Crassula ovata 'Minor' | Jade plant bonsai
€21,20
🌱 Morphology
Jade tree · Jade plant. A shrubby, perennial, and highly branched succulent that can reach approximately 1–2.5 m in mature specimens. It develops a thick, woody trunk with a twisted appearance and gray bark that peels off in brownish horizontal bands with age. The branches are succulent, robust, and can also become lignified.
The leaves are opposite and decussate, forming pairs perpendicular to each other, generally sessile or with a very short petiole. They are fleshy, green, shiny, elliptical to obovate in shape, with a narrowed base and an acute or slightly mucronate apex. A narrow reddish hue on the margins is frequent, especially with intense lighting and some water limitation. This clone has smaller leaves, which makes it suitable for cultivation as a succulent bonsai.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Family Crassulaceae. It is a species endemic to South Africa, distributed mainly throughout the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. It inhabits rocky slopes, outcrops, and protected ravines, forming part of scrub communities, Albany Thicket, savannas, and other subtropical and semi-arid vegetation formations. It is found from approximately 50 to 1800 m in altitude.
In nature, it usually grows in places with good drainage, where the roots can access rainwater but the soil does not remain saturated.
❄️ Temperature
USDA Zone 9b–11b. It tolerates relatively low temperatures when dry and well-acclimated, but it must be protected from intense frosts and, especially, from the combination of cold and moist substrate. Cold tolerance also depends on water status, acclimatization, and the duration of the episode. It tolerates minimum temperatures of -5°C.
☀️ Lighting
Intense lighting is recommended, with a target of 15–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR during the growth period. High light availability promotes compact growth, thicker leaves, and the reddish coloration of the margins.
Specimens grown in low light should be gradually acclimated to direct sun to avoid burning.
💧 Growth cycle and irrigation
Summer dormancy. It is an adaptable species, but in cultivation, it responds especially well to a cycle of activity during seasons with moderate temperatures, reducing its activity when temperatures are extreme.
During the active period, it is recommended to perform abundant watering and allow the substrate to dry completely before watering again. It is not advisable to apply small amounts of water frequently, as constant moisture promotes root problems.
In cold periods with low vegetative activity, watering should be considerably reduced. The species exhibits high drought tolerance and can withstand prolonged periods without water.
🌸 Flowering
Flowering occurs mainly from late autumn through winter and into early spring, depending on cultivation conditions. In Madrid, it is recorded mainly between December and February.
The flowers appear grouped in rounded terminal inflorescences, forming numerous clusters. They are small but abundant, star-shaped, white or pinkish-white, with purple anthers. In well-lit specimens, they can form true floral masses and emit a light sweet fragrance.
🌿 Nutrition
During the growth period, Desert CHOICE® Succulents is recommended, applying it after the plant has clearly resumed its vegetative activity. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering to promote the formation of inflorescences.
Do not fertilize during dormant periods or when the plant is subjected to extreme temperatures.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot and with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi.
📏 The sizes of our basic collection xerophytes are as follows:
S -> 9cm x 9cm
M -> 14cm x 14cm
L -> 16cm x 16cm
* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the sent specimen may vary slightly from the product image. The plant measurements are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly, because, it is a living being! Each of the Desert CITY plants has unique characteristics.
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