Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 11:50 am
The crassula tom thumb is a very popular houseplant because of its size, versatility, and easy care. It can be grown in just about any environment, with different watering habits depending on the outside climate.
Crassula Tom Thumb is a Crassulaceae plant that has become popular in recent years, thanks to its easy-growing tips. These plants are native to South Africa and usually grow no taller than 6 inches. They come in many different colors, including green, yellow, pink, red, brownish-purple, and cream. This article will provide you with information on the care of crassula tom thumb plants as well as what they need for optimal growth!
Follow the below tips for growing crassula tom thumbs to get them thriving in your home or office!
Origin and description
The Crassula Tom Thumb is said to originate from South Africa. The plant belongs to the succulent family, so it can store water in its leaves and stems which provide a good chance for survival in dry periods of time when no rainfalls. The plant is named after the English naturalist and explorer William John Burchell (1781-1863). He visited South Africa in 1811 where he was struck by the beauty of this little succulent. The Crassula Tom Thumb has a low growth rate, but it can nevertheless grow to about 12 cm within one year when given enough light.
The Crassula Tom Thumb is a unique plant that has been popularized in the United States because of its compact, bonsai-like size. Despite being around for long, this succulent still remains somewhat uncommon and underrated. It’s easy to understand why when you take a moment to look at it closely!
Crassula tom thumb propagation
Propagation is easy as well. Cuttings can be taken from almost any part of the plant, and root easily in normal soil. Cuttings root very easily with no special treatment. It is recommended to let the cut ends callous for a day before potting them up in regular soil. Add a little rooting hormone to the soil for an added boost.
To propagate a leaf cutting, simply place the individual leaf into moist soil to its base and let it take hold for several weeks before planting it up properly if desired. Crassula also spreads very easily just by placing a branch on the ground and leaving it to its own devices.
Crassula tom thumb care
The Crassula Tom Thumb is a succulent that requires little care. It needs full sun or bright light and doesn’t need much water. If kept in brighter conditions, the leaves will be larger than if they were to receive less sunlight. The plant also thrives when it has very draining soil such as cactus mix soil.
Light requirements
The Crassula Tom Thumb needs full sun or bright light. The plant requires medium to bright light. If it is not receiving enough sunlight, the leaves will look pale and draw in close together.
Crassula Tom Thumb does well in bright light, but not direct sun. If it is getting too much sunlight, the leaves will take on a red tint.
Soil/potting mix
Crassula Tom Thumb is a succulent, and like most of this type, it will do best in well-draining soil. A typical cactus mix or even just sand would work fine for crassulas.
The soil that you plant these in must be well-draining. If it holds water, the air pockets are filled with water and can drown your little succulent friend. I recommend a mix of 50% potting mix to help keep the soil light, and 50% perlite to help with drainage. I use Miracle-Gro potting mix for this exact reason – it has the water retention capabilities of a heavy clay but drains well when you need it too.
Don’t be afraid to repot your little succulent friends in fresh soil after about six months or so. They are true bonsai plants so they actually don’t really have a set time frame of when to repot them.
Watering and Feeding
The more often you water them the faster they’ll grow so err on the side of underwatering rather than overwatering.
The soil should dry out slightly between watering but don’t let them completely dry out or sit in water. If you have a humidity tray place your succulents on top of the gravel in it so they can absorb some moisture from beneath their roots, otherwise mist them with water every few days to keep an even level of humidity around them.
Fertilizer
The plant will grow best if fed regularly. A liquid fertilizer such as fish emulsion is recommended for the Crassula Tom Thumb, but a standard houseplant food can also be used. Water with a low nitrogen content so that nutrients won’t stimulate excessive leaf and stem growth at the expense of flowering.
Temperature
The temperature range they prefer is quite wide, but if you’re unsure whether your house or office is under 25°C (77°F) then it’s best to keep them out of direct sunlight which can damage the leaves and their coloration will also fade over time.
-15°C to 20°C is best for developing strong roots, while 20°C to 25°C provides a good temperature range for the plant as long as it does not overheat during summer months.
Humidity
Crassula Tom Thumb is not tolerant of humidity. If you live in a humid area, it’s best to let this plant dry out between watering and stick with succulents that don’t mind the moisture like Crassula Ovata (Jade Plant) or Portulacaria Afra (Elephant Bush). The ideal humidity range is between 40 and 60%.
Pruning
Pruning is necessary in order to maintain the shape and size of a Crassula Tom Thumb, The pruning process also stimulates new growth. Prune back stems that are growing excessively or crossing over each other. Use sharp clean shears when trimming your plant. If you plan on propagating this succulent, cut off leaves and stems for propagation.
When to repot the Crassula Tom Thumb
Crassula tom thumb is a winter-growing succulent that is native to South Africa. It has small deep green leaves and pretty white flowers in late fall, early winter. If you want it to flower again next year, you need to make sure the plant gets enough light (not too much), and water it in the summer when it is dormant.
Repotting a crassula tom thumb should be done every year to keep the plant from getting root-bound and allow fresh soil to support new growth. The best time of year for repotting a crassula tom thumb is early spring, but you can do it whenever there isn’t a risk of killing the plant with cold temperatures.
Dormancy
During dormancy, trim off all dead leaves and branches that have gone dry and shriveled up. You can leave the growth tips on, but remove any old growth below them which is crusted over with soil or has started to rot.
If you are growing in a very warm or dry environment, try completely watering out your plant to get it back into growth mode again after the dormancy period ends. Crassula can be left outside during winter if protected from hard frosts and direct sunlight. They should also be put somewhere warmer than they were before outdoor exposure (e.g. on a sunny windowsill indoors, if they were living outside).
However, even in warmer climates with dry summers, you can still experience dormancy – so don’t think your plant is dead just because it’s not growing back yet!
If the leaves start to rot or turn mushy and fall off at any point during this process do NOT keep growing them. It’s important to be vigilant about keeping plants dry in the summer – I’ve lost many plants this way that have just sat moist in a sunny window during heatwaves when they should have been kept on the dry side indoors out of direct sunlight.
Flowers & Fragrance
The flowers of crassula Tom Thumb are white, star-shaped, and appear in clusters. They have a light fragrance.
Growth rate
Crassula tom thumb is a slow-growing succulent plant that can reach up to one foot in height. In ideal conditions, the plant may grow as much as 0.75 inches per week and flower between June and August.
Crassula tom thumb toxicity
Crassula Tom Thumb is not known to be toxic to cats and dogs. However, care should still be taken when dealing with this plant to avoid any allergic reactions.
Hardiness zones
Crassula Tom Thumb is hardy in USDA hardiness zone 10.
Pests and diseases
Like other succulent plants, Crassula Tom Thumb is susceptible to mealy bugs, aphids, and fungal diseases
