When we say “senecio” surely you think of the rowleyanus, or the ball plant. However, within these there are many varieties, being one of them the Senecio crassissimus. Have you ever heard it?
If you like senecios, you will love this one because it is very different from others. Learn about its characteristics and the care it needs if you keep reading.
Cómo es el Senecio is very fat
Senecio crassissimus can also be found in stores sold as vertical senecio. And it is that, due to its characteristics, This succulent has a bushy habit, reaching 60 centimeters in height. And yes, that means that it is not hanging nor does it have finite twigs that bend. It is totally different from those you may know. And it comes from Madagascar.
As for the plant, physically, as we tell you, it will grow in the form of a bush. It is quite leafy with its leaves and stems so you won’t have a problem with that. Regarding the stems, you will notice that they are erect and thick, quite the opposite of the senecios that you may know. Also, they are purple and gray (and not green as you would normally expect).
The leaves, for their part, are green, with the edges matching the stem, because they have grayish purple tones. In addition, these are elongated, they can measure from 6 to 10 centimeters each, and quite thick. Its growth, like the stems, is vertical. They grow along the stem alternately, that is, one on one side, the next on the opposite side.
In spring, if the plant is healthy and has been given the necessary care, it is common for it to flower. These are going to be tiny and daisy-like. They are yellow in color and will be about two centimeters in diameter. Several flowers can grow from a single floral rod (and we already warned you that it usually produces several rods).
Cuidados del Senecio thickest
After learning about Senecio crassissimus, it may have caught your attention. It is not one of the most common in stores to buy it, but it is not difficult to locate or expensive either. Therefore, if you are considering having a succulent of this type, we want to help you with care.
location and temperature
The Senecio crassissimus is an outdoor plant, and as such we recommend that you put it outside, on a balcony, terrace, directly in the garden… He loves the light, although he doesn’t get the sun all day. With respect to this, it can occur in the morning or in the afternoon, but in the hours of greatest incidence it could wreak havoc on the leaves of the senecio.
Therefore, its best location may be one where it receives direct sun early or late in the day and the rest with indirect light.
Inside the house you could have it, yes, but always located as close to a window as possible to get as much light as possible; plus a few hours of direct light.
Keep in mind that the more sun it gets, the better it will be because it will make the edge of the leaves, and even the stems, a more intense color.
Regarding the temperature, your ideal would be between 20 and 30ºC. However, It can withstand low and high temperatures without problem. Even frost if they are not too hard.
Substratum
Light, porous and drained. This is how we could describe the type of soil that you should use with Senecio crassissimus. As the succulent that it is, it needs a suitable soil, but it is not demanding with it. For this reason, we can propose a land for cacti and succulents or a universal substrate.
Besides, you must add perlite or similar so that it is looser and does not cake over time. And finally, as a recommendation, we would tell you to add a little worm humus to keep it slightly humid (not flooded, but it does have a little humidity). To give you an idea, it would be: 50 substrate, 40 perlite and 10% humus (or less).
Irrigation
Irrigation of Senecio crassissimus is not difficult, far from it. To begin with, you will only water when you see that the soil is completely dry. As long as it is not like that, even if it touches you, do not water it.
Keep in mind that if you make a mistake with the watering, fungus may appear and the roots rot.so sometimes it is better to miss than more.
One of the keys that can tell you if the plant needs watering are its leaves. If the months are duller and thinner, even wrinkled, it is because they lack water.
Subscriber
Although succulents do not need a subscriber, it is not bad to add them from time to time, especially if they have been with you for a long time and you do not change the substrate often. In general, a fertilizer for succulents will be fine. In case you do not have it, a universal one can serve you.
pruning
Although the Senecio crassissimus does not need pruning, you will have to check it to remove dry, damaged leaves, etc. that it has as well as the floral stems once it is finished.
In the case of young plants, if you want them to acquire a certain shape, you can prune them. more often to get it and, later, as adults, it will only be to maintain it.
Plagues and diseases
In this regard, although this senecio is resistant, the cottony mealybug is the one that can make things bad for it.
In the case of diseases, the worst will be root rot from poor watering.
Multiplication
Do you want to reproduce your Senecio crassissimus? Well, it’s as simple as cutting cuttings. When pruning try to select some of about 10 centimeters in length.
You will have to wait a couple of days for the cut that occurs on these to heal (and have a higher chance of luck). And then you just have to plant it and wait for it to show signs that it has taken root (you will know if it starts to sprout).
As you can see, Senecio crassissimus is one of the plants that you can have in your garden without worrying that it needs a lot. Do you dare to have it?
