Crassula Moonglow Care InfographicCrassula moonglow has a dazzling appearance enhanced by its uniquely-arranged leaves and inflorescences that are full of tiny apricot flowers.
This plant provides a glow like no other to any spot where it is placed and your home certainly needs that zest.
Don’t worry about the care requirements for this plant when you acquire it as this guide will tell you all that you need to know. Continue reading to learn more about this succulent.
What Is Crassula Moonglow?
Crassula moonglow is a succulent member of the Crassulaceae family that is known for its gray, hairy and fleshy leaves that are stacked in opposing ranks along an upright stem. The moonglow succulent flowers in spring and winter after a couple of years. This plant can reach up to eight inches in height.
Crassula Moonglow Care
Growing Crassula moonglow is relatively easy. However, slight deviations from its care requirements can make the plant susceptible to pests and diseases. Explore more about the care needs of the moon glow plant in this section.
– Water Requirements
The Crassula moonglow is very sensitive to waterlogged soil conditions. This means that you should avoid overwatering at all costs when you are caring for this plant. You would rather keep the moonglow succulent too dry than too wet, otherwise, it can die on you.
Allow the soil of your Crassula plant to dry out first before watering it again.
Usually, the period between waterings can be approximately a week or two, depending on seasons and climates.
Under warmer conditions, the waiting period before watering is shorter, about six days. This increases in colder conditions as there is less evaporation and transpiration taking place.
If you water your plant from beneath by placing a saucer that is full of water under it, remember to drain the excess water regularly. Each time you water your plant, do so thoroughly until water starts to come out through the drainage holes of the pot.
There is no harm in watering the leaf surfaces to remove dust, as long as you will make sure that water droplets do not sit on them. Simply expose the plant to air currents soon after watering it or wipe the leaves with a clean paper towel.
– Light Requirements
If the region where you are staying experiences only mild rays of sunlight, then there is no harm in growing your Crassula moonglow outdoors. The leaves of the plant can burn if they receive harsh and direct bright light from the sun.
If you prefer growing your moonglow succulent indoors, be sure to identify a spot where the plant can receive enough sunlight. You can consider placing the plant close to a window that is strategically positioned to receive enough light. Putting your plant on a balcony is also a great idea.
– Soil Requirements
The most important property for soil that you use for the moonglow succulent is good drainage. The soil for your plant should have a loose structure that allows for proper aeration and water drainage.
Failure to provide such soil conditions for your plant will cause root rot, which may, in turn, lead to the death of your plant.
– Make Your Own
There are commercial potting mixes for succulents that are available in shops. However, it is possible to create your own potting mix for your Crassula moonglow. The main advantage of this is that it creates room for experimentation in addition to flexibility.
To make a good potting mix for your plant, mix soil or a soil substrate, sand and perlite at ratios of 2:1:1, respectively.
The sand and perlite will create air spaces in your potting mix, thereby enhancing better drainage and aeration. You can consider adding some peat moss to your mix so that it retains the moisture that your plant requires.
Adding two ounces of bonemeal and limestone separately to the four gallons of the potting mix is also a great idea. The magnesium and calcium in the limestone will help to balance the pH of the soil and enhance the availability of nutrients to your moonglow succulent.
In addition, the phosphate in the bonemeal promotes remarkable root development.
– Temperature Requirements
The Crassula moonglow is a result of the cross between two cactus species that thrive best in environments with high temperatures. This probably explains why this plant is also a heat-loving variety of Crassula as it prefers temperature ranges between 65 F and 80 F.
If this plant is exposed to low temperatures, its survival will become compromised, considering that it is not cold-hardy. To be more precise, the moonglow succulent does not tolerate temperatures that are below 30 F.
If you stay in areas where winters are severe, planting your Crassula moonglow outdoors is not a very good idea. The ground can freeze when temperatures are too low and the roots of your plant can also freeze.
If you are lucky, this scenario can only impede the growth of your plant, but in extreme cases, your moonglow succulent will die. In frosty regions, you can lightly cover your plant with a piece of fabric to keep it safe.
You can only place your plant outdoors if it’s in a pot that you can move inside when temperatures fall or during the cold nights. Otherwise, we advise that you grow your plant indoors, where temperatures are relatively higher.
– Fertilizing Requirements
The Crassula moonglow can still grow well without supplementing nutrients by adding fertilizers. However, adding fertilizer boosts the growth rate of your plant. If you decide to add fertilizer to your moonglow succulent, do so during the warm summer months.
The fertilizer that you use should be well-balanced and diluted. Fertilizers that are not well-diluted have higher concentrations of salts and these can burn your plant. Also, consider using a slow-release fertilizer so that your plant has limited access to salts at each given time.
The fertilizing frequency greatly depends on the concentration of your fertilizer. You can add highly-diluted fertilizers on a weekly basis and more concentrated ones after every month.
– Humidity Requirements
This plant needs relatively low levels of humidity, as too much moisture in the air can cause problems such as fungal infections or mildew.
However, although the Crassula moonglow thrives in low humidity, it is very important to place it in a location with good air circulation.
– Pruning
Prune the dead leaves of the Crassula moonglow at the start of its growing season. Removing the dead and decaying parts of the plant is important to ensure that it uses its energy for healthy leaves and growths. Pruning also helps the plant look neat and healthy.
Propagation
To propagate Crassula moonglow, leaf cuttings, offsets or stem cuttings are the most common methods that are used by professional plant caregivers and plant enthusiasts.
