Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 11:50 am
In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to propagate and care for your crassula perforata, also known as the string of buttons succulent. You will also find out how to prune and repot them successfully.
For the string of buttons succulent plant to grow successfully in your home, it needs plenty of light but not direct sunlight. You should keep any plants within close proximity to a sunny window so they can get enough light without being burnt.
If you notice your plant getting too much sunlight, the leaves will turn red or fall off in an attempt to protect themselves and reduce moisture loss. You may also see some browning of the leaf edges which is caused by heat stress.
What is crassula perforata?
Crassula perforata is a succulent plant that is propagated by cutting off and replanting the stem. It can be found in many homes across the world due to its easy care, resistant nature, and low light requirements.
Many people confuse this particular species for a jade plant for some other type of flowering plant. However, with a little bit of knowledge, you can easily tell the difference between this plant and its cousins.
The most common reason for a crassula perforata to lose its leaves is overwatering or poor drainage in their pots. This species loves water so be sure that when watering it, enough time is given for the water to soak into the soil.
The crassula perforata can also be propagated by cuttings, which is a process that requires patience and close attention (see below).
How to propagate crassula perforata?
Most people propagate their crassula perforata by cuttings. This process is very similar to propagating other succulents such as an echeveria. The difference lies in the water content of your soil and inside which you will find a layer of a gel-like material that protects the plant from drying out too quickly.
The cuttings should be at least a few inches long and have two to three leaves. You will also want the cutting to come with roots so it is easier for the plant’s new life cycle. Make sure your pot has plenty of drainage holes in order to prevent overwatering or stagnant water from accumulating.
After you have your pot ready, you will need to saturate the soil with water and place the cutting in. You should make sure that there are no air pockets left in between the roots or else they might dry out too quickly.
Place the cuttings about two inches deep into moist but not wet soil and then cover them with a layer of moss to keep them moist. Be sure not to overwater or else the root might rot and kill your plant.
After a few weeks, you will see that new growth will start coming through with leaves beginning to form on top of the moss at the surface level. The second stage of the propagation is very similar to what was done in the first stage except that now the cuttings should be placed in the same depth as they were before.
How do you care for Crassula Perforata?
The crassula perforata is a beautiful, easy-to-care-for plant that can be used as an indoor or outdoor accent. It does not require too much water and thrives well in low light conditions but should never receive direct sunlight as it will burn its leaves from exposure to ultraviolet rays.
If you want to have this succulent inside your home, try to place it near a window with indirect sunlight so it can still get enough light without overheating.
The crassula perforata does not require a lot of water and can be watered every two or three weeks, depending on the humidity levels in your home, as well as how quickly it absorbs water. You do want to make sure that you always allow for drainage so overwatering does not happen.
If you notice any pests on your plant, like aphids or mealybugs, it could be due to overwatering combined with stagnant water. The best way to avoid this is by using a pot that has good drainage holes and makes sure you allow new soil to dry before watering again.
How do you prune Crassula Perforata?
The crassula perforata will need to be pruned in order for it to grow and thrive. The best time of year is when the plant has finished its summer blooming cycle, which should happen around late August into early September as they prepare for their winter dormancy period.
You want to do this by cutting the plant back by about a third of its size, which is an appropriate amount for this type of succulent. This will help it to have more energy in order to grow and thrive again in the spring when they start their new blooming cycle.
It also helps if you cut off all brown or dead leaves prior to pruning so that the plant does not get too much stress on itself.
Crassula perforata varieties
The crassula perforata comes in many different varieties. The most common one is the Starfish plant which will have edges that curl up, String of Buttons have variegated leaves when grown outdoors, but there are other lengths and shapes as well. These plants can be grown outdoors when they reach about three to four inches in height.
The ‘Starfish’ variety is the most common one and can be cultivated indoors at a maximum size of three to four inches tall as it is usually grown in containers.
What is crassula perforata dormancy period?
When winter rolls around, your crassula perforata will need to go through a dormancy period. This is when you can place it outside in the yard or into a container with some good potting soil and mulch where there are no other plants that might compete for its nutrients. If this plant does not have any competition, it will start producing new growth in the spring when there is more sunlight.
Do strings of buttons bloom?
No! String of button, or the crassula perforata, does not bloom. The only time it will produce any new growth is when the winter months are over and there has been enough sunlight to stimulate its production of leaves or stems for a second round.
It can take anywhere from two weeks up to three years for any plant’s blooming cycle to complete. The time it takes for a plant to go through its blooming cycle will depend on the type of species, and if they are propagated from seed or cuttings.
Crassula perforata plant thrives best when placed in areas where there is a bright light, but if you notice that your plant’s leaves are wilting or drooping down, then this plant needs to be watered more often.
This succulent is capable of living for up to 20 years and it will need at least three hours in direct sunlight per day or else the leaves on its stems will start turning brown and eventually turn black, which means that your plants are dying off. To keep your string of buttons alive you will need to water it more often and make sure that the soil is moist at all times.
Is your crassula perforata dying?
If you suspect that your crassula perforata, called the string of buttons plant, is dying, then it may be from too much sunlight or a lack of water. This type of succulent will need to have the soil moist at all times in order for it not to wilt and die off as this can happen very quickly. If the leaves seem to droop down or if they are wilting, then this is a clear sign that it needs to be watered.
When you water your string of buttons plant, make sure that the soil is moist but not wet and allow for any excess water to drain out before placing it back into its container or outside in the garden where there will be more sunlight.
If it is wilting from too much sunlight, then it will need to be put in a shaded area or brought indoors where there are no windows facing the sun. This type of succulent can handle very bright light for some periods of time but if you walk outside and see that your plant’s leaves have been burned by direct exposure to sunlight, then this means that it has had too much exposure and now needs to be put into a shaded area for at least three hours.
If your plant is dying due to lack of water, then you will need to give the soil some more moisture by watering in order for new growth or leaves to appear on this succulent again with no problems.
Crassula perforata black spots
If your string of buttons plant has black spots on it, then these are usually due to its exposure to too much sunlight. This succulent needs at least three hours in direct sunlight per day and if you see that the edges of the leaves have started turning brown or they turn completely black, this means that it is getting burned by light from the sun.
When this type of succulent is exposed to too much light, the edges will start turning brown and if it doesn’t have enough water or any type of shade from direct sunlight for more than three hours per day, then these leaves will turn completely black due to death.
If your plant has been burned by too much exposure to sunlight, then it will need to be placed under a shady area for at least three hours in order to regenerate and grow new leaves.
Summary – 7 Key Points
- Crassula perforata is an easy-to-care-for succulent that can be used both indoors and out, but it should never receive direct sunlight because of its sensitive leaves.
- New growth will start coming through after a few weeks if you follow the first step which is to trim the plant back by a third of its size.
- It is important that you remove all brown leaves and dead ones as well during this process in order for the plant not to suffer any more than necessary.
- The best time of year to prune your Crassula Perforata is when it has finished its summer blooming cycle, which usually happens around late August into early September.
- When it is time to trim your plant back, make sure you are cutting the stems by about a third in order for it to grow and thrive again when new growth begins in the spring.
- There are many varieties of Crassula Perforata such as ‘Starfish’ which is the most common variety or those with variegated leaves. The plant is often mistaken for Crassula Socialis ‘Ivory Towers’ or ‘Ring Plant’
- The ‘Starfish’ variety can only be grown indoors at a maximum size of three to four inches tall when it is in containers and can never receive direct sunlight due to its sensitive leafy plant material.
