crassula muscosa dying is overwatering. The plant does not like to have wet soil and can die from too much water in the pot. Make sure your plant has plenty of drainage holes so that the excess water will drain out as quickly as possible.
You may also find brown spots on leaves due to low levels of light. The best way to combat this is by moving the plant to a brighter area or adding artificial lightings such as fluorescent bulbs, which are designed for plants and flowers.
Although the plant is a succulent, it still needs plenty of water. The soil should be moist but not wet and never dry to the touch. If you notice brown spots on leaves or leaf loss from your plant, make sure there is proper drainage in the pot before adding more water as the excess may have caused the root rot.
In general, the Crassula Muscosa is a very low-maintenance plant that can be grown in humid conditions and does not require frequent watering or sunlight to thrive.
Is Crassula Muscosa toxic to humans or pets?
No, crassula muscosa is not toxic to humans and pets. The leaves of the plant can cause minor skin irritation when touched with bare hands or if it comes in contact with sensitive areas like eyes but it does not have any lasting effect on either people or animals.
Crassula muscosa turning brown, what is the cause?
If the plant is turning brown and you are watering it correctly, then there’s a good chance that this could be due to too much light. The sun needs to shine on crassula muscosa regularly for it to thrive, so if yours has been sitting in an area of your house which doesn’t get enough sun, it will change in color.
Cover the plant with a shady cloth or move it to somewhere which gets more sun and this should solve the problem. If you have just watered your crassula muscosa and then find that its color has changed after only an hour or two, this is probably due to too much water being given at once and the plant’s natural drainage is unable to cope with it.
