Crassula Moonglow is a very attractive and drought-tolerant succulent with very thick green/grey leaves staked densely on the stem.
These leaves are densely covered with the short hairs just like velvet which gives you softness when you touch the leaves.
However, the leaves of this plant grow in the upright column opposite to each other and form a very compact cluster of columns.
The leaves of crassula moonglow form a very dense layer even you can’t see the mid stem of this plant without moving leaves.
Crassula moonglow mainly grows 8-12 inches high and 6-8 inches wide.
It can grow beautiful flowers once it will be mature enough mainly during winter and spring months.
Crassula Moonglow is a hybrid between the crassula Deceptor and crassula falcate and can grow with little effort and it has the ability to survive in worst conditions.
- Crassula “Moonglow
- FAMILY: Crassulaceae
- GENUS: Crassula
ORIGIN: this plant is the native from south Africa and introduced by Johnsen cactus garden in 1958.
Flowering and leaves
This succulent has fluffy triangular-shaped leaves with green or gray colour with plenty of hairs at the top.
These leaves grow in a pairs and form a large tower.
Also, the leaves of crassula moonglow achieve reddish colour at the tips due to sun exposure or seasonal variation.
It produces red or white flowers from the mid of rosette when it becomes fully mature.
Where to plant
Though this plant is drought tolerant still it can’t survive in real winter because this succulent is not cold hardy.
If you are living at a place where the temperature falls from -1oF it is best to plant it in an appropriate pot and brought it indoor.
However, you can bring it outdoor in the morning or afternoon sun depends on the temperature and sun rays.
Crassula Moonglow is also defensive less against harsh sun rays.
the leaves of crassula moonglow could be burn if you expose your crassula moonglow plant in harsh sun rays for a long time.
I suggest you grow it in a container/pot because the temperature is not constant at every time like it falls at night and rise in the afternoon.
You can easily move the pot from outdoor to indoor according to the conditions.
Contents
How to Care for the Crassula Moonglow
For proper care, we have to correct the following Things.
- How to Water Crassula Moonglow.
- Lightning requirements.
- Soil Requirments.
- Selection of Container or Pot.
- Crassula Moonglow Fertilizer Requirments.
- repotting Process.
- propagation.
- Pest and Diseases Care.
How to Water Crassula Moonglow
Crassula Moonglow doesn’t like too much watering because it is native from a warm place.
Due to overwatering its soil became too wet and leads to root rot, and other diseases, it needs an adequate amount of water after every week or after two weeks depending on the climate and season.
In winter it needs watering after 10 days and in summer it needs water after 5 or 6 days depending on the climate.
The most crucial part of this process is to identify whether your plant needs watering or not.
Use 2-inch finger rule to identify whether your plant needs watering or not.
Simply dig a 2-inch hole in the soil of crassula Moonglow and observe the moisture of soil if the soil has some moisture then leave it until It will dry.
Here is the step by step guide to water your crassula moonglow
STEP 1: use the well-drained potting mix soil for your succulent and plant it in a pot that has a drainage hole at the bottom. IMPORTANT STEP 2: pour the required amount of water in the soil of this plant don’t water the leaves it can cause several diseases.If the leaves become dirty and dusty you can clean it with water spray but keep in mind water should be not stuck on leaves it can attract the mealybugs and several diseases.
STEP 3: pour water 2-3 times until the soil becomes a little bit wet make sure that water drains out from the drainage hole.Lightning requirements
Lighting is the main source to make your crassula moonglow healthy and bright.
It needs light either in filtered form or direct form depending on the conditions.
Outdoor lightning
If you are living at a place where solar rays are mild, then you can place it outdoor without any pot otherwise harsh sun rays could burn the leaves of your succulent.
Before planting this succulent make sure to analyze both sun rays at the day time and temperature at the night time because it can’t bear the temperature below -1oF.
If both conditions meet, then you can plant it outdoor.
Indoor lightning
If you want to grow your crassula moonglow indoor then you have to select an area where an adequate amount of lighting falls.
Generally, a bright balcony or window is the best place for succulent to grow.
One of the interesting benefits of growing indoor is, you can bring it outdoor whenever you need it.
