Brainy Gardener

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    Botrytis Blight: How to Recognize, Treat and Prevent the Gray Mold

    January 28, 2023

    Solving the Powdery Mildew Puzzle: How to Protect Your Houseplants

    January 28, 2023

    Crassula Red Pagoda: Growing And Care Guide

    January 27, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest
    Brainy Gardener
    • Home
    • Houseplants
    • Succulents and Cacti
    • Bromeliad
    • Contact
    Brainy Gardener
    Home»Succulents and Cacti»Watch Chain Plant (Crassula Muscosa) Indoor Care Guide

    Watch Chain Plant (Crassula Muscosa) Indoor Care Guide

    The Rat Tail Plant: Crassula muscosa!
    By Milo MasonJuly 27, 2022
    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email

    The Crassula muscosa is a succulent plant native to South Africa and Namibia that belongs to the family of Crassulaceae and to the genus Crassula. It is commonly called Watch Chain Plant, Rat Tail Plant, and others as a reference to its appearance. (Not to be confused with the Rat Tail Cactus, which is a different plant entirely)

    The arrangement of the leaves is their main point of interest. They are thick, green, and strap-shaped with pointed ends. They grow densely overlapped on long, thin stems that can be as tall as 20 cm. Small, yellow-green flowers form at the end of these stems.

    This plant is one of the easiest plants on earth to care for: You don’t need anything more than a sunny spot and water once every few weeks! So if you’re looking for an addition to your garden or home decorating scheme- look no further than this versatile little plant!

    IN THIS ARTICLE
    • Watch Chain Plant Main Characteristics
    • Watch Chain Plant Care
      • Light and Location
      • Watering
      • Temperature
      • Humidity
      • Fertilizer
    • Propagating Crassula muscosa
    • Potting and Repotting Crassula muscosa
    • Toxicity
    • Common Pests and Diseases
    • Watch Chain Plant: Tips for Care and Maintenance (Video)
    • FAQ

    Watch Chain Plant Main Characteristics

    Common NameWatch Chain Plant, Watch Chain Succulent, Watch-Chain Cypress, Moss Cypress, Princess Pine, Rattail Crassula, Toy Cypress
    Botanical NameCrassula muscosa
    SynonymsCrassula lycopodioides, Crassula pseudolycopodioides
    FamilyCrassulaceae
    GenusCrassula
    TypeSucculent
    Native RangeSouth Africa, Namibia
    USDA Hardiness Zones9a to 10b
    Mature Size15 to 20 cm
    Bloom TimeSpring
    FoliageEvergreen
    Propagation methodsby seeds, by cuttings
    SunFull sun to Part shade
    SoilWell-drained
    ToxicityNon-Toxic

    Watch Chain Plant Care

    If you’re looking for a low-maintenance succulent to add to your collection, the Watch Chain Plant is a great choice! We’ll discuss the basics of caring for this fascinating plant.

    Watch Chain Plant Care
    Watch chain plant care

    Light and Location

    Watch Chain Plant does best in bright light. It won’t mind a little bit of shade every now and then, but it turns leggy and weak if kept in the dark for too long. They also don’t want to be placed directly under harsh sunlight. In winter, the sunlight is milder, so there won’t be any problems, but the harsh sunlight becomes unbearable as soon as summer arrives.

    Watering

    As with most succulents, these cacti are very drought tolerant. They can go several weeks without water and still look healthy. When you do water them, make sure to give them a good soaking so that the water reaches the roots. Don’t water again until all the water is drained from the pot and the soil is completely dry.
    In winter, water even less often since the plant is dormant and doesn’t need as much moisture.

    Temperature

    These plants like it on the warm side and can’t tolerate cold temperatures. Therefore, they should be kept above 50 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. If they are exposed to frost, they may start to lose leaves.

    Humidity

    Watch Chain Plants don’t mind a little bit of humidity, but they don’t need it. They will do just fine in average household conditions.

    Fertilizer

    Fertilize your Watch Chain Plant in the spring and summer with a succulent fertilizer or a high-potassium fertilizer diluted to half strength. Don’t fertilize in the winter since the plant is dormant.

    Propagating Crassula muscosa

    Crassula muscosa is very easy to propagate from cuttings. Just take a stem cutting that has healthy, thick leaves on it. You can use a sharp instrument or twist it off with your hand; the stems are fragile and come off easily.

