Crassula Capitella (Campfire Crassula) Care and Propagation

A succulent plant native to South Africa, the ‘Campfire Crassula’ comes from the beautiful red, orange, and yellow leaves resembling a campfire. The indigenous people have used the Crassula capitella plant to treat wounds for centuries.

The Campfire Crassula is a succulent that does well when placed in bright sunlight in well-draining soil. Water your Crassula capitella thoroughly, and allow the soil to dry before watering again. To propagate, take stem or leaf cuttings of adequate length, and plant them in moist soil.

If you’re looking for a low-maintenance plant to add to your collection, the Crassula capitella is an excellent option. In this article, we’ll go over all the care requirements for this beautiful succulent and more.

Crassula Capitella ‘Campfire Crassula’ Care Requirements: Soil, Watering, Sunlight, and More

Taking care of your Crassula capitella ‘Campfire Crassula’ is easy! This hardy evergreen can tolerate a wide range of conditions and is drought-resistant. Here are a few care tips to keep in mind.

Soil. Crassula capitella campfire thrives best in well-draining soil that allows plenty of airflow to its roots. A mix of coarse sand, pumice, and perlite combined with cactus potting soil are ideal. The perfect ratio is one part potting soil to one part mineral grit.
Watering. Water your Crassula capitella 1 to 3 times per week. Overwatering your plant will allow root rot to occur, and your plant will die. The best method to use is the ‘soak-and-dry‘ method. This method involves watering your plant until the water comes out of the drainage holes, then allowing the potting mix to dry out completely before watering it again.
Temperature and weather. The Crassula capitella does poorly in freezing conditions. If you reside somewhere where the temperature falls below 30° F (-1.1° C), or if you plan on keeping your plant outdoors, make sure it is shielded from both the cold and wind.
Sunlight. The Crassula capitella is native to southern Africa, in regions that receive a lot of sunlight. To keep your plant healthy and maintain its bright coloration, ensure it receives a good amount of full morning sunlight.

Propagating Campfire Crassula

One of the best things about Crassula capitella ‘Campfire Crassula’ is that it’s easy to propagate! If you want to create new plants, here are a few ways you can do so.

Stem Cuttings

Stem cuttings are one of the best ways to propagate the Crassula capitella.

Clean and sharpen your shears or knife.
Cut a long piece from a healthy stem – a little longer than 5 inches (12.7 cm).
Allow the end of the stem to form a callus for about a week or so.
Place the callused end of the stem in a tray with well-draining, moist soil watered in advance.
Keep the soil moist until the plant has rooted.

Leaf Cuttings

Another way to propagate Crassula capitella ‘Campfire Crassula’ is by leaf cuttings.

Cut a large leaf from the plant using a sterile knife.
Allow the leaf to develop a callus over a few days.
Next, insert the leaf into cactus potting soil and water it regularly.

In a few weeks, you should see new plants sprouting.

Repot Pups or Offsets

Like most succulents, the Crassula capitella will grow tiny versions of itself. These ‘pups’ or ‘offsets’ are young plants found at the mother plants’ base. Let the pups grow to a little more than half the size of the mother plant before removing and repotting them.

Division

You can also propagate your Crassula capitella ‘Campfire Crassula’ by division, a process by which a succulent is pulled apart and repotted to make multiple plants.

Gently remove the plant from its pot and divide it into two or three sections. Make sure each section has plenty of roots.
For sections that don’t separate, use a sharp, clean pair of gardening shears and cut through the stems and roots, minimizing the cut area.
Replant the divisions in well-draining cactus potting soil and water regularly.

Seed Germination

To propagate Crassula capitella’ Campfire Crassula’ from seed, you’ll have to be patient.

Sow the seeds in cactus potting soil.
Water the soil and place it in a warm, sunny spot.
Keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate.
Once the seedlings have sprouted, transplant them into individual pots.

