Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 11:50 am
The crassula ovata gollum, also known as the Gollum jade plant, is a succulent plant that belongs to the crassula family. This family includes many types of plants, including some with carnivorous qualities. The crassula ovata gollum was first discovered in South Africa by botanist Dr. Jules in 1847 and has since been grown all over the world for its beautiful flowers and interesting shape.
These plants are very hardy, requiring little water or sunlight to thrive.
The crassula ovata gollum is a succulent plant that can be found in the eastern parts of Africa, and It is also known as crassula portulacea or “jade plant,” and is a slow-growing, drought-tolerant, and easy to maintain houseplant. It has a short stem with green leaves arranged in pairs along with it and white flowers.
Origin and distribution
Crassula ovata gollum is native to southern Africa. It can be found growing naturally in South African provinces of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Northern Provinces.
Crassula ovata is native to South Africa. It has been introduced throughout the tropics and into temperate zones as an ornamental plant. It is a weed in the Western Cape region of South Africa, where it threatens endangered species. It has been introduced to numerous other countries and islands throughout the world including Australia, Southeast Asia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion Island, Japan, and China. In these areas, it can be invasive.
Crassula ovata gollum propagation
Growth is easy. Propagation of crassula ovata gollum plant can be done by stem or leaf cuttings, layering, and division of the root ball. To propagate with stem cuttings, remove a healthy-looking side shoot about halfway up the parent plant’s trunk (or after rooting it in water) and place it in a dry, well-draining mix. It should form roots within two to three weeks.
Cuttings can be planted into any commercial succulent or cacti potting soil.
Layer the plant by removing a ring of bark from around the parent stem, then bury it so that half is above ground level. Keep moist and in just over two months new growth should emerge. It’s possible to speed up this process with rooting hormone but using too much can damage or kill your succulent plants. Finally, remove any flower buds to encourage further growth.
Division can be done by carefully removing the parent plant from its container. Dig around the outer edges of the root ball and lift it free, then divide it into sections containing at least three or four stems each. Replant in a well-drained succulent soil mix with added horticultural charcoal, coarse sand, pumice, or perlite to ensure good drainage.
Crassula ovata gollum can be propagated by seed but germination is slow and difficult, so it’s best left until your plants get crowded and need dividing up. Seeds should be sown on the surface of a compost mix at about 30 degrees C (86 degrees F), then covered with cling film or glass to maintain moisture levels. Most seeds germinate within three or four weeks, but it can take up to six months.
Crassula ovata gollum care
Crassula ovata gollum is a slow-growing succulent plant with thick, green leaves and fat brown stems that turn into roots as they touch the ground. The leaves are about an inch long and half an inch wide. New growth emerges from between or just below rosettes of older leaves.
When grown well, crassula ovata gollum plant has four-pointed pale pink star flowers that are blooming in the summer months. The flower clusters come out of between or just below rosettes of older leaves.
Grow crassula ovata gollum in a container with fast-draining potting soil. The container should have drainage holes in the bottom, otherwise, place a layer of rocks or gravel at the bottom to allow for maximum water drainage. This succulent plant grows well with full sunlight and occasional deep watering.
This variety of crassula ovata gollum will tolerate shade better than most, but it prefers bright light with four or more hours of sunlight daily. The plant can be propagated through leaf, stem, and root cuttings.
Light requirements for Crassula ovata gollum
This is a great plant for indoor growers because it can adapt to most conditions. The only thing that will limit its growth indoors is the amount of light it receives so you should be mindful when growing inside where there are usually low ceilings and inadequate lighting. If you have enough space, consider mounting your plant on the wall and getting a grow light to ensure your plant gets all of its required light.
Crassula ovata gollum can be grown in medium to bright indirect sunlight. If you give it too much direct sun, particularly during summer months when days are longer, it may begin practicing etiolation which means that stems will become long and spindly.
When growing crassula ovata gollum, make sure your potting mix is well-drained but moist with good air circulation to avoid root rot. Be mindful not to let water sit in the rosette as it can cause crown rot which will kill your plant quickly over time if you don’t catch it in time.
Soil/potting mix
Crassula ovata gollum requires nutrient-poor soil. The ideal potting mix is composed of very fast draining material such as coarse sand or perlite and can be slightly acidic to neutral. I like mixing my own with – 70% fine pumice (or lava rock) – 20% peat moss – 20% coarse sand/perlite – Cacti & succulent potting mix will also work fine for this plant.
Watering
Water your crassula ovata gollum when the top inch of soil is dry. Jade plants are slow-growing shrubs, so over-watering isn’t usually a problem – in fact, under-watering can be more dangerous for them than watering too much! Allow the pot to drain completely before re-watering with room temperature water every three to four days. If the leaves turn yellow, that’s a sign of over-watering – cut back on watering until new growth begins to appear.
New growth should be a healthy shade of green. If leaves are yellow, brown, or curling at the edges, there’s probably not enough water in your pot – if they’re wrinkly and shriveled up like raisins, it means you’ve been watering too much!
