The Crassula tetragona, also called ‘miniature pine trees,’ are easy to care for and propagate, like many other succulent types. It will grow healthy when provided with essential care, but a little bit more of your attention can help this ‘miniature pine tree’ flourish.
Crassula tetragona thrives off bright, warm days and cool nights with well-draining soil. These ‘miniature pine trees’ are drought-tolerant and only need water when the soil feels dry. However, they are prone to root rot with overwatering. They’re easy to propagate by stem and leaf cuttings.
Adding ‘miniature pines’ to your landscaping or indoor decor can create a stunning appeal, provided these plants are in ideal conditions that allow them to flourish. This article will discuss caring for the Crassula tetragona, what conditions they need to thrive, and how to propagate them.
Crassula tetragona ‘Miniature Pine Trees’ Care Guide
The Crassula tetragona, also called ‘miniature pine tree,’ is a small, tree-like succulent native to South Africa. This plant is quite similar to its relative, the Jade Plant, as it grows from a woody caudex (Latin for “tree trunk”).
Being native to South Africa, this succulent enjoys humidity levels of around 50% and thrives in warmer climates. It’s also drought-tolerant and does not require much water or care, as with many other succulent types. Crassula tetragona is hardy to USDA zone 10 and will grow well outdoors if you’re in USDA zones 9-11.
Crassula tetragona can tolerate lower temperatures, around 32°F (0°C), but only for short periods. So, it’s best to protect it when temperatures drop below 50°F (10°C).
Even though the Crassula tetragona is easy to grow and doesn’t require much attention, there’s still primary care you need to provide, and a little extra will help it flourish. Proper light, water, and soil conditions will keep your ‘miniature pine tree’ happy and healthy while growing.
The following are the preferred conditions for your Crassula tetragona:
- Sunlight: This plant needs bright, indirect sunlight to prevent scorching of the leaves.
- Water: It needs occasional watering, sometimes more frequently during the summer growing season. Allow the soil to dry between waterings because succulents are prone to root rot from saturated soil conditions. Check the soil a few times a week by poking your finger through the soil to see if the plant needs watering.
- Soil: Crassula tetragona prefers shallow potting soil or a sandy mix. You may also use a cactus or succulent potting mix for the best results.
- Fertilize: Fertilize your plant every 1-2 weeks during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer diluted to half strength.
- Pests and diseases: You must frequently check for signs of pests and diseases because ‘miniature pines’ are susceptible to mealy bugs and fungal diseases.
- Pruning: It’s best done during the spring when the hours of sunlight increase. Pruning encourages new growth in the place where you trimmed, and it’s an excellent way to keep your tree healthy.
- Propagation: As with many other succulent plants, the Crassula tetragona is simple to propagate and can be accomplished with leaves or stem cuttings. You can use the clippings from pruning or leaves knocked off.
‘Miniature Pines’ Love Bright, Indirect Sunlight
Sunlight is vital for plants to complete photosynthesis and survive, but each plant has different preferences when it comes to sunshine.
Crassula tetragonas love their environment to be bright without direct sunlight, which can cause scorching of their leaves. You should provide approximately 4 to 6 hours of light per day for them to flourish and grow. Placing them close to a window with the longest daylight hours is ideal.
If you’re planning to keep your ‘miniature pine’ outside, ensure it doesn’t get direct sunlight. Place it on a covered porch or under a tree to receive dappled light, which is sunlight filtered through tree branches and leaves.
Water Crassula tetragona When Needed, Avoid Overwatering
Crassula tetragona should be watered whenever the top inch or two (2.5 to 5 centimeters) of soil feels dry.
Overwatering is one of the most common reasons why Crassula tetragonas die, so it’s important to water only when the soil feels dry. However, you shouldn’t let the soil dry out completely between waterings.
Typically, ‘miniature pine trees’ should be watered once a week in the spring and summer when the plant is actively growing. Watering can be reduced to once every two weeks during the fall and winter months.
Don’t Rely on a Watering “Schedule”
Plants need more water during the growing season and less water during dormancy. So, you need to check your plant regularly to ensure the soil doesn’t become too dry. And a simple way to check the soil is to poke your pinky finger in the soil to check for moistness.
