The Crassula muscosa is ideal for hanging baskets or rock gardens because it gives fantastic “thriller” to succulent arrangements as it grows and “spiller” when it starts to trail.
Watering
“Watch Chain requires regular irrigation like other succulents do. You should utilize the “Use the “soak and dry” method, letting the soil to dry out in between waterings.
Note: This succulent may need more frequent watering in the summer if grown outdoors in full sun.
Additionally, make sure to get our FREE watering cheat sheet to learn how to determine whether your succulents are receiving too much water (and how to save them if needed).
Where to Plant
When the temperature drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, Crassula muscosa should be taken indoors because it is not cold hardy (-6.7 C).
Plants should be placed in a garden area with six hours of direct sunlight each day. If you’re planting indoors, choose a location with lots of natural light, such as next to a window with a southern orientation (if you live in the Northern Hemisphere).
How to Propagate Crassula muscosa “Watch Chain
The crassual muscosa “Watch Chain” reproduces a lot. Cuttings of the stem make for simple propagation. It’s better to plant it where it can spread and trail since it can be invasive when grown outside.
Cuttings
To develop “Watch Use a clean, sharp knife or a pair of scissors to make the chain from the cuttings. Take a stem from the main plant and place it on well-draining soil after letting it callus for a few days. When the soil is fully dry, add water.
What kind of facility is a watch chain plant?
The watch chain succulent plant, or Crassula muscosa (pronounced KRASS-oo-la muss-KOH-suh), is indigenous to Namibia and South Africa.
The watch chain is from the family Crassulaceae (succulent jade plants). Formerly, the name was Crassula lycopodioides.
There are several common names for the Crassula muscosa plant:
- Pine princess crassula
- Baggage Plant
- Savory lizard’s tail
- Clubmoss Crataegus
- a rattail cyst
For usage as a houseplant, the succulent princess pine plant is cultivated and groomed to fit the area it is growing in without hurting its growth.
Easy to maintain and always presents well. It adds a lot to indoor spaces without looking out of place.
Do poisonous watch chains exist?
Succulents and other houseplants of particular varieties are poisonous to animals. Sadly, watch chain succulents are poisonous to animals and should also be kept out of the reach of young children. This is what?
How big can a succulent watch chain grow?
The intriguing succulent Crassula muscosa has a spreading habit of branching stems and narrow, closely stacked, light green leaves that totally conceal the stems. It can reach a height of 12 inches (30 cm). The stems begin upright before sagging under the weight of the leaves. From spring to mid-summer, the tight-lipped, pale yellowish-green leaves and tiny, musty-scented blooms appear. This succulent works well as a small-scale ground cover in a well-drained mound or rock garden or to offer a distinctive texture to a mixed planting.
Due to its tiny interconnecting leaves that resemble the tight jewelers’ links used to fasten a pocket watch to the waistcoat, this plant is more well known by the name Watch Chain. Princess Pine, Clubmoss Crassula, Zipper Plant, and Rattail Crassula are some of its alternate names. The specific epithet “muscosa,” which means “mossy” in Latin, describes how this plant looks like moss. In allusion to the plant’s resemblance to the Lycopodium genus of clubmoss, it has also been given the name Crassula lycopodioides.
Although it frequently grows only in well-drained stony quartz fields, Watch Chain is widely distributed in South Africa from the Western Cape, where winter rainfall occurs, to the Eastern Cape, where summer rainfall occurs, and farther north into Namibia and Lesotho. It can withstand temperatures as low as 20 F (6.7 C), although it dislikes being both cold and wet at the same time.
Growing Conditions and General Care
Plant in broad sun to moderate shade or indoors, in well-drained soil. If you’re planting indoors, put it in a space with lots of light. Even on the seaside, the best color is preserved with a little shade.
Watch Chain requires regular irrigation like other succulents do. The “soak and dry” technique is recommended, letting the soil entirely dry out in between waterings.
When the temperature drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, Watch Chain should be brought indoors because it is not cold-hardy (-6.7 C).
During the growing season, the plants should be fed with a controlled-release fertilizer. Weekly feedings of a mild liquid solution are possible.