Fertilizer
As mentioned previously, Crassula ovata is able to grow in low nutrient conditions. However, crassula ovata gollum plant will eventually need more nutrients than what it can acquire from its natural surroundings (which makes sense considering you won’t be providing this succulent with actual soil). If your crassula starts looking droopy and isn’t holding its shape, this is a sign that it’s time to start feeding.
Temperature
Crassula ovata gollum is suitable for indoor cultivation. It grows best when the temperature is between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius (68 – 77 Fahrenheit). The plant tolerates even higher temperatures but does not like it cold.
Humidity
Humidity is needed for a healthy plant, so a humidity tray comes in handy. A humidity tray can be made from any type of container and filled with small pebbles or gravel then sprayed generously with water until moist but not saturated. This method will help the air around your plants to become more humid, which may benefit it during the winter seasons.
If you do not want to go through the trouble of making a humidity tray, then placing your plant on top of moist pebbles or gravel can work just as well. To prevent root rot and damping-off, make sure that the container drain holes are open and place in an area where it will receive bright but indirect sunlight and where the temperature is at 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
The ideal humidity range is 40 to 70%.
Pruning the Gollum
The first thing you should do is take your plant and turn it upside down. Begin to lightly shake the soil from the roots of the crassula ovata gollum, or as we like to call them ‘gollums’. You can also use a small leaf blower at low speed. The point of this action is to remove the dusty, dry soil from the plant.
We do not recommend using a hose because it can disturb and damage your plant’s root system. Once you have removed all the old soil from its roots, place your ‘gollum’ in a new pot with fresh soil.
The gollum is succulent, so you do not have to be as careful when it is time for pruning as other plants. When your ‘gollum’ has become overgrown and the branches are touching the soil – then it is time to prune.
You need a pair of gardening shears, and you can begin by removing dead branches from the plant or those that have grown above its intended height. You should also do this if your gollum is becoming too large for the pot it is in – but be gentle! Do not simply rip them out as they will leave a hole in your plant.
Instead, use the gardening shears to cut them off at their base. Your ‘gollum’ will be happy if you prune above an area that has another stem growing out of it or where there are already leaves on the gollum. This way, they can continue to photosynthesize and you will not have to worry about them dying.
Be careful with your pruning as it can be very easy to damage or break a branch of the crassula ovata gollum that way – these leaves are tough, but they’re still fragile!
When to repot crassula
Repot crassula in the early spring, when they are actively growing. Some experts recommend repotting even if your plant isn’t showing signs of growth, but this is probably overkilling for most plants that live indoors. If you have a succulent garden on your windowsill or deck and it looks like it hasn’t grown in the past year, it probably isn’t necessary to repot.
You should also take into account that succulents will grow larger when they are outside (when possible), so if your plant is out of its pot for half the summer you can expect it to be about 25% bigger than when it is kept indoors.
However, there are some exceptions to this rule: if your plant grows particularly slowly or poorly when it’s outside you should repot it in the spring too. If your succulent looks like a small ball of leaves and seems unhappy when placed out on the patio, consider giving it a little more room by repotting it in a bigger pot.
If you follow these rules, your succulent will grow at its own pace and can be repotted when necessary or desired. Just make sure the soil remains moist but not soggy for most cacti and succulents, in general, don’t let them sit in waterlogged soil.
When you repot your plant, be sure to rinse away old potting mix that might still remain in the drainage holes or on top of the roots.
Dormancy
Gollum Jade needs to go through a dormancy period (not winter) during the year. This usually begins in October and will last until early March. During this time you should stop fertilizing your plant, let it dry out completely between waterings, reduce watering frequency by about 50%, and keep Gollum away from heat sources.
When dormancy is over, the plant will begin to grow again. If you live in a climate where it gets warm during this time of year (above 70 degrees Fahrenheit), keep Gollum outside! It loves being kept outdoors even when not actively growing.
Flowers & Fragrance
The flowers are tiny, star-shaped, and white with five petals. The fragrance is light but pleasant. If you love the smell of roses or lavender, you will like crassula’s small flower scent as well!
Growth rate
Gollum crassula grows slowly and therefore requires infrequent re-potting. This makes it well suited for the beginning bonsai enthusiast or anyone who is short on time.
Toxicity
Crassula ovata gollum is not known to be toxic or poisonous. However, it can cause skin irritation and allergies in individuals who are sensitive to plants of the genus crassula.
USDA Hardiness Zones
The Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ is a relatively new variety of jade plants that has yet to be proven in many climate zones.
USDA Hardiness Zones According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Zone 11 can support this succulent outdoors year-round if temperatures are moderated with afternoon shade, and may not have enough chilling hours for the Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ to properly set fruit.
Pests and diseases
Pests and diseases are not common for crassula ovata gollum. If affected by pests, however, it is likely to be seen on the leaves or stem of your plant. Pests include mealybugs, spider mites, aphids, scale insects, and thrips.
Treating these pests with an insecticide can work well. If the plant is wilting and drooping, this could point to root rot. This can be caused by waterlogged soil or excess humidity. Pests are likely only an issue in cases of poor care.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a fun plant to brighten up your home, try out crassula ovata gollum. It is easy to take care of and interesting in shape.
