Project Description
Crassula muscosa
Watch Chain, Princess Pine
This succulent has leaves that are compacted tightly around the stem. The stems of the “Watch Chain” plant grow into a small bush. It has tiny yellow-green flowers.
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Quick Look:
Full sun to partial shade
Typical water needs for a succulent
Plant grows up to 12″ (30 cm) tall
Zone 9a (Minimum 20° F | -6.7° C)
Not cold hardy
Propagation by stem cuttings
Can be toxic to animals
Summer Dormant
Also available from Leaf and Clay and Etsy.
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Care and Propagation Information
General Care for Crassula muscosa “Watch Chain”
Crassula muscosa adds great “thriller” to succulent arrangements as it grows, and then “spiller” when it begins to trail, making it perfect for hanging baskets or rock gardens.
Watering
“Watch Chain” has typical watering needs for a succulent. It’s best to use the “soak and dry” method, and allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
Note: If grown outdoors in full sun, this succulent may require more frequent watering during the summer.
Where to Plant
Since Crassula muscosa is not cold hardy, it should be brought indoors when the temperature falls below 20° F (-6.7° C).
Plant in an area of your garden that gets 6 hours of sunlight a day. If planting indoors, place in a room that gets a lot of sunlight, such as near a southern-facing window (if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere).
How to Propagate Crassula muscosa “Watch Chain”
Crassual muscosa “Watch Chain” is a prolific propagator. It is easily propagated from stem cuttings. If growing outdoors, it can be invasive, so it’s best to plant in an area where it can spread and trail.
Cuttings
To grow “Watch Chain” from cuttings, use a sterile, sharp knife or pair of scissors. Remove a stem from the main plant, and allow it to callous for several days before placing on well-draining soil. Water whenever the soil has dried out completely.
Name Origin
Crassula muscosa gets its name from the Latin word muscosus, meaning “mossy.” It is also synonymous with Crassula lycopodioides.
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What kind of soil does this plant need put in ?CRASSULA LYCOPODIOIDES . BOUGHT one doesn’t say ,and they didn’t let me know .
You’ll want to plant it in well draining soil, as discussed in this post.
My watch chain is brown half way down each stem. Green about 3/4 from the top of the plant and brown to the soil. Can I cut the brown let it callus and then replant the plant?
Yes, you should be able to replant the cuttings. Be sure to place them in well-draining soil, and water whenever the soil is dry.
Hello, I was wondering after you let a cutting callous over and then plant it in soil, how often should you water the planting and should you water it as soon as you get it in soil.
Thank you
Allow it to sit for a day or two after planting, and then water whenever the soil is completely dry. Learn more about that here!
When reading Q&A I have need for further instructions, please. I understand to water when soil is completely dry but do I water cutting directly after planting? Do I plant cuttings close together? When stalk is dried out half way up, is it ok to leave as is or will it die out completely? Mine is pretty with the exception of dried out/dead part.
You’ll want to wait to water your cuttings until they have calloused over. Then plant them, and wait a couple of days watering again. If the stalk on your succulent is dried half way up, you’ll need to cut off the dead/dried part, allow the healthy stem to callous over for a few days, and then replant.
Hi! Thank you for the great info! My watch chain was beautiful and growing well until about a month ago. I have it in a sw facing window, terra-cotta planter and fast draining soil. It’s almost dead….dried and brown half way up, drooping and even with the soak and dry watering method you recommend is declining fast. I see no pests and don’t understand why it is dying. I keep my home located in the northeastern part of the country between 68 and 70 degrees in the winter. Any thoughts on what it could be?
If it’s drying out, it sounds like it needs to be watered more frequently. This post will walk you through how to save an under-watered succulent.
Does princess pine die off after it flowers?
No, it is not monocarpic.
when you bring a succulent home from a nursery and it is planted in heavy dirt should i repot it immediately into a gritty mix after i get all the heavy soil off of it
Yes, it’s best to replant in a well-draining soil as soon as you can. The nursery soil that it comes in is not gritty enough for your succulents. Learn more about proper soil for your succulent in this post.