Crassula ID + Ideal Medium

13 years ago

Hey there,

I picked up a "crassula collection" as a spur of the moment thing... I had been looking for a gollum for quite some time and ended up with ten plants versus the one I wanted. Hopefully this isn't an uncommon story lol. Not that I'm upset... I was nearly giddy when I brought them home!

Anyway, I was able to ID some of them but the rest stump me. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the selection, though I wish the plants themselves were larger.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Left to right, top to bottom there is C. undulata, unknown A, C. ovata (though this might be a Hummel's Sunset or some variation thereof - it has a lot of colour compared to the rest), C. ovata "gollum" and unknown B.

Then there is Unknown C (possibly C. ovata "silver dollar", C. perforata, C. ovata "variegated", Unknown D, C. falcata.

---------------

Right now, I have them together in three pots with a MG cactus mix heavily cut with perlite and some added fir bark. That's what I had on hand, and while my normal jades do alright in it, I realise it isn't ideal.

I was, however, going to mix up some of Al's gritty mix for my Pachira trees (they need to be repotted). Would that gritty mix - with or without additives - work for crassulas?

If you could pot them in *anything* what would you use?

Thanks,

Erin

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

Pots_Alot
13 years ago
For the long haul I'd use all hard porous substrates granite chips pumices and sifted gravels. For starter sizes like yours some fines would be okay and perlte.
In my world of crassula less is more sometimes, nothing to technical here if any additives are used lime wouldn't hurt
cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
13 years ago
I agree with Pots - I grow mine in a lean mix, but no fines and it's not Al's Gritty Mix, although it's a gritty mix.

Sifted potting soil (1/4" screen) - 1.5 parts
Screened (window screen) Turface - 1 part
#1 poultry grit (rinsed) - 2 parts or so

But there are a million mixes out there - trial and error, reading some long jade posts here, and further questions will get you and your jades growing right. Right now, that mix sounds OK - it will work, but there are better. It's also dependent on how you want your plants to grow (lushly or strained) and your growing conditions and materials availability. Just as an FYI, there's a Turface distributor locator on their website and agricultural supply stores can usually order you almost any size of poultry grit - I find #1 and #2 quite suitable for the mix (as well as a top dressing for small plants), but the larger stuff (#3 onwards) is great for a grayish-white top dressing.
Related Professionals
Annapolis Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Southaven Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Coldwater Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Manhattan Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Youngstown Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Clearlake Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Honolulu Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Salina Landscape Contractors · Orangeburg Landscape Contractors · Parkersburg Landscape Contractors · Fort Dodge Landscape Contractors · Vicksburg General Contractors · Killeen General Contractors · Wausau General Contractors · Odessa General Contractors
rosemariero
13 years ago
Nice haul you have there! Yes, we've all been there, getting more than we "planned". =)

It would be nice to see the plants individually, more clear pix-maybe in better light(?). I can give you some IDs...others, I need better pix. :)

In your 1st pic:
First 2 may both be Crassula arborescens ssp. undulatifolia. You may need to let them grow more to be certain of this.
3rd colorful one, could be several...best to wait, or better pic to figure out
Bottom row, as you know, Crassula ovata 'Gollum'.
With such long leaves, looks odd for a Crassula, but could also be a Senecio or a Sedum. Waiting for more growth/flowers would help ID.

Second pic:
First does not look like a Crassula to me from this view. Looks more like a Grapto-something, or Echeveria. Better pic might tell different story.
Top right looks like Crassula rupsestris (perhaps even a subspecies of).
Bottom left is Crassula ovata 'Tricolor'.
Middle, need better pic. Possibly a C. nudicaulis or platyphylla, but hard to say from that pic.
Last is C. falcata, as you surmised. =)

As for soil used in pots...we can grow these in the ground here, but the ones I have in pots are more like bonsai (stunted growth). I really think they could take whatever soil you decide to give them. BUT, I don't live where you do (whatever your conditions), so it's best you get advice on these from someone who lives in similar conditions. Good luck!