Crassula 'Buddha's Temple' | Buddha's Temple
€15,90
🌱 Morphology
A slow-growing, very compact, and architecturally aesthetic horticultural hybrid. It forms erect columns approximately 10–20 cm tall and about 3–4 cm wide, which may branch from the base to form small clusters. The leaves are fleshy, very densely imbricate, opposite, and decussate, with an approximately quadrangular cross-section. They are broad, triangular to cordate, grey-green to silvery-grey in color, and feature a fine surface pruina. Each pair of leaves is arranged perpendicular to the previous one, forming the characteristic square-sectioned column, resembling a small pagoda. Specimens with five or six-angled columns also exist.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Family Crassulaceae. It does not exist in the wild: it is an exclusively horticultural hybrid created in California by Myron Kimnach in 1959 through the cross of Crassula perfoliata var. minor (formerly var. falcata) × Crassula pyramidalis. Its two parents are South African and come from dry, rocky environments in the Cape regions, but ‘Buddha’s Temple’ does not have a natural distribution of its own.
❄️ Temperature
USDA Zone 9b–11b. It performs best with moderate temperatures and good ventilation. It can withstand occasional drops near the limits of its zone when the substrate remains completely dry, but it must be protected from persistent frosts and, especially, from the combination of cold and humidity.
☀️ Lighting
Very intense lighting is recommended, with a target of 15–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR during the growth period. Insufficient lighting causes the leaves to separate and the columns to lose their characteristic compact and geometric structure. The specimen must be progressively acclimatized to direct sunlight to avoid leaf damage, especially during episodes of high solar radiation and very high temperatures.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Opportunistic. As a hybrid of two species with different ecological responses, a rigid dormant schedule should not be assigned. Growth is usually more favorable during periods of mild temperatures, while intense heat can cause a summer slowdown. During the active phase, it is recommended to water abundantly and uniformly, and to let the substrate dry out completely before watering again. During periods of extreme heat or when temperatures are low, waterings should be spaced out significantly, avoiding keeping moisture around the roots.
🌸 Flowering
The flowers appear grouped in a compact terminal inflorescence on the columns. The buds may show reddish tones, and the small, star-shaped flowers are pale pink to almost white. In cultivation, it can bloom during the warm period, although the timing may vary depending on environmental conditions. Flowering can occur on mature columns, and keeping the substrate continuously moist during this process should be avoided.
🌿 Nutrition
It is recommended to use Desert CHOICE® Succulents during the active growth period. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering, following the indicated doses to promote balanced blooming without stimulating excessively soft growth.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot, with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
📏 Gourmet xerophyte in a 7x7 cm pot.
* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the sent specimen may vary slightly from the product image. The measurements of the plant are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly because, it is a living being! Each of the plants at Desert CITY has unique characteristics.
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