– Using Leaf Cuttings
Propagating your moonglow succulents from leaf cuttings generally involves growing the new plants from an old leaf from the mother plant. Besides being easy, growing young moonglow plants from old leaves is a satisfying experience.
Get a healthy leaf from the mother plant and leave it on top of well-draining soil under a shade for it to dry out. This stage may take a timeframe between a day to a week, so be sure not to bury or semi-bury the leaf at this point.
Roots will develop on these leaves and grow into the soil on their own. Lightly sprinkle water on the leaf-cuttings occasionally.
You will begin to witness visible changes on the leaf-cutting after about three to four weeks. Wait until a season has passed for your young plants to develop into plants that can stand alone. Take care of these plants in the same way that you would do for the mother plant.
– Using Stem Cuttings
Be sure to get your stem from a healthy plant. Use a clean knife or scissors to cut the stem off the mother plant, as close to the ground as possible. Place the stem on a flat surface so that it can dry out and form a callus. Prepare a small pot with a succulent potting mix and place your stem cutting in there the moment it calluses.
Give the stem cutting a drink every three days until the point where you will see that the plant is growing well. At this stage, we recommend that you transfer your plant to a bigger pot where you can take care of the moonglow succulent the same way you would for the mother plant.
– Using Offsets
Using offsets to propagate the Crassula moonglow is an endeavor that has remarkable success rates though it requires much patience. The reason for this is that the Crassula moonglow is a slow-growing succulent so it will take time before the mother plant can produce offsets that you can use for the propagation procedure.
The moment you see an offset on the mother plant, you can cut it off using a disinfected knife. Do this gently, making sure that you cut the offset from its roots. Dip the offset into a potting mix that you would have prepared beforehand.
Water the offset every few days for a couple of weeks before reducing the watering frequency as soon as the new plant appears to be viable.
– Using Seeds
Although it is possible to grow your new Crassula moonglow plants from seeds, this is quite a difficult task. The Crassula moonglow seeds take a long time before they can germinate.
Besides, these seeds require the most ideal conditions before they can start the germinating process. You will need a lot of patience before your plant can become mature enough to release the seeds that you can use for propagation.
We don’t recommend that you use Crassula moonglow seeds for propagation. Instead, you can use any of the methods that we described earlier.
Problems
Generally, the Crassula moonglow is a strong plant that is not easily attacked by pests and diseases unless there are shortfalls in care patterns and procedures. Mealybugs and fungal diseases are some of the issues that you should be on the lookout for in the event that there are care discrepancies.
– Fungal Diseases
Fungal infections are inevitable, especially when you overwater your Crassula moonglow plant. You can buy a fungicide and use it to spray your plant in the event that it has been attacked by molds.
It is also possible to make your own fungicides at home using ingredients that are readily available in your kitchen, pantry or storeroom. Some of the “Do It Yourself” fungicides that you can use are milk spray, baking soda mixture and mouthwash. Neem oil also works well.
Mixing water, dishwashing soap and baking soda create an effective fungicide that you can spray on your plant regularly to keep fungal diseases at bay. Spray this mixture on your plants and then wipe off with a clean paper towel. This step is optional; you can simply spray and leave the plant to dry on its own.
– Mealybugs
If the healthy leaves of your plant are curling and you notice some brown spots on it, there is a high possibility that you are dealing with a case of mealybug attack. You can even confirm this by checking for some white material that appears cotton-like.
Mealybugs are easier to destroy if you recognize their presence at an earlier stage. This is why it is crucial for you to regularly check your plant for the presence of infestations. For example, you could scout for mealybugs on your plant each time you water it.
Suppose you notice that your plant has been attacked by mealybugs, immediately isolate it from other plants that are in your home garden. Be sure to disinfect the spot where the plant was originally located using 70 percent alcohol.
You can then wash your plant using Neem oil for about three days. Remove all the parts that might have been immensely damaged by the mealybug attack so that you allow for new and more vigorous growth.
FAQ
Can I wipe the dust off my Crassula Moonglow with a damp cloth?
Yes, you can wipe the dust off your Crassula Moonglow with a damp cloth. This will help remove dirt and debris that may be blocking sunlight and hindering growth. Be gentle and avoid getting water on the leaves.
Does Crassula Moonglow need light to grow?
Yes, Crassula Moonglow needs ample sunlight to thrive and grow properly.
Is Crassula Moonglow summer or winter dormant?
Crassula Moonglow is a winter-dormant succulent, meaning it slows down or stops growth during the winter months.
Conclusion
Taking good care of the Crassula moonglow is easy, as you might have noticed as you were reading through this guide.
To make it convenient for you to remember the important points, here is a quick rundown of what you should keep in mind:
- The moonglow succulent thrives best under bright, indirect sunlight. Temperatures between 65 F and 80 F are ideal for the plant’s growth and development. Do not expose your Crassula to frosty conditions.
- Never allow your plant to sit in water for any reason, otherwise, it will develop root rot and become more susceptible to fungal infections. The soil for your plant should be as well-draining as possible.
- The Crassula moonglow can do without commercial fertilizers but you can add a well-diluted, slow-release one if needed.
- You can propagate the Crassula moonglow through offsets, seeds, as well as stem or leaf cuttings.
- The main problems that you need to be on the lookout for are mealybugs and fungal infections.
Now you can order your own Crassula moonglow plant and take care of it with confidence. Enjoy the journey!
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