If the soil isn’t moist, you’ll need to water it. On the other hand, if the soil is bone-dry, you should use the bottom-watering method to allow the soil to absorb the water naturally.
When soil becomes bone-dry, it becomes hydrophobic. A “waxy” substance forms on the soil’s surface and repels water when top-watering. The water beads off the soil surface too fast and does not absorb.
When bottom-watering, the plant is placed in a tray or saucer of water and allowed to soak the water needed to satisfy its thirst, which typically takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
Benefits of the Bottom-Watering Method
The following are the benefits of bottom-watering your Crassula tetragona and other plants:
- Consistent watering: There’s even water distribution to the plant without waterlogging the soil.
- Super easy: All you need to do is place your pots in a tray or saucer of water and remove them when the plants absorb the water. The entire process can be done within 10 to 15 minutes.
- Reduces over or under-watering: The soil and plant roots only absorb what they need to keep a healthy system.
- Fewer bugs: Top-watering creates a moist environment from the top layer of soil, which is favored by gnats, fruit flies, and other pests that is not only annoying but unhealthy for your plant.
Miniature Pine Trees Prefer Well-Drained Soil
The best soil mix for Crassula tetragona is equal parts of drainage amendment and potting soil. The plant will not tolerate standing water, so ensure the soil mixture drains well. Adding a layer of organic matter helps promote better drainage by improving the structure of the soil.
However, don’t add too much organic material, or the soil may become too soggy. Adding too much organic material creates denser soil with poor drainage characteristics. Choosing a soil amendment will significantly aid drainage, preventing anaerobic soil conditions. It can prevent the overgrowth of bacteria and fungus that can cause rot in the root system.
You can easily make your soil to help your trees thrive. The following is an excellent DIY soil mixture best for the Crassula tetragona:
- Use a base soil of either potting mix, succulent mix, or cactus mix.
- Use an amendment to aid in drainage properties, such as perlite, vermiculite, or sand.
- Use a ratio of 1:1 and mix the soil base and amendment equally. Or you can use another recommended ratio of 2:1:1, mixing 2 parts soil base, 1 part perlite, and 1 part sand.
- Test the soil by wetting it and squeezing it. If it crumbles and feels coarse, the mixture is suitable for your Crassula tetragona. If it’s compact and keeps a form, you’ll need to adjust the ratio and add more of the amendment.
Fertilize ‘Miniature Pine Trees’ and Replenish Nutrients
Be sure to include a weak solution of water and nutrients every 3-4 weeks to refresh what’s depleted from watering. This is especially true for potted succulents because there’s a finite amount of nutrients available in your potting soil.
When plants are grown outdoors, their roots can spread to draw nutrients from the surrounding soil further away from the plant. Potted plant roots can only extend as far as the planter wall and bottom. This dramatically limits the nutrients your ‘miniature pine’ can absorb.
If your plant doesn’t receive enough nutrients, you’ll notice it in the leaves first. They’ll show signs of discoloration, droopiness, or falling off. These signs also indicate a lack of water, so you’ll need to assess the soil’s moisture before concluding that the nutrients have been depleted.
Spring is the best time to fertilize ‘Miniature Pine Trees’ by mixing organic matter into the soil. During this season, your plants will break dormancy and begin new growth. So, it’s essential to ensure enough nutrients to feed its growing appetite.
Watch for ‘Fertilizer Burn’
Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, so be sure to watch for signs of ‘fertilizer burn’ in your Crassula tetragona. Keep an eye out for the following:
- Browning or yellowing of the leaves
- Damaged, dark brown roots that indicate root decay or rot
- Stunted or slowed growth
- No blooms forming
- Falling or limp leaves
If you notice any of these signs, and it’s not due to over or under-watering, you should leach the soil. Soil leaching gives it a good water flush to break up and drain the concentration of nutrients that have built up. You can also repot your plant in fresh soil balanced with nutrients.
Prune Your Miniature Pine Tree To Encourage Lush, Bushier Growth
Pruning keeps your plant healthy while encouraging growth. Clip the dead parts and problem areas to help shape and control the size of your plant. This is best done in the spring if it’s needed.