    Then, plant it in well-draining succulent soil and water it lightly. Mist the cutting twice a week, and the cutting should take root within a few weeks. Of course, you can also propagate from seed, but it’s much easier to take cuttings.

    Potting and Repotting Crassula muscosa

    These cacti prefer well-draining soil. You can use a succulent or cactus potting mix or make your own by mixing 1 part perlite with 1 part sand. Pick a pot with drainage holes or drill them yourself, as these succulents hate getting waterlogged. Use a clay pot for the best results, but other types of pots like ceramic or plastic can work fine as well. 

    Watch Chain Plants are not fast growers, so they won’t need to be repotted very often. Every two or three years should be fine. Check for when the roots start to come out of the drainage holes. In addition, they like to be slightly pot-bound and will do just fine in the same pot for several years. When you do repot them, do it in the springtime. Use a well-draining succulent potting mix and only move them up one pot size at a time.

    Crassula Muscosa Leaves Close Up
    Crassula muscosa leaves close up

    Toxicity

    Crassula muscosa is a non-toxic succulent that is safe for both people and pets.

    Common Pests and Diseases

    Watch Chain Plants are pretty resistant to pests and diseases, but they can be susceptible to mealybugs. If you encounter these pests on your plant, you can remove them by hand or with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. However, if the infestation reaches into the crevices, you might need to use standard pesticides to deal with the problem.

    Watch Chain Plant: Tips for Care and Maintenance (Video)

    FAQ

    How To Propagate Crassula muscosa?

    Crassula muscosa is very easy to propagate from cuttings. In fact, stem cuttings propagate so readily that a randomly fallen stem part can develop into its own plant without human intervention. You can also propagate from seeds, but it’s harder than cuttings, so there isn’t much point.

    How To Grow Crassula muscosa?

    Here’s how to grow Crassula muscosa:
    1. Keep temperatures on the warm side.
    2. Avoid humidity.
    3. Water well, but allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again. In winter, water sparingly as the plant is dormant.
    4. Fertilize in the growing season but don’t overfeed. 

    Attribution

    “Crassula lycopodioides ssp. lycopodioides (C. muscosa) and Gasteria sp varigata” by srboisvert is marked with CC BY 2.0.

    “File:Crassula muscosa var. obtusifolia 2019-12-13 5904.jpg” by Salicyna is marked with CC BY-SA 4.0.

    “File:Crassula muscosa 3zz.jpg” by Photo by David J. Stang is marked with CC BY-SA 4.0.-SA 4.0.

    Share. Facebook Pinterest Tumblr Email
    Milo Mason

    Milo Mason is a self-proclaimed plant whisperer. With a passion for gardening, houseplants, and all things outdoors, Milo has been cultivating indoor plants for the past five years with an interest in perennials and succulents. He enjoys sharing his insights and research on plant species when it comes to care tips.

    Related Posts

    Crassula Red Pagoda: Growing And Care Guide

    The Ultimate Defense Against Mealybugs on Houseplants

    Delosperma ‘Wheels Of Wonder – Golden Wonder’: Growing And Care Guide

    Comments are closed.

    Don't Miss

    Botrytis Blight: How to Recognize, Treat and Prevent the Gray Mold

    Solving the Powdery Mildew Puzzle: How to Protect Your Houseplants

    January 28, 2023

    Crassula Red Pagoda: Growing And Care Guide

    January 27, 2023

    Earwigs: Guide To Identify, Control, And Prevent

    January 27, 2023
    About Us
    About Us

    Brainy Gardener is a gardening blog that offers practical, real-life tips and inspiration to help you know how to garden successfully. The website has in depth, well written and clear articles on all sorts of topics and plants, from hydroponics to specific plants like daisies or succulents, houseplants, plant problems

    Email Us: info@brainygardener.com

    Our Picks

    Botrytis Blight: How to Recognize, Treat and Prevent the Gray Mold

    January 28, 2023

    Solving the Powdery Mildew Puzzle: How to Protect Your Houseplants

    January 28, 2023

    Earwigs: Guide To Identify, Control, And Prevent

    January 27, 2023

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest gardening tips from Brainy Gardener.

    © 2023 BrainyGardener.com. All rights reserved.
    • Home
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.