Why do I suggest you to grow it in a pot?
We all know that temperature is not constant with the time at night time it falls and day time it will rise; we can’t place our plant outdoor without a solid accuracy.
Another big reason is rainfall when rainfall occurs the temperature becomes freezing especially in winters, our succulent can’t survive that intense coldness.
If you plant it in a pot you can move it both indoor and outdoor with little effort.
Soil Requirments
Like all succulents, this succulent needs de-moisturized well-drained potting mix which has the ability to drain out water completely.
Selection of soil is the most crucial decision because a good soil will prolong the life of your crassula moonglow and a bad soil will destroy your plant within weeks.
Soil should be well-drained because constantly wet soil will rot the roots of your plant.
Selection of Container or Pot
There are typically millions of pots or containers available in the market for the plants but you have to select a pot with a proper drainage hole at the bottom.
Make sure to select a pot of appropriate size according to roots size don’t purchase a too large or too small pot.
Crassula Moonglow Fertilizer Requirments
Generally, Crassula Moonglow doesn’t require any fertilizer but in order to accelerate the growth, you can fertilize it in summers.
Make sure to use the balanced dosage of fertilizers in dilute form.
First, make a dilute mixture of fertilizer and water and release it slowly in the soil of your crassula moonglow.
Make sure to release a balanced amount of fertilizer over-fertilizing over-fertilizing may affect your plant negatively.
Fertilize your plant weekly or monthly depending on the concentration of fertilizer and water.
If you prepare the mixture very dense then use it weekly otherwise if you have prepared a very dilute mixture, then fertilize your plant monthly.
Repotting Process
Repotting is a very simple process, your task is to remove the old soil from the plant and plant it in new soil.
Before repotting you have to care about two things
- Repot it in the warmer season.
- Make sure to repot it when the soil becomes too dry.
Here is the step by step guide to repotting your crassula moonglow
STEP 1: remove the soil and plant from old pot or container IMPORTANT STEP 2: remove all the soil from the roots of crassula moonglow by shaking it. STEP 3: cut all dead and rotten roots. IMPORTANT STEP 4: treat all the cuts with any fungicide. STEP 5: select a new pot with appropriate size according to the roots. STEP 6: Place your plant in a new pot and fill it with new potting mix. IMPORTANT STEP 7: leave the plant for one week until it becomes dry then start watering.Propagation
As propagation is the most interesting and easy process of every succulent, crassula moonglow can be propagated from both leaf and stem cutting.
Here is the step by step guide to propagating from leaf cutting
STEP 1: Select a healthy leaf and cut it with a sharp knife, make sure to remove all leaf from the main stem. IMPORTANT STEP 2: leave it for several days at a de-moisturized and bright place until it will dry. STEP 3: Once the leaf becomes the dry place it on the surface of well-drained potting mix IMPORTANAT STEP 4: Don’t water it for 2 weeks. STEP 5: When the leaf forms a new rosette, plant it in a well-drained potting mix and continue the caring process for a long time.
Pests and diseases Care
Crassula Moonglow is defensive less against mealybugs and large insects they can destroy your plant within weeks.
Mealybugs love to hide in the leaves of this plant because it has very thick and compact leaves
If you found a brown spot and a healthy leaf become curled and some cottony like white material on the plant, your plant must be attacked by mealybugs.
How to save your crassula moonglow after mealy bugs attack?
- Once you identify that your plant is attacked by mealybugs your first step is to move your plant away from that place and place it at a safe place.
- wash it with neem oil for 2-3 days.
- Make sure to remove the dead or intense damaged part from your plant.
Mealybugs are not only the main cause of disease overwatering is another major reason.
Due to overwatering the soil becomes too wet and it leads to root rot.
Never place your succulent in water for a long time make sure to drain out whole water after watering.
Conclusion
Crassula Moonglow has a very unique and eye-pleasing shape you can plant it outdoor with the other plants to enhance the beauty.
Also, you can place it at the balcony or window because all crassula has the ability to purify the air circulation.
This succulent needs a little bit of attention from you to stay healthy and happy, you can grow this succulent easily with a little bit of care.
You can enjoy the beauty of this succulent in spring or winter when it flowers from the mid of rosette.