Pruning isn’t only for snipping away at scraggly branches and thinning out crowded growth, but it’s a great way to assess your plant’s health. Specifically, this means catching the early signs of pests and diseases that may be causing your plant to suffer. Additionally, you can also propagate those healthy clippings for growing new plants!
Get Rid of Pests on Your Crassula tetragona
Pests are common issues among those who enjoy indoor and outdoor gardening. It will always be a concern, so it’s best to know the signs and jump on them early to prevent your plants’ death.
The most problematic pests to be on the lookout for with ‘Miniature Pines’ are the following:
- Spider mites
- Aphids
- Mealybugs
- Scales
These bugs can literally suck the life of your plants, including the Crassula tetragona. These pests can be controlled chemically or organically. Many plant owners recommend neem oil or homemade insecticidal soaps to suffocate the current infestation and to keep them away.
Common Diseases or Sickness in Crassula tetragona
The leaves of your Crassula tetragona plants will tell you how healthy they are before any other part of the plant shows signs of trouble. The following are common issues this succulent tree can suffer from:
- Browning leaves: This can occur when your ‘miniature pine tree’ receives too much direct sunlight, resulting in scorched leaves. It can also happen when the plant has received too many nutrients from over-fertilizing or fertilizing too soon after repotting the plant. Fix this by moving the plant into indirect sunlight or repotting it with soil having balanced nutrients.
- Mushy brown leaves: This problem should be immediately addressed because it indicates root rot from overwatering or fungal infection. You should remove your succulent from the pot and assess the roots. If the roots aren’t entirely decayed, trim the damaged areas and repot the plant in fresh, dry soil.
- Droopy or shriveled leaves: This issue is likely due to underwatering. The plant will appear sad and droopy with deflated and shriveled leaves. Give your ‘miniature pine tree’ some water, and it will quickly bounce back.
How To Propagate Crassula tetragona
Propagation is using part of the current plant to make new plants. Some plant species can be difficult to propagate, but many succulent types propagate so easily that even a beginner can be successful. Fortunately, the Crassula tetragona is easily propagated from stem or leaf cuttings.
Propagating Stem Cuttings
To propagate Crassula tetragona from stem cuttings, follow these simple steps:
- Using sharp scissors or pruning shears, remove a stem section with at least two leaves attached.
- Allow the cutting to heal and callus for a few days before planting. This is vital because if the wound has not healed, it’s susceptible to bacterial infections and fungus from being placed on or in the soil. The injury of the cutting needs to be dry.
- Grab a small starter tray or starter pots and fill them with a well-draining soil mixture, such as the cactus pre-mix you can purchase at the store, or use the above-mentioned DIY mix.
- Place the stem cuttings on top of the soil or poke it through the soil slightly.
- Spritz the top of the soil with a water bottle to encourage root growth.
- Place your stems in an area with plenty of bright indirect sunlight for most of the day.
- Be patient. Over the next few weeks, you’ll see roots forming in the soil.
Propagating Leaf Cuttings
To propagate from leaf cuttings, follow these easy steps:
- Remove a healthy leaf from the plant with sharp scissors or pruning shears.
- Allow the leaf wound to heal and callus before planting, which takes a few days. Doing so prevents bacterial infections and fungus from being placed on or in the soil. So, be patient and let it dry.
- Fill starter trays or small pots with well-draining soil like a store-bought cactus mix.
- Lay the leaves on top of the soil.
- Using a water bottle, spritz the top layer of soil to encourage root growth from your leaf cutting.
- Place your leaf cuttings in an area of your home that receives bright indirect sunlight throughout the day.
- Patience is vital since these guys are slow growers, and it can take a couple of weeks to see a sound root system forming from where you cut the leaf.
Conclusion
The ‘miniature pine tree’ (Crassula tetragona) is part of the succulent family and isn’t as demanding as other plant species. However, you still need to provide ideal conditions, such as bright, indirect light, well-draining soil, and water when needed. Other care to provide is fertilizing and pruning.
Fertilizing your ‘miniature pine tree’ every few weeks during the growing season can provide consistent nutrients for your plant to thrive. And with all new growth, you can keep your tree looking sharp and healthy with spring pruning. Use the stem and leaf clippings from pruning to propagate and make more Crassula tetragona.