Crassula Tom Thumb is one fine succulent in the succulent world. They would give a filler and spiller look for our succulent arrangement.
Crassula Tom Thumb could be useful for succulent wreaths as well. They are fast growingplants which have unique looking leaves. Crassula Tom Thumb hails from Namibia and South Africa.
To briefly explain, their leaves will be bright green colored and triangular shaped. Crassula Tom Thumb leaves will grow while stacking onto each other.
When they go through stress, you will see how their leaves’ tips turn red. Crassula Tom Thumb are small herbaceous and perennial sets of plants.
They are commercialized plants due to attractive looks they have and due to easy maintenance they require.
The Crassula Tom Thumb plant is a hybrid between the Crassula rupetris Subsp rupestris and Crassula Rupestris subsp.
Crassula Tom Thumb belongs to the family of Crassulaceae and to the genus Crassula. The Crassula Tom Thumb morphology is quite like crassula perforate. However, crassula perforate will have smaller dimensions.
I am going to cover how you should look after them well and how to propagate them. Further, you can learn about the bugs and pests they may suffer as well.Brace yourself and get ready to learn on these precious plants.
How do I identify Crassula Tom Thumb?
Crassula Tom Thumb usually grow their branches in an erecting manner or in a slightly decumbent manner.
They consist of very slender stems. Further those stems would tend to take a cylindrical shape as well.
The height of the stems would be about 15 cm. However they can also reach a height of 20 cm, but you can spot them reaching that height very hardly.
The Crassula Tom Thumb leaves form on the stems while arranging in an opposite manner. The leaves are fleshy and triangular.
Besides the sheets also form merged into the base. Crassula Tom Thumb foliage tends to take a color of light green.
Further they will carry spots in reddish violet color as well. Besides, there will be margins when you expose them to bright sunlight levels.
Apart from all the aforesaid factors, you can identify the Crassula Tom Thumb from their blooming. They would usually arise at the apex of the stems.
Crassula Tom Thumb flowers would consist of 5 white triangular petals, and they would unfold slightly backward.
The colors of the Crassula Tom Thumb flowers would be white and their flowering season would usually be spring.
One look care guide
| Botanical Name | Crassula Tom Thumb |
| Common Name | Tom Thumb |
| Plant Type | Succulent |
| Mature Size | 6 inches ( 15 cm ) in height |
| Sun Exposure | Full sunlight to partial shade |
| Soil Type | Well-draining |
| Soil pH | Neutral / slightly acidic |
| Bloom Time | Spring |
| Flower Color | White |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA hardiness zones would be 10a |
| Native Area | Namibia and south Africa |
| Toxicity | Non-Toxic |
| Average price | 5 USD |
How do you take care of your Crassula Tom Thumb?
Looking after these plants is very easy.
Light Requirement
Crassula ‘tom thumb’s optimal growth would be benefitted by strong sunlight levels. Consequently, that will help to make new branches on the stems.
I recommend you expose the Crassula Tom Thumb plants for early morning sunlight and for late afternoon sunlight. The exposure to intense sunlight will be harmful for them.
As aforesaid they can thrive well with bright sunlight in the morning along with some direct sunlight.
So, if you are wondering where to place them when you grow them as houseplants, a windowsill would be the ideal place to locate them.
If the Crassula Tom Thumb plants are lacking sunlight, it will not be beneficial for the plants’ flowering blossoming activity.
Further it will result in spindly growth as well. Additionally, the exposure for proper sunlight will help the plants to maintain their vibrant colors as well.
Temperature and humidity
Crassula Tom Thumb would love to have a cooler climate during their growth process. Further ensure that you do not expose them to temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius.
On the other hand, the cooler temperatures which drop down to 8 degrees Celsius and below are also harmful for the Crassula Tom Thumb optimal growth. Never leave them exposed to frost.
A temperature level around 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 75 degrees Fahrenheit / 15.5 degrees Celsius – 24 degrees Celsius would be ideal for them to grow optimally. If you expose them to colder weather , it will make the plants lose their regular color too.
Is it cold hardy?
USDA Hardiness Zone
Crassula Tom Thumb’s preferred USDA hardiness zone would be 10a ( Minimum 30 degrees Fahrenheit – 1.1 degrees Celsius).
Watering Requirement
The most crucial thing you need to keep in mind is that you need to water the Crassula Tom Thumb when their substrate is dry.
You need to water them whilst ensuring some moisture is retained in the soil. However, you should not leave any excess moisture remaining in the soil too.
When you have to water the Crassula Tom Thumb in winter, you should water them only when their soil is completely dry.
That will avoid any potential root rot. What you need to keep in mind when watering the plants is that they want a sparse watering.
Ideally when watering, give them a good soak of water. After that You need to let the excess moisture drain away and let the substrate become dry.
Minimize watering them in cooler months. If there is colder weather along with wet substrate it will lead to root rot. Crassula Tom Thumb plants’ active growing season would be in spring.
Hence you will have to water them a little more often than what you do in the rest of the seasons. When you grow them as houseplants, you should minimize watering them from late fall through winter.
Soil Requirement Type / pH.
Crassula Tom Thumb performs well in substrates which are nourished with organic matter. Further they need to have an excellent permeability as well.
Crassula Tom Thumb are not the types of plants which thrive in compact and flooded substrates.
Instead, they will grow in a potting medium which has a fast-draining feature and neutral ph. level.
