Princess Pine Plant Care

The princess pine plant is a pale yellowish-green succulent with light-greenish, small, and interconnecting leaves, branching stems, and a unique texture. This plant has several names, some of which are: chain, zipper plant, crassula muscosa, crassula lycopodioides, clubmoss crassula, and rattail crassula.

Thanks to its trailing structure, this lovely houseplant makes an excellent option for hanging arrangements. So if you want to deck out your home with the princess pine plant, keep reading to find out princess pine plant care tips.

Background on Princess Pine

Princess pine is an extraordinary variety of succulents that resembles garland or rope and features a distinctive texture. It is indigenous to the eastern US and southeast Canada. It is found on the forest floors of both deciduous and coniferous forests.  The princess pine is a succulent branching plant that develops quickly in the growing season.

As the princess pine becomes taller, branch segments frequently fall off and quickly take root wherever they land. Therefore, you may frequently observe these stem fragments growing in the garden’s surrounding planters or nearby areas.

Watch Chain Plant Care

Here are a few princess pine care tips to help keep your princess pine in optimal condition.

Water

Since most succulents do not need much water to survive and princess pine plants also come under the category of succulents, you do not have to water them frequently. The best strategy to ensure you are not overwatering or underwatering is to soak the soil when you water the princess pine and then completely allow the soil to dry out before you water again.

Your princess pine plant is probably being overwatered if the base starts to become mushy brown. If this happens, avoid watering your plant for a day or two to ensure the soil dries out. Overwatering can cause the plant to develop a fungal disease or root rot, so this is a good time to inspect the plant for these issues and treat them accordingly to keep them from worsening.

Sunlight

Princess pine plants thrive in full sun and direct sunlight. A princess pine plant thrives on a south-facing window or balcony. However, keep in mind that growing a princess pine in direct daytime sunlight might result in leaf segments turning dark, woody, and dark. These plants also thrive beneath full-spectrum LED plant lights if you reside somewhere with little sunshine.

Temperature

Crassula Lycopodioides do not like cold weather since these plants are native to areas with warmer climates. Therefore, you must keep them above 50° F. When the winter months arrive, bringing your zipper plant indoors is advisable to ensure they do not catch frostbite due to cold temperatures and gusts of wind.

Humidity

Average humidity is ideal for princess pine plant growth, and typical indoor environments are also suitable. If the air becomes too dry, gently mist your princess pine plant to offer adequate humidity.

Soil

Princess Pine plants require well-draining, high-quality soil, similar to other succulents. The plant benefits from well-drained soil since it allows it to dry quickly.  You can buy premium commercially sold succulent soil or prepare your own by mixing grit, horticultural sand, and loam in three equal parts.

Fertilization

Regular fertilizer should be done every two to three weeks during the summer and spring to provide the additional nutrients that pine plants require to flourish. You may fertilize princess pine plants using a high-quality fertilizer for succulents or cacti.

Even if these plants flower over the winter, it is not necessary to fertilize them since they do not fall under the category of winter-growing species.

Pests and Disease

Although princess pine succulents are easy to cultivate, and even novice gardeners may do a fantastic job growing them, these plants are vulnerable to pests like mealy bugs and fungal diseases. Avoid overfertilizing or overwatering your princess pines to keep mealybugs and fungal growths away.

There’s no need to panic if you see bugs or fungal development on your princess pines since you can cure them with natural pesticides. Commercial insecticides should be avoided since they are made with strong chemicals that might harm your plants. All you have to do to make natural pesticides is to make a weak liquid solution of vegetable oil, 3 tbsp dish soap, and warm water.

Propagation

The most popular and straightforward method for growing princess pine is by leaf or stem cuttings. You can do so by trimming the stems of a full-grown princess pine with sterilized shears.  Give your clippings a few nights to dry and callous.

Next, put the new stem in some soil that drains nicely, along with water. You should maintain a wet soil environment for young cuttings. Once the cuttings show a root, you can transfer them into a larger pot to give them more space to grow.

Tips for Repotting Princess Pine Plants

The warmer months are best for repotting princess pine plants. Follow the steps below to repot your plants efficiently:

1. Decide on the best repotting medium featuring perlite-enriched, well-draining soil

2. Carefully take the plant out of the planter it came in. Before beginning the repotting process, shake the princess pine well to get rid of the old soil

3. Examine the plant for dry or damaged roots. You can identify issues like root rot, which causes the roots to become mushy or discolored. If there is damage, clip the roots using sterile scissors and throw them away

4. After planting, ensure the plant gets enough water and has several holes in the bottom so any excess water can drain from there musty smelling flowers

Concluding Thoughts

Knowing how to care for a plant before purchasing one not only helps you become a responsible plant owner but also makes it easier for you to take care of the plant since you already know what it likes and dislikes.

So now that you are aware of how you can care for a watch chain or princess pine plant, you can add this unique specie of plant to your succulent collection.