Variety Introduction to the Succulent Plant Crassula 'Tengu's Dance'

Crassula 'Tengu's Dance' belongs to the Crassulaceae family and is a succulent plant of the genus Crassula. Crassula 'Tengu's Dance' is native to Mexico and is now cultivated in many places around the world. Crassula 'Tengu's Dance' is cold-tolerant, drought-tolerant, and not tolerant of wet conditions. It is a perennial succulent herbaceous plant with a clumping growth habit, having fine small branches and fleshy stems; over time the stems gradually become semi-woody. The leaves of Crassula 'Tengu's Dance' are somewhat thin, green in color, with brownish-red leaf margins; in late autumn and early spring, when the temperature difference is large, the reddish-brown color becomes especially pronounced. The leaves of Crassula 'Tengu's Dance' are decussate-opposite with no petioles, connected at the base, with new leaves stacked alternately above and below, and mature leaves having slight spacing between them. The flowers are white, blooming in April to May.

Crassula 'Tengu's Dance'

Propagation method:

Take cuttings during the growing season. Before cuttings, let the cuttings dry slightly for 1 to 2 days. After planting, protect them from rain and keep them slightly moist; they root very easily.

Propagation of Crassula 'Tengu's Dance' is generally done by beheading. Take healthy branches with growing points and cut them into sections about 3 to 5 cm tall, let the wounds dry, then insert them as cuttings. You can also insert them directly into dry gritty soil and give a small amount of water after a few days. It is a very easy variety to propagate, and many small roots tend to grow between the leaves. When it meets suitable soil, it will firmly anchor its roots in the soil. Another advantage of beheading propagation is that it allows the mother plant to develop a better shape. Interested growers can give it a try. After beheading, new growing points will sprout again at the cut site, and some will sprout 2 branches.

Crassula 'Tengu's Dance'

Management and care:

It has the habit of growing in cool seasons and going dormant during high summer temperatures. From September each year to June of the following year is the plant's growing period (depending on the grower's environment, the growing period may be longer or shorter). If light is insufficient, the plant will become leggy, the vertical distance between leaves will lengthen, making the plant shape loose and the stems very fragile, and the reddish-brown leaf margins will also fade and turn green; whereas plants grown in a spot with ample sunlight have a short, sturdy shape and more compact spacing between stem nodes. During the growing period, keep the soil moist and avoid waterlogging. For soil, use coal cinder mixed with peat and a small amount of perlite, in a ratio of roughly 5:4:1, with small stones laid on the soil surface. Crassula 'Tengu's Dance' can tolerate low temperatures of around minus 2°C, which refers to indoor temperatures, not outdoors; at any lower temperature, the growing points at the tips of the leaves will suffer frost damage, dry up and die, and new side branches will sprout again from the withered area the following year. Basically cut off water throughout winter, and begin gradually cutting off water below 5 degrees. During high summer temperatures, the entire plant grows slowly or stops completely; at this time, ensure good ventilation and appropriate shading, avoid exposure to strong sun, moderate watering, and do not let it be rained on for long periods, so as to prevent the plant from rotting. During cultivation, Crassula 'Tengu's Dance' needs frequent pruning to cut away overly messy branches and maintain a beautiful plant shape. It is one of the faster-growing Crassula varieties.

Crassula 'Tengu's Dance'