🌱 Morphology
   A beautiful miniature... A slow-growing horticultural hybrid, very compact and architectural in appearance. It forms erect columns approximately 10–20 cm tall and about 3–4 cm wide, which can branch from the base and form small clusters. The leaves are fleshy, very densely imbricated, opposite and decussate, with an approximately quadrangular cross-section. They are wide, triangular to cordate, grayish-green to silvery gray, and have a fine surface pruinose coating. Each pair of leaves is arranged perpendicular to the previous one, forming the characteristic column with a square cross-section, resembling a small pagoda. There are also specimens with columns with five or six angles.

🌍 Distribution, habitat and family
Family Crassulaceae. It does not exist in the wild: it is a horticultural hybrid exclusively created in California by Myron Kimnach in 1959 by crossing Crassula perfoliata var. minor (formerly var. falcata) × Crassula pyramidalis. Its two parents are South African and come from the dry and rocky environments of the Cape regions, but ‘Buddha’s Temple’ does not have its own natural distribution.

❄️ Temperature
USDA Zone 9b  It grows best at moderate temperatures and with good ventilation. It can withstand occasional dips close to 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 moisture.

☀️ Lighting
Very intense lighting is recommended, with a target of 15–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR during the growing period. Insufficient lighting causes the leaves to separate and the columns to lose their characteristic compact and geometric structure. The specimen must be gradually acclimated to direct sunlight to avoid damage to the leaves, especially during episodes of intense sun and very high temperatures.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Opportunistic. As it is a hybrid of two species with different ecological responses, a rigid dormancy 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 evenly and let the substrate dry out completely before watering again. During periods of extreme heat or when temperatures are low, watering should be spaced out considerably, avoiding keeping moisture around the roots.

🌸 Flowering
The flowers appear clustered in a compact terminal inflorescence on the columns. The buds may show reddish tones and the small flowers, with a star-like appearance, are pale pink to almost white. In cultivation, it can flower during the warm period, although the season may vary depending on environmental conditions. Flowering can occur on mature columns and it should be avoided to keep the substrate continuously moist during this process.

🌿 Nutrition
It is recommended to use Desert CHOICE® Succulents during the active growing period. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering, following the indicated doses to promote balanced flowering without stimulating excessively soft growth.

This is an inimitable xerophyte cultivated in Madrid in a technological square pot and with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

📏 Gourmet xerophyte in a 7x7 cm pot.

* Since 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 can also vary slightly, because, it is a living being! Each of the plants at Desert CITY has unique characteristics.