How to care for the money tree: basic recommendations

Money tree it is popularly called Crassula, or a fat woman. Many believe that it brings good luck and wealth to the owners. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the leaves of the plant look like round coins.

Not everyone knows how to care for a money tree, but improper care can have a bad effect on its growth and development.

Content:

• Description of the money tree
• Growing conditions
• Reproduction methods
• Watering and feeding
• Pruning and replanting
• The consequences of improper care

Description of the money tree

The succulent plant belongs to the genus Crassul of the Tolstyankov family. There are about 3 hundred species of this unpretentious plant. Among them there are species similar to a tree, a bush, climbing and erect. In nature, in Africa and Madagascar, it grows on moist and dry soils, depending on the species.

At home, they are most often grown:

• Tree-like
• Cooper
• Carpet
• Spatulate

A tree-like or oval bastard is grown in apartments most often. Under natural conditions in southern Africa, it can reach a height of up to 3 m. In an apartment, the maximum height of a tree reaches 1.5 m. But it looks beautiful and complete within a few months after planting. The trunk is thick, filled with moisture. The leaves are the same, shiny and thick, dark green in color. The root system is shallow, so the plant may be unstable in a pot.

In nature, the money tree blooms with white, light pink or milky flowers that cover the entire tree. They are similar to those with which other succulents bloom. This rarely happens at home. This is not surprising, because Crassula begins to bloom only at the age of 8-10 years. Crassula grows very slowly. It lends itself well to shaping and, together with other colors, serves to create whimsical compositions, bonsai.

Growing conditions

The money tree, like any succulent, grows well in a sunny location. If there is little light, the shoots of the plant can stretch out, while the leaves will become thinner and fall off. But direct sunlight on the leaves can cause burns. Therefore, in the summer it is better to protect them at lunchtime. The money tree loves fresh air, so in summer it can be taken out into the garden or on the balcony. You can open windows and ventilate the room.

Crassula is a southern plant, so it does not tolerate hypothermia.

In winter, when the temperature drops from 10 ° C, the plant may die. In summer, it does not like extreme heat. It is desirable that the room temperature does not rise above 28 ° C. A short-term increase in temperature will not hurt the plant. The optimal temperature for the money tree is 20-22 ° C.

Air humidity does not matter much for the fat woman. After all, she stores a solid supply of moisture in the leaves and uses it during periods when the soil dries up. But you can spray the plant. This is done carefully so that drops of water do not accumulate in the axils of the leaves.

Reproduction methods

The money tree at home is propagated by cuttings and leaves. If there are seeds, you can sow them, but the growing process will take much longer than from cuttings.

Features of cuttings:

• The fastest way is to plant a shoot on which roots have already formed. This happens if the air humidity is high. Therefore, for rapid reproduction, you can often spray the air around the plant, ensuring that the roots appear. But this is a risky way, because spraying can lead to leaf rot.
• Usually in spring or summer, the petiole is cut with a sharp knife, sprinkled with crushed charcoal, left for 2 days, then planted in a pot with loose soil. Watered in moderation, without waterlogging.

Breeding a plant with a leaf:

• For propagation by leaf cuttings, they are cut off, the cut site is dipped in charcoal and kept open for 2 days so that the wound dries up a little.
• On the third day, they are planted in small bowls. The soil should be rich in sand. Install in a well-lit place. Cover with a glass jar.
• Periodically ventilate, first for 5 minutes a day, then increase the time without shelter. When a young plant appears near the leaf, remove the jar.

In the same way, the money tree is propagated by cuttings without roots. They will appear a few weeks after the cutting is planted in the ground. Crassula is not very demanding on the composition of the nutrient mixture in which it grows. The soil can be purchased at the store.

Succulent soil is suitable for a fat woman. It is not difficult to prepare land for planting a money tree from garden, leafy land. In order for the soil to pass water well, the components are taken in equal quantities, sand is added. The resulting mixture should be slightly acidic, pH 6.0. Crushed charcoal will protect root system from decay and disease in case of ingress of large amounts of water and will serve as a source of useful minerals.

A pot for planting a money tree is taken with large holes for water outflow.

It must be heavy so that the ground part does not overturn it. Better to use ceramic with large holes. Lay a layer on the bottom drainage from expanded clay or gravel. You can use pieces of styrofoam or broken bricks. Pieces of broken flower pots are disinfected before laying on the bottom so as not to bring in pathogens.

Watering and feeding

The shoots of the money tree tend to turn towards the light source over time. Therefore, over time, the tree can lean heavily to one side. To avoid this, you need to periodically rotate the pot around its axis.

You do not need to water the money tree often, only after the clod of earth in the pot dries up. Usually in summer it is 1-2 times a week. During the dormant period, which begins in September for the money tree and lasts until March, the money tree is watered no more than 2 times a month.

Excess moisture for a fat woman is much more dangerous than its lack.

If the soil dries up, it will take it from the leaves and stem. Therefore, the plant can be left unattended for a couple of weeks. And from a large amount of moisture, the root system can rot.

The money tree is rarely transplanted, so it needs regular feeding. Fertilize cacti no more than once a week.

Pruning and replanting

The money tree needs crown adjustment. If no pruning is done, the plant will grow like a bush. At first, all young shoots that grow in the lower part of the trunk are broken off. It should remain naked until the plant reaches a height of 30 cm. Cut off shoots can be used to propagate and grow new bushes.

Then pinch the top, which causes the growth of lateral shoots. In the future, in the spring, all shoots that violate the shape of the crown, broken or damaged are removed. By pinching and cutting off excess shoots, the shape of the crown is changed or corrected.

The fat woman does not need frequent transplants. It grows slowly, so it can be in one pot for 2-3 years:

• When she grows up, they choose dishes that are a couple of centimeters larger than the previous one. A wide ceramic pot is preferable because the plant can fall on its side. This is due to the fact that the root system of the plant is small, and the crown can develop strongly.
• The transplant is carried out in the spring, if the roots are braided with a clod of earth. Choose a period when the soil in the pot is dry.
• Turn the flower pot over, tap on the walls so that the soil falls off the walls faster.
• Take out a clod of earth with plant roots, shake off the soil.
• Examine the roots, remove damaged and dark ones. If there were any, they process the root system fungicide.
• Transfer to a new pot with a pre-filled drainage layer and a small amount of substrate.
• Fill in the areas between the roots with prepared soil. Its composition is the same as when planting a young plant.
• Do not water the next week so that the roots do not rot.

The consequences of improper care

Usually the money tree grows well and does not require much maintenance. But sometimes it loses its attractive appearance. This can be caused by such factors:

1. Leaves darken, shriveled, fall off. Brown spots appeared on them and on the stems. This is due to a lack of moisture. It is recommended to water the plant once and see if watering will benefit it.
2. The leaves have become pale and wilted with too frequent and abundant watering. Stop adding water.
3. The stem is blackened at the base, the leaves wither and wrinkle, fall off. These are signs of root rot.
4. High humidity is the main enemy money tree... In waterlogged soil, rot and other pathogens develop. The tree stops growing, the leaves lose their elasticity, fade.

If signs of a disease are detected, watering is stopped. Prepare a new pot or disinfect a previously used one. Remove the plant from the dishes, shake off all the soil. The root system of the plant is examined. If dark roots are found, cut them off with a sharp knife until the healthy roots are colored white.

The root system is dried, treated with a Fundazole solution or a weak potassium permanganate solution... They are planted in new, slightly moist soil. Subsequently, watered very carefully. If missing root systemsand a money tree, you can save it by cutting off the top and try to root it.

More information can be found in the video: