Crassula ovata 'Hobbit', a mix of Frodo, E.T. and Shrek

Crassula ovata 'Hobbit'

Crassula ovata Hobbit in potCredit: Lyubo Gadzhev

Crassula ovata Hobbit leavesCredit: Ernest McGray

Sun-reddened foliage Crassula HobbitCredit: Ernest McGray

Crassula ovata Hobbit leavesCredit: Ernest McGray

Exposures: Sun, Half-shade
Hardiness (USDA): 11a (4.4°C ≤ T° < 7.2°C)
Lifecycle: Perennial
Foliage: Evergreen

Family: Crassulaceae
Genus: Crassula
Species: Crassula ovata

Crassula ovata 'Hobbit' is a hybrid Jade tree. Its name refers to its small size and pays homage to Tolkien. But if you ask me, this Crassulaceae would have been better named E.T or Shrek, as its leaves resemble the fingers of these two movie stars.

How to recognize Crassula ovata 'Hobbit'?

Crassula ovata 'Hobbit' rarely exceeds 60 centimetres in all directions. It is a succulent shrub with a bushy habit, smaller than crassula ovata 'Minor.

The plant grows from a smooth, gray trunk. It produces irregular branches that give it a biscornuate shape.

The fleshy leaves measure two to four centimetres. Elliptical, they curl up to form a cylinder. The bright green blades turn red at the tips when exposed to sunlight.

Crassula ovata 'Hobbit' flowers in winter. Umbels of star-shaped flowers crown the apex of the stems. They are white with pink centers.

This variety is toxic if swallowed. But the texture of its foliage generally deters dogs and cats from tasting it!

Our care tips

Your Crassula ovata 'Hobbit' needs only two things: abundant watering and plenty of light. Don't hesitate to take your plant outside in summer to enjoy the sunny days!

Watering

Only water your Crassula ovata 'Hobbit when the substrate is dry. If you're not sure what your plant needs, observe it: when it's thirsty, its leaves become hollow and stunted.

Avoid tap water, which is often too hard. Instead, use room-temperature rainwater or demineralized water.

Thirty minutes after watering, empty any stagnant water from the saucer or planter to prevent root rot.

Misting

Crassula ovata 'Hobbit grow in arid regions and do not like humidity. No need to spray them.

Repotting

In spring, transfer your Crassula ovata 'Hobbit' to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.

Choose a pierced terracotta or plastic pot. The latter has the advantage of retaining moisture longer. Place a layer of clay balls at the bottom (about a quarter of the way up). Top up with special potting soil for cacti or fat plants. You can also mix ordinary substrate with sand or perlite.

Plant your succulent and tamp down to eliminate air pockets. Then water for the first time.

Fertilization

You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.

If you want to stimulate the growth of your Crassula ovata 'Hobbit', mix a liquid fertilizer for cacti and succulents with the water when watering.

Cleaning

To promote photosynthesis, remove any dust that accumulates on the leaves with a feather duster or a clean, damp cloth.

Prune

Remove dry leaves. They exhaust the plant and slow its growth. If you use an instrument (pruning shears, scissors), make sure it's clean.

If you wish to control the development or shape of your plant, you can work on it. Just be sure to cut between two nodes or at the base of the trunk.

Always use a clean, sharp tool (pair of scissors, pruning shears).

Planting

Once the last spring frosts have passed, you can plant.

Where's the best place to plant your Crassula ovata 'Hobbit? A sunny spot at the top of a slope, to encourage rainwater drainage.

Dig a large hole to give the roots room to spread out. As for repotting, place a layer of gravel at the bottom, followed by a layer of substrate. Place your plant in the center and cover with soil, possibly enriched with leaf compost. Press down to eliminate air pockets and water.

Taking cuttings

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Using disinfected and sharpened pruning shears or scissors, remove a ten-centimeter stem (two leaf levels).

To allow the graft to heal, lay it flat in a ventilated room, out of direct sunlight, for two days.

Prepare a pierced terracotta pot. Block the hole with a pebble and lay a bed of gravel. Pour in a substrate composed of one third potting soil, one third soil and one third sand to promote drainage. Plant your offshoot, tamp it down and add a layer of sand to the surface.

Place your new succulent in a bright room, but without direct sunlight and with a temperature of at least 18 degrees.

Between two applications of water, check that the substrate has dried out, as you would with a mature plant.