Greetings, aspiring plant caretaker. I am a Crassula, a member of a vast and diverse genus of succulents, with the Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) being our most famous ambassador. From our perspective, a successful life with you is about replicating the conditions of our native, rocky, sun-drenched habitats in South Africa. To help you help us, here is a guide to our care, told from the root up.
For us, light is life. In our ancestral homes, we bask for hours under the bright, direct sun. To thrive in your care, we need the brightest light you can provide. A south-facing window is our ideal urban apartment. With sufficient light, our stems grow stout and strong, not stretched and weak (a condition you call "etiolation"). Our leaves develop rich, vibrant colors, often with beautiful red or yellow margins. Insufficient light makes us pale, leggy, and unhappy. Think of light as our primary food source; without it, even the best water and soil are meaningless.
Our thick, fleshy leaves are not just for show; they are our personal water reservoirs. This adaptation means we have a very different relationship with water than most plants. The single greatest threat to our well-being is constant moisture around our roots. The golden rule is to emulate a desert thunderstorm. Soak the soil thoroughly until water runs freely from the drainage hole, then let the soil dry out completely before you even think about watering again. In winter, when our growth slows, we need even less. A good test is to feel our leaves; if they are slightly soft and pliable, we are ready for a drink. If they are firm and taut, we are still full.
We demand a home that breathes. Our roots are susceptible to rot if left in damp, dense soil. A specialized succulent or cactus mix, which is gritty and fast-draining, is perfect. Many of us even appreciate extra perlite or pumice mixed in for added aeration. Equally important is our container. It must have a drainage hole. There are no exceptions to this. A pot without an escape route for excess water becomes a swamp, and that is a death sentence for us. A snug pot is better than an overly large one, as too much soil retains unnecessary moisture.
We have an internal clock synced with the seasons. During the warm, bright days of spring and summer, we are actively growing. This is the time when you might notice new pairs of leaves emerging from our stem tips. This is also the best time to give us a light feeding with a diluted, balanced fertilizer. Come the shorter, cooler days of autumn and winter, we enter a period of rest. Our growth virtually stops. During this time, you must significantly reduce watering and stop fertilizing entirely. This dormant period is crucial for our health and is often when we produce our delicate, star-shaped flowers.
For us, reproduction is a simple and resilient affair. Even a single leaf or a small stem cutting can become a whole new plant. This is our survival strategy. When a leaf falls onto the dry ground in the wild, it can callous over and send out new roots, waiting for rain to begin its own life. You can do the same. Let a healthy leaf or stem cutting dry for a few days until the end forms a callus, then place it on top of well-draining soil. With bright, indirect light and occasional misting, it will soon begin its own journey, ensuring our legacy continues in your care.
