Crassula muscosa  (Watch Chain Plant / Zipper Plant / Lizard's Tail)

Description

Crassula muscosa is a low-growing unique succulent with small, overlapping scale-like leaves tightly wound around a central stem in 4 even rows that resemble a zipped or braided chain. These unique qualities have resulted in names such as Watch Chain Plant, Zipper Plant, Lizards Tail and Princess Pine although it’s not even closely related to pine trees. Plants initially stand erect and begin to sprawl or trail as they extend and branch forming a matted or mounded clump of vivid green, worm-like foliage unlike most other succulents.

Crassula muscosa is perfect in a terrarium or shallow pot on a sunny window sill or in a succulent bowl, a miniature “witches’ broom” plant providing a welcome textural contrast to nearby smooth or rounded rosettes. Because of their small size and slow growth, they can be effectively used in miniature gardens and dishscapes. They’ll accept bright indirect light and some direct morning sun and are also forgiving when you neglect them, as they store water in their stems and leaves. Tiny,pale,yellow-green flowers sometimes appear in groups along the stems, more of interest to collectors than anything else.

Cool plant for a succulent collection, with its distinctive chain like pattern this will create an eye-catching display against more round rosetted plants like graptosedums and echeverias.

Key Features

• Closely packed leaves that are layered like scales, a series that zig-zags down each stem like a chain or zipper. 
• A green, textural plant not quite resembling other succulents forming rosettes. 
• Will grow upwards for a time then sprawl/trail over the edge of the pot as it ages.
• With water storing, fleshy, thick leaves, this is quite drought resistant.
• Compact, slow growing - good for small pots, bowls, and even terrariums! 
• Bright indirect light is preferred but tolerates a couple of hours of morning direct sun.
• Easily propagated from a cutting.

Care at a Glance

Product Specifications

What's in the Box

• 1 × Live Crassula muscosa plant
• 1 × Nursery pot (Bare-rooted / Pot: Optional)
• Well-draining succulent potting mix
• Care guide

Important Notes

• Expect a degree of variation in stem length, branching and leaf colour from plant to plant. 
• It is a mildly toxic plant to pets if eaten, so keep away from pets that tend to nibble on plants.
• It’s natural for the plant to experience some softening in leaves or slight wilting after transport - let your plant rest for a week or two then water normally.
• Over-watering must be avoided, as should keeping the pot constantly in moist soil as succulent roots rot in these circumstances.
• Sudden direct sunlight after being inside for a while might bring sunburn spots. Try to expose the plant slowly to the direct sunlight.
• Winter or the darker times of the year noticeably slows growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are my Crassula muscosa’s brown, shriveled, and dry lower stems a sign of a problem?

A: Crassula muscosa stems naturally begin to brown, shrivel and die as they age, especially at the bottom, which is nothing to worry about and it is a part of their growth cycle. When new shoots are also beginning to wither then ensure that the plant is being properly watered at a more deeper level.

Q: What is the quantity of water I need to water this succulent? 

A: You simply wait until the soil has completely dried, water through very thoroughly till water comes out of the pot from below. The quantity comes to once in a week or two in our standard Indian condition (much less in humid, cool climate).

Q: Can Crassula muscosa be grown indoors? 

A: Very well on a bright sunny windowsill indoors with direct/indirect light, outdoors from time to time for a few hours in soft morning light if you wish. Avoid afternoon sun.

Q: How fast does it grow and does it require support? 

A: Moderately slow growing. Stems at first grow vertically but then as they lengthen they will spill out over the sides, if you're going for a neater, more compact appearance then staking tall stems up and out from the edges of shallow bowls works well.

Q: Are there pets who can eat Crassula muscosa?

Q: Members of the Crassula genus are not so good for pets, when pets swallow or chew them, will bring up vomiting or nausea, should not near the Crassula genus..

Q: How do I repot or propagate this succulent?

A: Repot it every one to two years when the stems have started to out grow the plant. I use a new bag of well draining succulent mix every time i repot the succulent. Take the plant stem that’s about a few centimeters and cut it off. Leave it for one or two days to dry off (where you cut) and put it in moist succulent soil.