Interesting Facts About the Crassula Capitella ‘Campfire Crassula’

Did you know that Crassula capitella is a perennial herb? It is a part of the Crassulaceae family and is native to Southern Africa. Here are a few interesting facts about Crassula capitella’ Campfire Crassula’.

Natural habitat: Crassula capitella ‘Campfire Crassula’ can be found across South Africa and some parts of Namibia and Botswana. The plant grows in rocky areas and is often seen on walls, cliffs, and open woodlands.
Flowers: The Crassula capitella has small white flowers blooming mid to late summer. These flowers attract bees, which help with pollination.
Foliage: Campfire Crassula’s leaves are fleshy and obovate. They are glossy green with a red margin that turns pink in the sun. The leaves are also slightly toothed at the tips.
Uses: Traditional healers have long used the Crassula capitella plant to treat wounds and promote healing. More recent studies have confirmed that the plant has healing properties and can be used for inflammatory conditions and diseases like hypertension.
Size: The Crassula capitella ‘Campfire Crassula’ can grow about 12 inches (30 cm) tall and wide.
Ecology: Crassula capitella photosynthesizes using a system called Crassulacean Acid Metabolism or CAM. These plants open their stomata at night to minimize water loss from evaporation and perform photosynthesis. This adaptation allows them to live in arid regions that experience droughts regularly.

5 Tips on How to Avoid Accidentally Killing Your Succulents

Growing succulents like the Campfire Crassula does not have to be complicated. However, you should know a few things to prevent killing your plants. With a little bit of care and attention, your succulents will thrive.

Do not overwater your plants. Overwatering is one mistake most new succulent owners make. Succulents store water in their leaves, so they don’t need to be watered as often as other plants. Overwatering can cause the leaves or the roots to rot and the plant to die. Only water your succulents when the soil is dry to the touch.
Do not place young plants in direct sunlight. Succulents need sunlight to grow, but too much sunlight can be damaging if your plants are young or newly propagated and still rooting. Too much direct sunlight can cause the leaves to turn yellow or brown and eventually die. Additionally, morning sunlight is much better for your succulents than afternoon sunlight.
Don’t overlook the importance of plant food. Succulents like the Crassula capitella don’t typically need additional food. However, nutrient supplementation can become important if they’re not in their natural environment. By fertilizing in the growing season, you help your plants stay healthy. Use a cactus or succulent fertilizer – you’ll only need one drop of food per gallon of water.
Remember to repot your plants. Succulents need room to grow. Repotting every one to two years is necessary to give your plants fresh soil and growing space. When repotting, use a pot that is only one size larger than the current pot.
Pay attention to signs of stress. Succulents are tough plants, but they can still experience stress. If you notice the leaves of your plant turning yellow, brown, or soft, this is a sign that something is wrong. Take a look at your watering and light habits to see if anything needs to be changed. Also, check the roots to see if they are rotted. If you see any signs of stress, take action immediately to save your plant.

Crassula Capitella FAQs

Is Crassula capitella an Indoor Plant?

Crassula capitella is an outdoor plant, but you can keep it indoors with enough light. Place it in an east-facing window with plenty of morning sunlight. The plant might remain green and lose its bright red edges in insufficient sunlight, losing its distinctive ‘campfire’ look.

Is Crassula Campfire Toxic?

Crassula campfire is non-toxic to humans and animals. In fact, the succulent possesses healing properties and can be used to treat wounds. Traditional South African healers believe the plant is also a good luck charm.

Final Thoughts

The Crassula capitella’ Campfire Crassula’ is truly one-of-a-kind and deserves a place in any succulent lover’s collection.

With some care, your Crassula capitella ‘Campfire Crassula’ will thrive. Just remember to provide plenty of sunlight, water when the soil is dry and fertilize in the growing season. To propagate, grab a cutting of the stem, leaf, or one of the pups and plant it in a tray of moist, well-draining soil. You can also propagate the plant through division or grow a new one from seed.