Crassula ‘Candy Cane’ is a popular succulent known for its distinctive appearance and relatively straightforward care. Its attractive stacked foliage, often featuring vibrant red edges, makes it a sought-after houseplant.
Understanding Your Crassula Candy Cane
The Crassula ‘Candy Cane’, also known as Crassula rubricaulis ‘Candy Cane’, is a cultivar appreciated for its tricolored leaves. This succulent features a wide central stripe on its leaves, flanked by yellow stripes and reddish edges. The leaves are arranged in a stacked, four-angled rosette pattern.
This succulent shrublet can grow up to 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide. The “candy cane” coloration, particularly the blushing rose or red edges, becomes more pronounced under bright light or when the plant experiences some stress. While its flowers are small and star-shaped, appearing in clusters during the summer, the plant’s primary appeal lies in its striking foliage.
Crassula Candy Cane Care
Light
Crassula ‘Candy Cane’ thrives in bright light. For optimal growth and to enhance its characteristic red coloration, providing full sun to partial shade is recommended. Intense afternoon sun, especially during summer, can cause leaf burn. Indoor plants benefit from at least six hours of direct sunlight, ideally from a window that receives morning sun and afternoon shade. Insufficient light can lead to leggy growth and duller leaf colors.
Watering
Proper watering is important for succulents like Crassula ‘Candy Cane’ to prevent root rot. Use the “soak and dry” method, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings. When watering, thoroughly soak the soil until water drains from the bottom of the pot. Watering frequency should be reduced in autumn and winter, as the plant’s growth slows. During the spring and summer growing season, watering every 2-3 days might be appropriate, but always check soil dryness first.
Soil and Potting
Well-draining soil is important for Crassula ‘Candy Cane’ to prevent waterlogging. A commercial succulent or cactus potting mix is suitable, or you can create your own by adding mineral grit such as perlite, pumice, or coarse sand to regular potting soil. This helps ensure the necessary porosity and drainage. Pots should always have drainage holes to allow excess water to escape. Ceramic pots are often recommended due to their permeability.
Temperature and Humidity
Crassula ‘Candy Cane’ prefers average room temperatures, ideally ranging from 64-77°F (18-25°C). It tolerates drier indoor air, making it well-suited for most home environments. Keep the plant from temperatures below 12°C (53.6°F) in winter. Extreme temperature fluctuations and cold drafts should be avoided. High humidity is not required and can sometimes be detrimental.
Fertilizing
Crassula ‘Candy Cane’ does not require frequent fertilization. If you choose to fertilize, do so during the active growing season in spring and summer. Apply a balanced, diluted liquid fertilizer once during this period, using half the recommended dosage. Fertilizing is not necessary in autumn and winter when the plant is dormant.
Propagating Crassula Candy Cane
Propagating Crassula ‘Candy Cane’ is a straightforward process, commonly done through stem or leaf cuttings. To take a stem cutting, select a healthy stem segment and cut it cleanly. For leaf cuttings, gently twist a healthy leaf from the stem, ensuring the entire leaf, including its base, is intact.
After taking cuttings, allow them to dry and form a callus over the cut end for a few days to a week. This callusing step is important for preventing rot when the cutting is planted. Once callused, plant the stem cutting into well-draining succulent soil, burying the cut end. For leaf cuttings, lay the callused leaf on top of the soil, ensuring the cut end has good contact. Keep the soil lightly moist, but not waterlogged, and place the cuttings in bright, indirect light. Roots typically form within a month.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If Crassula ‘Candy Cane’ begins to stretch or grow “leggy,” with increased space between leaves, it often indicates insufficient light. Moving the plant to a brighter location with more direct sun can help correct this and encourage more compact growth. If the leaves start to turn yellow or become mushy, this is a common sign of overwatering or poor drainage, which can lead to root rot. Allowing the soil to dry completely between waterings and ensuring adequate drainage is important.
Shriveled or wrinkled leaves often suggest underwatering. A thorough watering after the soil has completely dried out should help plump up the leaves. Pests such as mealybugs, aphids, and spider mites can occasionally affect Crassula ‘Candy Cane’. Mealybugs appear as small, white, cottony masses, while aphids are tiny, soft-bodied insects often found on new growth. Spider mites create fine webbing and can cause leaf discoloration.