Diana (DP): What attracted you to the Crassula family in the first place?
Norma Lewis (NL): What really attracted me to this species was how cheap they were. I could gather quiet a nice collection for very little money, I didn't at that time know that there are 150 species and 300 or more subspecies, forma, and hybrids. This first collection was purchased at Grigsby's mail order from an ad in the back of a gardening magazine. 15 of them for $15.00. When they came, they all had roots, soil and all coming out of a small 4 in container, I sure was pleased. Now you are lucky to get a 2" cutting with any roots attached, from any mail order house.
DP: I wish I could purchase some Crassula that inexpensively today. I have 3 in my collection but paid at least $2-$6 for each one! Can you give us some general guidelines as to the cultivation of this plant genus?
NL: There really is not a standard cultivation rule to follow, other than plenty of air circulation, some good sun for most, not all, well draining soil, no peat, water when dry and they are growing (warm weather, summer growers) and fertilize with Osmocote when you repot, or use a liquid fertilizer after each watering, at a ratio of 1 teaspoon per. gal. (Liquid Nox, Miracle Grow) keep the nitrogen levels low.
Some Crassula are winter growers. For them, the procedure is the opposite. One example of this is Crassula barklyi (teres) which you must stop watering when it gets hot; do not handle the plant, it will fall apart. Crassula 'Fernwood' (yellow flowers; purple leaves in the fall) flowers about January. Do not water at this time because it is dormant. Wait until you see the roots form at the nodes, take the plant apart at this time, repot, and resume watering in the spring after the flowers have dried up.
Most of the Crassula need good light when growing (not all). Some I give morning sun only. Crassula hemisphaerica, leaves turning down, looks like a Turkish turban, hard to find now. It is in flower now, morning sun. Do not remove the infloresence until it is dried up. Offsets will form from under the leaves. Don't water when the plant is in flower.
