Scientific Name
Crassula 'Baby's Surprise'
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
Origin
Crassula 'Baby's Surprise' is a sport of Crassula 'Baby's Necklace' introduced by Rudolf Schulz in Australia in 1993.
Description
Crassula 'Baby's Surprise' is a cute, small succulent with fleshy, whitish leaves tightly stacked on slender, upright, branching stems. Compared to Crassula 'Baby's Necklace', it has smaller and rounder leaves with less reddish-brown coloration at the tips. It also has a slower and more compact growth with stiffer and less flexible stems.
Sometimes a few branches of Crassula 'Baby's Surprise' can revert to Crassula 'Baby's Necklace', proving that it originally mutated from the latter plant.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Crassulas are easy to grow but susceptible to mealy bugs and fungal diseases. Overwatering is sure to be fatal, as with all succulents, so err on the side of too dry rather than too wet. Never let your plant sit in water. If you water from beneath by letting the plant sit in a saucer of water, ensure to pour off any excess water after a few minutes.
These succulents are generally started by division, offsets, or leaf cuttings. Crassulas can be easily propagated from a single leaf. Sprout leaves by placing them into a potting mix for succulents, then cover the dish until they sprout.
Repot as needed, preferably during the warm season. To repot your Crassula, ensure the soil is dry before repotting, then gently remove the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots, removing any rotted or dead roots. Treat any cuts with a fungicide. Place the plant in its new pot and backfill it with potting soil, spreading the roots as you repot. Leave the plant dry for a week or so, then begin to water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Crassula.
Links
- Back to genus Crassula
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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