Watch Chain Plant

Watch Chain Plant (Crassula muscosa) looks more like a handful of green cord than a succulent. Tiny scale like leaves wrap tightly around every stem in four neat ranks, building a fine textured clump about 300mm tall and 300mm across that relaxes and spills as it ages. It asks for a pot with drainage, bright light and very little else.

Why you'll love it

• Texture nothing else offers. The braided, chain like stems read as a soft green mass at a distance and reward a close look.
• It thrives on being ignored. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and happy in poor soil. Water it when the mix dries out and leave it alone the rest of the time.
• A small footprint. At 300mm each way it fits a windowsill, a bowl planting or a gap between rocks without crowding a neighbour.
• Easy to multiply. Any stem section strikes readily in dry mix, so one plant becomes a row of pots inside a year.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. A shallow bowl or a small terracotta pot suits it perfectly, on its own or combined with other succulents on the same watering schedule.

Rockeries and gravel gardens. Tucked between stones in free draining soil it grows in the ground in warm temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid gardens.

Balconies, courtyards and indoors. A sunny rail or bright windowsill gives it the light it needs. Any less and the stems stretch.

Growing watch chain plant in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to bright light, with protection from the hottest western sun inland. It suits warm temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid climates outdoors, and takes light frost only, so cool districts want a pot that moves under cover for winter.

Soil. A cactus and succulent mix, or potting mix opened up with coarse sand, grit or perlite. Poor soil suits it. Wet soil does not, and a pot standing in a full saucer rots the base of the stems within weeks.

Water and feed. Soak it, let it drain, then wait until the mix is dry through. A half strength liquid feed once or twice over spring and summer is the most it needs.

Pruning. Trim any stem that has stretched or gone bare back to a firm section and the plant branches from the cut. Let the trimmings dry for a day, then push them into gritty mix kept barely damp.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in one size, tube stock: a young plant with a few short stems rather than a full clump. Pot it into a 120mm to 150mm container with free draining mix and give it a season or two to build the mass. Growth is steady rather than quick.

Succulents are among the best travellers we send, because the stems carry their own water and there is no soft foliage to wilt. A snapped stem in the box is a free cutting rather than damage. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, under our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read about the ripple jade plant, a close relative with the same easy care needs.
• Browse the full succulent and cacti range.
• See more succulents for hot climates.
• Compare other plants suited to rockeries.

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Crassula species are toxic to cats and dogs, and chewing the stems can cause vomiting, drooling and lethargy. Keep it on a high shelf if your pet chews plants.

Why are the stems stretching and going bare at the base?

Not enough light. In a dim room the stems lengthen and the leaves space out, losing the chain effect. Move it to the brightest position you have, cut the stretched stems back and let it rebuild.

How often should I water it?

Only once the mix is dry all the way through: about every two to three weeks in warm weather and every five to six in winter. If you are unsure, wait. It recovers from dry far better than from wet.