Crassula includes the immortal Jade Plant — a woody, coin-leaved succulent that outlives its owners — plus trailing strings of buttons and stacked towers. They are tough, long-lived, and reward a bright, dry shelf.
What's Inside
Jade Plant
Spiderwort Jade
String of Buttons
Watch Chain
General Care Principles
Frequently Asked Questions
Jade Plant — Crassula ovata
A woody trunk forms with age; prune in spring to shape.
Care at a glance: light: lots of bright light and some direct sun for the best colour; water deeply every ~21 days (far less in winter); a gritty, free-draining succulent mix; happiest around 50-80F; propagate by a single leaf laid on dry soil or a stem cutting left to callus then rooted; keep it away from cats and dogs.
Quick facts
Light: lots of bright light and some direct sun for the best colour.
Water: deeply every ~21 days, far less in winter.
Temperature: 50-80F (10-27C).
Humidity: dry air is fine.
Soil: a gritty, free-draining succulent mix.
Propagate: a single leaf laid on dry soil or a stem cutting left to callus then rooted.
Pet: keep away from cats and dogs.
In parts of Asia it is given as a housewarming gift for prosperity.
Spiderwort Jade — Crassula aragonensis
Boxy blue leaves blush red in strong light.
Care at a glance: light: lots of bright light and some direct sun for the best colour; water deeply every ~16 days (far less in winter); a gritty, free-draining succulent mix; happiest around 50-82F; propagate by a single leaf laid on dry soil or a stem cutting left to callus then rooted; keep it away from cats and dogs.
Quick facts
Light: lots of bright light and some direct sun for the best colour.
Water: deeply every ~16 days, far less in winter.
Temperature: 50-82F (10-28C).
Humidity: dry air is fine.
Soil: a gritty, free-draining succulent mix.
Propagate: a single leaf laid on dry soil or a stem cutting left to callus then rooted.
Pet: keep away from cats and dogs.
It forms a tidy little shrublet without pruning.
String of Buttons — Crassula perforata
Stacked coin-like leaves on a trailing stem; bright indirect keeps it compact.
Care at a glance: light: bright indirect light, with a little gentle morning or evening sun; water deeply every ~16 days (far less in winter); a gritty, free-draining succulent mix; happiest around 55-82F; propagate by a stem cutting left to callus then rooted; keep it away from cats and dogs.
Quick facts
Light: bright indirect light, with a little gentle morning or evening sun.
Water: deeply every ~16 days, far less in winter.
Temperature: 55-82F (13-28C).
Humidity: average home humidity is fine.
Soil: a gritty, free-draining succulent mix.
Propagate: a stem cutting left to callus then rooted.
Pet: keep away from cats and dogs.
It is a close cousin of the more common String of Hearts.
Watch Chain — Crassula muscosa
Tiny interlocking leaves love bright, airy spots -- not stuffy corners.
Care at a glance: light: bright indirect light, with a little gentle morning or evening sun; water deeply every ~14 days (far less in winter); a gritty, free-draining succulent mix; happiest around 50-80F; propagate by a stem cutting left to callus then rooted or a single leaf laid on dry soil; keep it away from cats and dogs.
Quick facts
Light: bright indirect light, with a little gentle morning or evening sun.
Water: deeply every ~14 days, far less in winter.
Temperature: 50-80F (10-27C).
Humidity: dry air is fine.
Soil: a gritty, free-draining succulent mix.
Propagate: a stem cutting left to callus then rooted or a single leaf laid on dry soil.
Pet: keep away from cats and dogs.
Each segment looks like a miniature ladder.
General Care Principles
No matter the species in this handbook, a handful of principles carry most of the weight. Get these right and the individual notes above become fine-tuning.
Match the plant to the light: sun-lovers go in the brightest window or under a grow light; shade-lovers go in east or north light. Wrong light is the single most common cause of failure.
Water on the plant's schedule, not the calendar. Soak thoroughly, then let the soil dry before the next drink. In winter, ease right off — most of these plants want a cool, dry rest.
Use the right soil and a draining pot. Free-draining for succulents, moisture-retentive but aerated for ferns and foliage. A drainage hole is non-negotiable.
Propagate to multiply. Almost every plant here can be cloned from a leaf, offset, division, or cutting — see each species for its best method.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I really water?
Forget frequent sips. Soak the soil completely, then let it dry out fully before the next drink. In winter most of these plants want a long, dry rest. The lift test (light pot = dry) beats any calendar.
My plant is stretching and pale — what does that mean?
It wants more light. Move it to a brighter window or add a full-spectrum LED grow light. New growth will be compact and colourful; the stretched part will not undo itself, so behead and re-root the top if you like.
What soil should I use?
A free-draining mix is non-negotiable. For succulents that means gritty, sandy soil in a pot with a real drainage hole. For leafy types a peat-free houseplant mix is fine. Sitting in wet soil is the fastest route to rot.
Is this plant safe around my pets?
We note pet safety per species in this guide. 'Pet-safe' means it is not on the usual toxic lists, but no plant is food — keep curious cats and dogs from chewing leaves, and call a vet if you are worried.