tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post4536456957149305508..comments2024-03-27T07:35:21.832-07:00Comments on Plants are the Strangest People: By request: Crassula ovatamr_subjunctivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14113199755474482747noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-66633408004175163302018-11-15T12:42:38.960-08:002018-11-15T12:42:38.960-08:00Its been many years since you wrote this post, and...Its been many years since you wrote this post, and I see in your "Plants I've Tried" page that your crassula ovatas are all no longer with you for various reasons. Still just in case one wanders into your hands somehow, I'd like to share how Ive taken care of mine, its roughly a decade old and outdoors in an SF adjacent area of CA.<br />1. Severely underpot, my aboveground plantAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05888434974855296453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-28319921927111493952011-07-15T21:36:21.690-07:002011-07-15T21:36:21.690-07:00While reading all of the comments on the two posts...While reading all of the comments on the two posts, I kept thinking that the soil you put in the pot might be too acidic and compact too quickly, or it has simply soured. This happens when I somehow get more rotting/rotted bark or a new peat mix, or if no air is getting into the mix. Kind of like the way orchid bark breaks down and gets "muddy" choking out the roots and preventing Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-43992390464249830162011-07-15T19:21:25.858-07:002011-07-15T19:21:25.858-07:00I would just put outside where it could get some s...I would just put outside where it could get some sun and breeze. Let nature take its course one way or another. If I have plants that are not doing much indoors often putting them a few months outdoor solves the problem. You can lose all teh old leaves and new healthier ones will grow.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16453606276591402677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-49820517930198168802011-07-15T17:42:22.577-07:002011-07-15T17:42:22.577-07:00Sentient Meat:
I'm not sure about the C. ovat...Sentient Meat:<br /><br />I'm not sure about the <i>C. ovata</i>, but I suspect some of my problems with <i>C. muscosa</i> and <i>C. rupestris</i> might have been related to not watering often enough. In those cases, I'll never know, 'cause I don't intend to try them again, though.<br /><br />I've mostly been happy with the aquatic soil, though there is a fine line between mr_subjunctivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14113199755474482747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-91160160220759637532011-07-15T16:05:51.690-07:002011-07-15T16:05:51.690-07:00I bet the problem lies in the soil. Not sure what ...I bet the problem lies in the soil. Not sure what an aquatic mix is but possibly is the opposite of this plant needs. I mix a lot of perlite/gravel/fine bark with some orchid mix. I am growing some of these from leaf cuttings. They seem not fussy at all. On the roof. <br /><br />The soil in the photo looks too muddy to me.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16453606276591402677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-49390389965342492462011-07-15T14:39:12.045-07:002011-07-15T14:39:12.045-07:00It isn't the cold but the short days which are...It isn't the cold but the short days which are significant, though cold and wet together will make them rot. The winter in South Africa is the dry season and many succulents expect it and are perfectly adapted to it.<br /><br />Your C. ovata will never flower if you keep it wet over winter. At those temperatures I might give it a shorter dry season, from late November to early March, perhaps.Patnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-75366493761976319922011-07-15T14:25:42.643-07:002011-07-15T14:25:42.643-07:00I would chuck it, too, except for its use as a mod...I would chuck it, too, except for its use as a model patient.<br /><br />Anecdotally, I have had this root-shrinkage problem with Crassulaceae, too. And it's happened more in clay pots than plastic. <br /><br />I know it's a common and universal prescription among cactus and succulent hobbyists to say, "water less!", but I have the sneaking, contrarian suspicion that in some Sentient Meathttp://sentientmeat.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-47224126431216210332011-07-15T10:43:38.221-07:002011-07-15T10:43:38.221-07:00I wish you would keep it for now and try to save i...I wish you would keep it for now and try to save it, so we all learn something ... maybe!<br />I say nix the aquatic soil first of all. I would plant it in potting soil with at least 1/3 perlite or pumice. The size of pot used should be according to the size of roots left. I've grown them in plastic and clay and I don't think it really matters. If there are a lot of dead, rotted roots, I&Nancy in Sun Lakes AZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09882208110664899569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-6997185011996610092011-07-15T10:10:48.560-07:002011-07-15T10:10:48.560-07:00Pat:
I did water in winter, though that may or ma...Pat:<br /><br />I did water in winter, though that may or may not be very meaningful, since we do work fairly hard to keep the house at about the same temperature year round. (The spot where this plant was runs about 66-68F/19-20C in winter and 72-76F/22-24C in summer. Spring and fall vary quite a bit, but the winter and summer temperatures are pretty steady.)mr_subjunctivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14113199755474482747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-7517581400698534692011-07-15T09:42:21.285-07:002011-07-15T09:42:21.285-07:00I was going to say bin it but it probably will com...I was going to say bin it but it probably will come back and it will have a lot of errm... character. However, it isn't ancient and the youngsters will be getting big soon. Perhaps do a scientific experiment on the young ones in different composts and sizes of pot as they mature.<br /><br />Potassium bicarbonate solution sprayed on the leaves will stop the mildew spreading. I have read that Patnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-83585843780234607722011-07-15T07:26:36.489-07:002011-07-15T07:26:36.489-07:00I have both the pure green leafed form, and the wh...I have both the pure green leafed form, and the white and green variegated form(just to name a few!). My variegated form looks to be having the same trouble as yours. <br /> <br />My green leaved variety, is 10 years old, and has a trunk the size a little thicker than a soda can. Maybe the variegated form does not grow as fast? I have had periods when my green variety, has lost leaves, and it hasRcstampydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10687204603297117662noreply@blogger.com