It requires a lot more water in the summer and shouldn’t be exposed to direct sunshine because it solely values brightness and would suffer in direct sunlight. The plant generally starts to harden and dry out from the base of the stem up to the tips when these parameters are not satisfied.
Repotting
Watch During the warm weather, chain should be repotted. When repotting the plant, it is important to make sure that the soil is completely dry. Before putting the plant in a fresh container, any old soil needs to be brushed off the roots. During this operation, any dry or damaged roots should also be removed.
Propagation
Stem cuttings can be used to quickly multiply the invasive plant known as the Watch Chain. But if the surrounding air is consistently between 68 and 70 F (20 and 21 C), the cutting will root and grow quickly with enough humidity and light.
Blooming watch chains
The blossoming of the plant is particularly unusual; rather than sprouting at the ends of the stems, the blooms develop alongside the leaves down the stalk. They emerge primarily in the spring or summer and are greenish-yellow. After rain or watering, the blossoms may also occur during other seasons.
What happens if my dog ingests a succulent?
If you suspect that your pet has eaten a toxic succulent, you need to identify the plant right once and contact your neighborhood vet. However, you might want to get in touch with a poison control center if your veterinarian is unfamiliar with houseplants or succulents. The two animal poison control centers listed below are both open around-the-clock and both charge a nominal consultation fee.
Does Mother of Thousand contain poison?
Mother of Thousands: Is It Toxic? Be cautious if you plan to grow this plant because it is poisonous to people, dogs, and cats. Thus, houses without pets or small children are a preferable choice for this succulent plant. For your yard, look into more noxious and invasive plants.
What succulents are toxic?
Succulents like the Kalanchoe and Euphorbia can be poisonous to people. Even non-toxic succulents should be kept out of the reach of kids and pets as a general guideline for all house plants.
EUPHORBIA SUCCULENTS
Plants in the Euphorbiaceae family include euphorbia succulents. They are the fourth-largest genus of flowering plants and are frequently referred to as spurge plants. They are a blooming plant that is primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions. Around 1,200 of the family’s more than 2,000 species are succulents. These succulents are renowned for their large, fleshy leaves, blooms, and cactus-like appearance.
SIDE EFFECTS FROM EUPHORBIA SAP
These plants release a milky sap that both people and animals may find harmful. Usually, a succulent’s leaves will have sap on them. It can result in a rash if it comes into contact with any exposed skin. Euphorbia sap can irritate the eyes and cause pain and redness. In order to safeguard your hands and eyes when handling Euphorbia succulents, wear gloves.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET EUPHORBIA SAP ON YOUR SKIN OR EYES
If you touch or come in contact with Euphorbia sap, wash the affected area well with lots of lukewarm water right away. Because the sap is sticky, more water and soap could be necessary. Start cleaning your eye(s) with warm water if Euphorbia sap gets in them. In the event of any plant exposure, it is crucial to contact the Poison Center for further instructions.
KALANCHOE SUCCULENTS
Usually found in adorable pots, kalanchoe succulents can be found in flower stores or garden centers. A little cluster of flowers that typically has one huge bloom atop the stalk is produced by them. Large kalanchoe succulent leaves are typically a vivid dark green. There are up to 125 different species of this kind of plant.
SIDE EFFECTS FROM INGESTING KALANCHOE SUCCULENTS
When consumed, the majority of kalanchoe plant kinds only possibly produce nausea and vomiting. Some Kalanchoe species have a naturally occurring toxin that can harm the heart. The majority of the time, this occurs in grazing cattle and in some animal experiments, although it is unlikely to harm humans.
WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE EATS A PIECE OF KALANCHOE SUCCULENT
If you or someone else has consumed a piece of kalanchoe succulent, rinse your mouth out with water and a soft towel. Call the Poison Center to discuss potential symptoms with a poison information professional. Call your veterinarian straight away or go to an animal poison center for help if your pet has consumed a piece of kalanchoe plant.
WATER PROPAGATION
It’s really simple to root a chain of hearts in water. Simply submerge a number of cuttings that are a few inches long in water.
