If you do not like or often forget to water your home plants, then a drought-resistant money tree is just for you. This plant is able to retain moisture in its leaves, loves dry rooms, it is not necessary to spray it every day.
But you shouldn’t go to the extreme if you want your money to decorate your favorite apartment, get ready to take care of it at least a little, not forgetting to water and wipe the leaves with a damp napkin.
Varieties of the money tree, their features
Money tree, belongs to the genus of succulents of the family "crass collar" in the scientific world is called Crassula (Crassula), which in Latin means "thick." For which the plant received another name - bastard. Indeed, in all these plants the fleshy structure of leaves and stems, but in their appearance and size, they are very different.
Thick, fleshy leaves can be of different shapes: oval or ovoid, cylindrical or triangular. They are located opposite each other and have a fused base.
The edge of a leaflet can be whole or jagged, even or wavy. The main color of the leaves varies in the gradation of the green spectrum from a dark green to a light green shade.
This is a fairly extensive group of plants growing in South Africa, includes more than 350 species of succulents. Among this group there are small plants several centimeters high and many-meter giant plants.
They can be annual, perennial herbaceous, shrub and tree.
Main varieties of fatty meat:
- Trees hunt It has a trunk that can reach a height of 3 meters and a dense crown with numerous ramifications. It is this species called money trees. They live a long time, not demanding care, easily propagated by cuttings. Among the indoor cultures, this species is the most popular. In its natural habitat it grows between rocks, on hills in South and South-West Africa;
- Spiny bastard. Plant in the form of shrubs with creeping beautiful shoots. More like stony soil and mainly grows on the African continent in the south-western part. It has small flowers, but rarely flowers at home;
- Portulacium fatty woman. It has good decorative properties. Its height is from 0, 5 to 1.5 meters. Grows in southern Africa. In appearance it resembles a money tree. Differs in the smaller size and smaller leaves;
- Sickle jerky. The lightly branched shrub has excellent ornamental data. Under natural conditions, it is found in Africa, mainly at an altitude of about 900 meters above sea level;
- Four-sided fathead. It is a shrub with a fleshy stem and thin, relatively weak creeping shoots. In nature, there are plants up to 1 meter.
How to care for him at home
As for the care, the money tree is very difficult to ruin. This handsome man is so unpretentious that he is able to survive the heat, lack of moisture or its excess.
Lighting
Money tree is an unpretentious plant and with proper home care can grow up to 1 meter in height. The plant does not like direct sunlight, but it should not be kept in the shade either, as all succulents need good lighting. It is best to put the money tree in the southeast window.
And so that it grows equally from all sides, and that the branches do not extend only in one direction, it must be turned from time to time in different directions.
Watering
In spring and summer, the plant must be watered very moderately. In the autumn, watering should be minimal, and in the winter it should be carried out no more than 2 times a month. Moistening of the soil is unacceptable, it can lead to rotting of the root system and cause crassula death.
The plant likes dry air, but for hygienic purposes it should be periodically sprayed with water. When the tree is still small, its leaves can simply be wiped with a damp cloth or napkin.
Determine whether you water it correctly, you can purely visually. Since moisture is held in the money tree in the leaves, the appearance of shriveled leaves that have lost elasticity means only one thing - it's time to water the tree.
Top dressing
Succulents are good when well looked after them, therefore it is necessary to begin a top dressing of a plant in the spring. It responds well to fertilizers for succulents or cacti.
During the spring-summer season, feed the money tree once every 30 days. During the autumn-winter period, fertilizer application is allowed once every three months. And so that the "vitamin" supplements are well absorbed, it is better to fertilize the plant after watering.
Transplantation and reproduction of indoor flower
A money tree grows fast enough with proper home care, so it also quickly becomes uncomfortable in a small pot, the root system weaves into a ball, experiencing a lack of air.
When a tree outgrows its original pot, its surface roots can no longer hold a crown of fleshy leaves, a thick trunk can fall and be damaged. As you grow, transplant it into a large pot, laying a good drainage layer on the bottom.
