[Ebook Việt Hoá] Houseplant Party (Lisa Eldred Steinkopf) – SHREK’S EARS, ET’S FINGERS, HOBBIT’S PIPE, TRUMPET JADE: Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’

English

This easy succulent will be a conversation piece in your plant collection. Depending on which movie you’ve seen, you may prefer to call it Shrek’s ears or ET’s fingers. It’s also said that the name Gollum came from Tolkien’s character fromThe Lord of the Rings trilogy. Regardless of what you call it, this plant is a monstrose form of the original jade plant (Crassula ovata), which has flat leaves. Monstrose is the term used for funky forms of regular plants that come about through chance genetic mutations.

Shrek’s ears is an easy-to-care- for succulent, as long as it gets enough light. A bright south- or west-facing window is preferred. Because of its water-storing capabilities, it can survive for quite a while without water. If the leaves start to pucker, it needs water. Water thoroughly at that time but try not to let it get that dry again. Plant Shrek’s ears in a cactus/succulent potting mix to provide good drainage. Clay pots are a great choice for succulent plants as they are porous and excess water can evaporate out the sides of the pot. This plant could eventually grow up to 3 feet (91 cm) tall and 2 feet (61 cm) wide.