Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’ (Crassula Campfire): Growing and Care Guide

Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’ is an evergreen succulent plant and a famous selected form of Crassula capitella. Known for its thick, rosy-colored leaves and small white flowers, this is a very easy plant to grow in your kitchen or garden.

Crassula Campfire care is simple; read on for an in-depth guide.

About Crassula Campfire

Crassula capitella ‘Campfire,’ commonly known as Crassula Campfire, is an attractive crassula with a distinctive red/orange color, and it will be best displayed by growing in a pot.

Unlike Crassula capitella, its growth habit is shrub-like and clumping instead of Pagoda-forming. However, its gorgeous leaves make up for that fact.

These oblong, propeller-like leaves form clusters around the stems and can sometimes stack on top of each other, forming a unique clumping effect.

The leaves are green but can easily turn a deep shade of red if stressed under direct sunlight or cool weather. Attractive when not blooming, the foliage serves as the main attraction.

Botanical Name	Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’
Common Name	Crassula Campfire
Family	Crassulaceae
Plant Type	Succulent
Origin	Garden Origin
Maintenance	Low
Height	up to 6 inches
Width	up to 36 inches
Light	Full sun, Partial shade
Bloom season	Summer
Bloom color	White
Water needs	Low
Soil	Well-Drained, Loamy, Sandy
Tolerant	Deer, Drought
Toxicity	Toxic
Hardiness (USDA)	9-12

Crassula Campfire Care

Crassula campfire is a great beginner succulent. It has low water and light requirements, making it ideal for people who are new to succulents or just don’t have much time to care for them.

Light

Crassula campfire will thrive in bright, indirect sunlight. It can also tolerate low light conditions but will not look as attractive.

To get the most color out of this succulent, i.e., turning its leaves bright red, place it in the path of direct sunlight and watch the magic happen.

Soil

Crassula campfire prefers well-drained, slightly alkaline soil. A succulent/cactus mix will work best in this case.

Water

Crassula campfire is drought-tolerant, but that doesn’t mean it should not be watered. It will need at least a good soaking once every couple of weeks during the growing season, more often if there hasn’t been any rain in your area.

Avoid overwatering to prevent the risk of root rot.

Temperature and Humidity

Crassula campfire is a succulent, so it will thrive in warm temperatures. The ideal range for this plant is between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit (16–29 degrees Celsius). It can tolerate both low and high light levels but needs a somewhat dry environment to stay healthy.

Fertilizer

Crassula campfire is not a high-maintenance plant and doesn’t require any fertilizer. If you want to give it a boost, though, use a water-soluble balanced fertilizer once every two months during the growing season.

Pruning

Crassula campfire is a slow-growing plant that doesn’t need much pruning. However, you can do some light trimming during the growing season to encourage new growth and keep your plant healthy. Remove any dead leaves or browning stems with pruning shears.

Potting and Repotting Crassula Campfire

Crassula campfire is a relatively small succulent that doesn’t need much space in its pot. When the plant is just starting to outgrow its container, repot it into a container one size larger.

Try to repot during the fall to avoid the summer dormancy period.

Prepare

How to Repot (Step-by-Step)

1. Remove the plant from its current container by loosening the soil with your fingers, then gently pulling it out.
2. Fill the bottom of your new pot with coarse sand or perlite to promote drainage.
3. Add potting soil over the top of this layer of pebbles and place your crassula campfire where you want it to grow.
4. Plant your Crassula in the new pot.
5. Water thoroughly and allow it to drain quickly.

Propagating Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’ by Offsets (Step-by-Step)

The easiest way to multiply your Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’ is by rooting offshoots. Offsets are miniature plants that grow alongside the main parent plant and have their own root system. They can be divided from the parent plant and planted individually.

1. Separate the offsets from the parent plant. You can do this with pruning shears.
2. Allow the offset to dry out for a couple of days before you begin propagating it.
3. When it’s ready, place it in a container filled with a well-draining soil mixture and allow the top of the rootball to sit above the surface by about 1/2 inch (1 cm).
4. Water thoroughly and drain completely before placing your new Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’ in an area with bright indirect light.

Propagating Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’ by Cuttings (Step-by-Step)

Cuttings are also a viable method for propagating these succulents, albeit much slower.

1. Cut a stem from your Crassula Campfire plant. Make sure it has at least two sets of leaves on it.
2. Allow the cutting to heal and callus over for about a week.
3. Fill in a new pot with well-draining potting soil and plant the cutting inside.
4. Wait for the cutting to take root and transplant it into a larger pot when firmly rooted.

Blooms

Crassula Campfire produces small, star-shaped, white flowers in the summer. They are usually white in color.

Toxicity

Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’ is toxic. It is considered toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Keep away from pets and children.

NOTE: This page is not intended as a substitute for veterinary advice. The toxicity of an ingested substance varies depending on the amount ingested, the animal’s weight, and its sensitivity to specific allergens. Contact your veterinarian or local animal poison control center immediately if you think your pet may have ingested a toxic substance.

Common Pests

Mealybugs

Mealybugs are small, soft-bodied insects that suck the sap from plants. They leave a sticky, white residue on leaves and stems. You can control mealybugs by spraying with an insecticide or horticultural oil solution and removing infested leaves.

Vine Weevil

The vine weevil is a small, yellowish-brown beetle that chews through the leaves and stems of these plants. It causes damage by chewing holes in the leaves. This results in wilted or curled leaves that eventually fall off. The larvae are white grubs with brown heads that feed on roots. They can be seen when pulling up plants that they have infested.

Aphids

Aphids are small, pear-shaped insects that can be either green or black in color. They have a pair of cornicles on their rear ends. Aphids feed by sucking the sap from this Crassula, which causes leaves to curl up and become discolored. If you find aphid infestations on your Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’ plants, use a mild insecticide to get rid of them.

Common Problems

FAQ