Plant transplant
Transplantation is recommended in the spring. For the plant, pick a wide and heavy pot. Fill it with soil consisting of turf, leaf and peat soil with the addition of coarse sand. All this mix in a ratio of 5: 1.
Since the plant roots are on the surface, then you need to choose a small pot in depth, but commensurate with the height of the tree itself.
Plant water and gently remove from the pot, remove the soil from the roots. Then a little straighten the roots and cut. Now place the tree in a new pot, holding it with one hand, and the second one, filling the soil to the required level. To soil the soil immediately pour, and then sprinkle with dry earth.
Bred reproduction
Crassula are propagated by leaves or cuttings, which must be dried in the shade for 24 hours before planting. After that, planting material should be planted in a prepared pot, the bottom of which is lined with a thick layer of drainage, it should be at least 2 cm.
Cover the plant with foil. During the day, open the hoodie for a few minutes to air. After that, again cover the film until Crassula rooted.
How to properly form the crown of the money tree in a pot
The money tree has a thick, beautiful crown, but the intensive growth of young shoots causes the stems to slope downwards. To prevent this from happening, the tree must be pinched.
Such pruning is better to expose the young copies. When cutting off mature branches, sprinkle the place of cut with powdered carbon powder.
The process itself is quite simple. After sprouting several fleshy leaves on the stem, you need to find a small bud between the top of the leaves and pinch it with tweezers or nails.
After pruning, several buds usually appear, if only one has grown, the procedure must be repeated. To create a symmetrical tree, it must be turned on the light in different directions.
How to care for this indoor plant to bloom
In addition to the beautiful ornamental thick leaves, Crassula may please with flowering. Although this phenomenon is rather rare and not every florist can see it.
The plant is elegantly covered with small flowers that have a different shade. It depends on the type of plant, the flowers can be white, pink and even have a green tint, but always sweet and pleasant aroma.
Flowering begins during the intensive growth of the plant and can last up to 3 months. In order for the tree to bloom, it needs additional illumination, because in nature, succulent grows in the desert, where the daylight hours are much longer than our usual day.
Plus during the feeding and correct watering.
Diseases and infections of bladder
Various pests and diseases rarely damage Crassoul. Which is not surprising, because in its leaves there is arsenic. But spider mites and various types of scutes can “attack” a weakened tree.
To rid the plant of them, it is necessary to use insecticidal preparations, such as Aktaru or Fitoverm.
Diseases of the plant develop from excessive moisture, especially in the winter. As a result of abundant watering in winter, the roots of the plant rot. To save a tree in this situation is very difficult. Flower growers are advised to immediately cut the stems and root them in order to get a new “harvest” of fat girls.
Question answer
Why do leaves fall?
Your plant suffers from a lack of water. In such a situation, the elastic leaves of the bastard become shriveled, yellow, then fall off. After watering can grow new twigs, which in the future must be rooted.
Why not grow?
Most likely, you just hurry the tree, often watering and fertilizing. Know that Crassula is growing slowly, slowly turning into a tree with a strong trunk and a crown of oval sheets that look like coins.
What diseases can a money tree treat?
Crassula is widely used in folk medicine, but only externally. It is strictly forbidden to take it inside, its leaves contain poisonous arsenic. But externally it is used for healing wounds, getting rid of dry corns, with varicose veins.
Can I put a flower in the kitchen?
The plant likes dry rooms and good lighting. If your kitchen meets these requirements, you can decorate it with this tree.
Why slowed down plant growth?
The fat woman is a desert dweller, and the light day is much longer there. In our country, especially in the change of seasons, the day is reduced, so the plant responds to a decrease in light by slow growth.
Omens and superstitions
Unlike other colors, only good superstitions are associated with the money tree. Money call it for a reason. The plant has a powerful energy, as evidenced by research on bioresonance therapy.
Placed it in the west and north-west, as recommended by Feng Shui. Many really believe in the signs associated with this plant. For example, if there are small leaves on a tree, then only small things will ring in the pockets, and large leaves will lure crisp paper notes.
Additional information about the care of the money tree can be found in the following video.