The portion of each cutting that will be submerged in water in your glass or vase should be free of leaves. This will help protect the leaves from going bad and keep the water fresher.
Make sure you have a few leaves for the portion of each cutting that is not submerged.
The nodes, which are the places where the leaf and stem connect, are where the roots will emerge from. You ought to have two nodes, at the very least, submerged.
It would be best if you could take additional cuttings. A fuller plant will arise from this right away.
I began with the clippings mentioned above because I had got them in the mail from a friend.
At least once a week or so, change the water. Increase the frequency of water changes if you find the water becoming murky.
Put your cuttings in a container with water and indirect light that is bright. You should develop roots in a few weeks, depending on your circumstances!
Take note of the roots developing on the little tuber on the cutting from this cutting. Later on, we’ll talk about tubers.
Plant your cuttings that were water propagated after they develop roots in the ground. There is no need to wait until they are too far apart. It doesn’t need to be more than half that long.
Check out my other post on Ceropegia woodii care to learn more about how to take care of these plants, including my favorite soil mixture for them.
PROPAGATION IN SOIL
The procedure for propagation in soil is the same as described previously, with the exception that you would place the cuttings directly into the ground like in the picture above.
You can simply buy rooting hormone on Amazon, and you may dip each node that will go below the soil line in it to boost the likelihood that your cuttings will root.
Utilize the soil mixture I discuss in the care post for the string of hearts, and then just wait!
After giving the container a good watering, keep the soil just damp enough to promote rooted going ahead.
LAYING CUTTINGS ON SOIL
Cuttings can also be placed horizontally on top of soil. Make certain that the earth is directly touched.
Even bent paperclips can be used to gently pin the cuttings to the ground so they come into contact with the soil.
In order to stimulate the cuttings to form roots using this method, it is beneficial to boost humidity; otherwise, the cuttings risk drying out.
You can put the pot or container inside a clear plastic bag and close it. To prevent the growth of mold, open the bag occasionally and let it air out.
CIRCLE STRANDS BACK INTO SAME POT
I’m currently experimenting with a method that involves the plant I developed from cuttings I propagated using water.
After a few months, observe the developing plant. The plant wasn’t very full because there were only a few cuttings.
I left the plant in its container and carefully pinned the hanging tendrils with paper clips after circling them around the soil’s surface.
Terra cotta pots have benefits and drawbacks. Small ones, like the ones in the picture above, may dry out very quickly, so take caution!
Keep the soil just moist enough to promote roots. Keep the plant moist while it is rooted for optimal results. It can be put in a closed, transparent plastic bag.
To prevent cooking while it is in the bag, keep it out of direct sunlight! Keep it in direct, bright light and periodically open the bag to let excess moisture out to prevent mold growth.
You can set the pot in the plant’s final growing position once it has roots and begun to grow. The plant will thrive in a window with a few hours of direct sunlight.
TUBER PROPAGATION
You will notice tubers of different sizes all along your string of hearts vines, depending on how old your plant is.
Take a look at the different-sized tubers in the picture above. You can arrange the vines and tubers on top of a soil-filled container and place it next to your plant without cutting the vines. Bury the tuber only partially.
The tuber will start to grow roots, and once it does, you can separate it from the parent plant.
Last but not least, you can spruce up an elderly plant that has lost a lot of leaves and is barren at the base.
Remove all the vines, and then utilize them to reproduce using one of the techniques mentioned above.
The tubers can then be removed from the pot and repotted in new potting soil. At this stage, you can either pull the root system out of the container, split up the root ball a little, and replant it into new soil, or you can separate the tubers out to plant in different pots.
Put the pot in a great, bright window, and you’ll have a fresh new String of Hearts plant in no time!
Check out the String of Hearts offerings on Etsy if you want to purchase a String of Hearts or perhaps a Variegated String of Hearts (link to Etsy). The website has an amazing selection of plants and is a fantastic one-stop shop!
If you’ve heard of the “butterfly method of propagating,” make sure you don’t miss my blog entry on the technique.
Check out my post on How to Make String of Hearts Fuller if you have a string of hearts that is empty and needs some assistance to fill up once more.