Besides, You may add elements such as coconut coir and pine bark so that you can better the drainage of the substrate.
Crassula Tom Thumb can also thrive in slightly acidic soil mediums. If you expose them for extreme ph. levels of the soil mix could even kill the plants.
Pot size Potting and Repotting
Crassula Tom Thumb can perform well in porous pots as the conditions there would be beneficial for the plant’s vigorous growth.
You may go ahead with a medium sized ceramic pot for these plants. Besides, you may also use a sturdy plastic container for your plants.
It is essential that your pot has a draining hole too.Consequently, it will not make the plant’s roots soggy.
Repotting wise, the best season to do it would be the spring. Further you need to consider repotting them whenever you spot them becoming root bound.
Further if you think your plants need a fresh start, you can repot them. I recommend using a heavy pot when repotting them so they will not topple.
Usually tCrassula Tom Thumb will become heavy as they grow. Hence I suggest you grow them in heavy pots.
Where to Plant
Crassula Tom Thumb does not handle cold well.
Hence , if you live in zones where the temperature drops below 30 degrees Fahrenheit ( -1.1 degrees Celsius), you need to plant them in a container which you can move in and out from home.
Further, keep in mind that they want full sunlight and partial shade to thrive well.
Hence if you grow them as outdoor plants, choose a spot where they can gain 6 hours of sunlight daily. If you can fulfill the sunlight requirement only, you can grow them as indoor plants.
Having said that, if there are extreme winter conditions, you can bring them indoors during such periods.
Fertilizer and time of year.
A balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half would work well with them. Further, consider feeding them in spring through summer. Never feed them in winter as it would create feed burns in the plants.
Dormancy
Crassula Tom Thumb are summer formant plants.
Toxicity
Crassula Tom Thumb are non-toxic plants for both pets as well as for humans.
Flowering
Crassula Tom Thumb blooms with white flowers. They would usually produce flowers during spring and they would appear in clusters.
Common bugs and illnesses
Crassula Tom Thumb may encounter pest attacks from mealybugs , aphids commonly. Other than that, they are resistant to pest and disease problems.
However, chances are that they may suffer from root rot if you do water them in excess. You may use non chemical treatments like neem oil and horticultural oil to treat them.
Further ensure that you practice the correct growing tips especially with regards to watering as then, you do not need to have to go through such issues.
Special Care tips.
Crassula Tom Thumb does not need any special pruning. However, I recommend you get rid of whatever unnecessary and dead growth you find in the plants so that it would look nice and neat.
Crassula Tom Thumb benefits
Crassula Tom Thumb are useful as container plants as they are evergreen and eye-catching.
How to propagate Crassula Tom Thumb
You can propagate the Crassula Tom Thumb by using the offsets and leaves mainly.
Propagation by offsets
Crassula Tom Thumb produces offsets. You could spot them forming around the base of the plants. It is very easy to propagate them using this method.
Literally what you need to do is just simply remove them and allow the offsets to wither and plant them in a substrate which is explained in the above.
Propagation by leaf cuttings
Propagating the Crassula Tom Thumb using the leaf cuttings is also a simple process. If you wish to practice this method, you need to first select a healthy looking Crassula Tom Thumb leaf and cut it.
I suggest you select younger medium sized leaves so that they can easily adjust when you remove them from the stems.
You can use a knife to make the cuttings. Ensure you disinfect them before using them though. Next, allow them to develop callousness.
If you do not let them wither and plant them in a soil mix directly it will cause root rot. During a few weeks’ time, you will see how they produce small roots from the wound.
Next the leaves will start to shrink. That indicates the roots are absorbing energy and water from the leaf.
After that you can plant them in a potting medium which is fast draining. I recommend you add some perlite and sand mixture for the soil medium.
Avoid watering them more often unless the young roots tend to rot. If you spot the leaves are wrinkled, you need to water them.
When the roots are well established , you will see how they produce a small leaf and stem as well.
Propagation by By seeds.
You can propagate the Crassula Tom Thumb with seeds. However, I do not recommend them as it would take a longer period to have the results.
However,best would be to apply this propagation method for the outdoor plants. All you need to do is to plant them in a well-draining soil mixture.
Propagation in water
Crassula Tom Thumb can be propagated in water. First you need to get cuttings or leaves from the Crassula Tom Thumb plants.
If you are using leaves, make sure what you are using are all healthy leaves so that you will have a better chance of having successful results. Avoid using leaves which are damaged or ripped or misshapen.
You can gently remove the leaves from the stem first. You may use your thumb and forefinger for this.
Ensure that you are taking the whole leaves for this process. Just as in the soil propagation method, allow them to develop calluses.
Next place them in water. You can use a cup which has the right size to fit the cuttings and then add water there.
When you place the leaf, make sure that it is slightly above the water surface. Next place the specimen in a bright sunny place.
Stay patient until they form roots and consider adding water if needed. When you spot the roots have grown completely, you can allow them to wither and then plant them in a suitable substrate as explained in the above. Continue doing the regular care treatments for the plants once they grow.
Conclusion
Before concluding, Crassula Tom Thumb are versatile plants which would be great picks for miniature gardens and for terrariums.
Their attractive flowers are one more value addition of having them. Despite the fact that Crassula Tom
Thumb is a commonly found succulent, their beauty is something unique which you cannot find among other species.
They would be an indispensable plant to have in your succulent collection if you are especially a crassula plant lover.
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