Crassula perfolata advice needed

[RachelTurner]

Hi everyone,

I wonder if someone could give me some advice on my Crassula perforata please. I managed to get him through the heatwave okay, but over the last few days I've noticed some new small leaves shrivelled up. Conscious of the dangers of over-watering (I lost my first C. perfolata due to over-watering) I've been very careful with watering him, and he's about due for watering, so I put it down to him being thirsty. I came to water him last night though after work, and I noticed what appears to be some sort of grey 'fuzziness' is the best way I can think to describe it on one leaf (circled in the second image).

After losing my first C. perfolata with over-watering I'm now very careful with how much/how often I water, and his pot was very dry all the way through. I gave him a good drink, though I'm not happy with his compost (I'm awaiting new supplies, which should be arriving on Thursday so I can re-pot him) as it doesn't seem to be quite as free-draining as I'd like, and I'm hoping the shrivelled leaves are just a result of lack of water, but I don't seem to be having much luck with my crassula recently, having lost my first C. perfolata and also my C. Marnieriana which despite seemingly coming through the heatwave okay then took a nose-dive and again, despite very careful watering and letting the compost dry out completely etc. seemed to have suffered from root rot (again, I suspect due to the compost, which doesn't seem to be quite as free-draining as I'd like.

Having lost two crassula in a fairly short time I'm somewhat concerned about my little C. perfolata, especially after spotting the grey 'fuzziness' last night. Can anyone offer any advice?

[Stuart]

At a quick glance the fuzzy bit looks a bit like botrytis which usually comes from damp cold conditions in the winter, it's not normally a problem at this time of year. Cut the fuzzy stem, scissors are OK, and give it more direct sunlight and just water when dry. It's a difficult plant to kill but needs full sun for best shape and colour. Our ex-president would be impressed with your pot.

Stuart

[Colin Walker]

At a quick glance the fuzzy bit looks a bit like botrytis which usually comes from damp cold conditions in the winter, it's not normally a problem at this time of year. Cut the fuzzy stem, scissors are OK, and give it more direct sunlight and just water when dry. It's a difficult plant to kill but needs full sun for best shape and colour. Our ex-president would be impressed with your pot.

Stuart

Yes indeed Stuart & Rachel - love the pot.

[ChrisR]

It may be botrytis as Stuart suggests but they can also get powdery mildew. It's actually perforata not perfolata Rachel, but your plant is not that anyway, it's Crassula rupestris......and they need much more light and fresh air than it seems to be getting. They are not really at their best as house plants. Those darker edges get bright red in sunshine. Have a look at my website and growing guide, it may be helpful for you. https://conophytum.com/index.php?/category/447

[Eric Williams]

I too asked for advice on my C perforata which was looking poorly. The advice was to give it more sun, so I decided to grow it outside. The change in colour is amazing. From pale green to this.

[Diane]

Eric, yours is the variegated form which has become much more pronounced after being exposed to the sun! Much nicer, too.

[Eric Williams]

Thanks for the ID Diane. Quite pleased with this plant now too.

[RachelTurner]

Thanks all for your contributions, and my apologies for the delay in responding - work went crazy this week and between that, a number of doctors appointments and an Open University online summer school I don't seem to have had a minute!

Thanks Chris for the ID correction. Tbh, I was never quite sure what he was because the species name was spelt differently on the website, the delivery note, and the label on the pot. He was one of my early succulent buys, and from a general plant retailer, not a specialist, and they do seem to be a bit lax on correctly naming plants I've found.

Sadly he's gone to the big green council bin in the sky. I cut off the affected stem (as it was on Tuesday), but I've never known a plant to collapse so completely, so quickly before. From Tuesday evening when I took the photos he visibly deteriorated throughout Wednesday, with all the tiny new leaves shrivelling. I was out yesterday until mid-afternoon, but went to look at him as soon as I got home, and a good half of the stems were showing small fuzzy patches, and all of the stems had the majority of leaves starting to shrivel or leaves that were quite obviously dead. I was going to try taking a leaf or stem cutting, but couldn't find one that looked healthy enough, and for the sake of my other plants decided it was best just to get rid of him.

I have a C. Marnieriana which was on an adjacent shelf to him (about 1ft away) which I'm now concerned about, with her being in fairly close proximity and reading that both botrytis and powdery mildew can spread to other plants. Do you think it would be wise to spray her with either a neem oil solution or hydrogen peroxide solution as a precaution, or should I just keep a close eye on her?

Thanks,

Rachel

PS: I am though of course keeping the pot, Colin, having given it a thorough disinfect. It just makes me smile every time I see it.