Crassula - Crassula - is called the "money tree." The plant belongs to the family Crassulaceae (crassulaceae, lat.), the kind of fat woman. Its other names: monkey tree, living tree, tree of happiness. But more often called "money" because of its fleshy leaves, similar in shape to coins.
Natural habitat
The homeland of the fat woman is South Africa. The plant lives in dry areas of South Africa, on the island of Madagascar, in South Arabia. Some grow in humid regions of Australia.
Description
Representatives of the genus Crassula share one thing in common - fleshy leaves and trunk, which is why the plant got its name. In total, about 300 species have been identified. For home conditions, only a few representatives are most well adapted. Varieties of this tree can be grown on your windowsill.
Treelike Crassula (Crassula arborescens)
The most popular type of home plant is a tree crassula. In adulthood, it resembles a small tree with a rich crown. The trunk is brownish-gray, thickened, reaches 7 cm in diameter. The leaf is fleshy, thick, slightly elongated, with a rounded edge. Its length can be 7 cm and a width of 3-4 cm. The color is saturated green or dark in color.
Crohn grows up to 1.5 meters in width and height by about 10 years. At the same age, flowering is possible.
Crassula ovata
The plant has the appearance of a bush, the stem of which is rich in twigs. As it grows, it turns into a pronounced trunk.
The shape of the leaves is rounded, resembles an egg, for which the red and its name. Leaves - a deep green hue or silver-gray - in the sun acquire a reddish edging. Sometimes white dots form.
The Hobbit (Crassula hobbit)
This is a cultivar of oval and milk fat, reminiscent of coral polyps. It looks exotic due to the unusual structure of the sheet: it is twisted inward and extended upward, neighboring blades grow together with each other to the middle. The plant has a trunk, the principle of growth is similar to Crassula ovata. An unusual member of the family is used to create bonsai compositions.
Crassula milk (Crassula lactea)
Ornamental shrub with creeping shoots. Reaches a height of 60 cm. Feature - obovate shape of the leaf, fused to the middle with adjacent leaflets. The color is green, with white dots, resembles a milky coating.
Small-headed Crassula (Crassula capitella)
The unusual shape of the leaf determines the name of this plant. The leaves are small, only 0.6-1.0 cm in length, collected in sockets. Light green, with red dots and medium vein. The trunk is thin, evenly strewn with leaf sockets. There are many varieties of this species, among them there is a plant with bright red leaves.
Short-leaved Crassula (Crassula brevifolia)
This is a plant with a straight trunk, showered with cropped round leaves. Their length is only 1 cm. Color - from light green to gray, with a silver or reddish frame.
It is difficult to list all varieties of domesticated fat women - there are many of them. Florists tamed wild varieties of plants and adapted to life at home the most beautiful representatives of this family, introduced new varieties.
Magical abilities
Why is Crassula called the money tree? The custom to invest in a decorative tree magical meaning came from ancient China, where the fat woman has long been considered a symbol of wealth. Its leaves are like coins, and the thick stem is like an expensive wallet. The plant accumulates moisture and stores it like a thrifty person. Hence the sacred meaning. It is believed that the tree discards leaves to financial losses, and a gradual increase in the crown promises an increase in the welfare of the owner.
Whether it is so or not, everyone will decide for himself in his own way. For the same reason, the tree symbolizes happiness, combining wealth and joy. The tree of life gets its name due to the amazing vitality of the juicy representative of the flora in dry adverse conditions in the natural environment.
Tree propagation and planting
To plant a money tree, you need to find a leaf or a stalk, in extreme cases - to buy seeds. Of course, a faster plant will form from a leaf. To do this, cut a leaf or leaf stalk from a healthy bush.
There are two ways:
Leave the slice for a couple of days outdoors at room temperature. The wound will dry, covered with a film. After that, the workpiece can be transplanted into the prepared soil and carefully watered. The plant will take root quickly.
The second method will take longer, but gardeners note a good survival of the tree with such a planting. The cut process or leaf is dipped into water until roots are formed. Only then can you plant a money tree in a pot.
The first 3 years, the plant gives a significant increase, therefore it will have to be replanted regularly, changing the pots to wider and deeper for the development of the root system.
The money tree should be transplanted by the third year into a heavy, wide pot: the root system is not always able to hold a large plant on its own, the containers often turn over, injuring the rossula and causing inconvenience to the owners. For this, the trunk is removed from the old tank, the main land is cleaned from the roots and populated in a new prepared pot.
You can propagate a fat woman in a couple of years, when the planting material acquires its full size.
It is advisable to transplant in the spring during the period of active awakening of the plant world, a living tree can be propagated in spring and summer.
Soil preparation
For planting and transplanting plants need loose soil, close to the soil of the natural habitat. To do this, you can buy a ready-made mixture for cacti in a botanical store or make it yourself:
- Deciduous land - 3 parts.
- Sod - 1 part.
- Peat - 1 part.
- Coarse sand without dust - 1 part.
- For loosening, birch coals or crumb of brick, expanded clay granules are laid.
It is advisable to plant a young shoot in the soil prepared according to the above recipe, for an adult, the proportions can be adjusted, and the amount of turf increased by 2 times.
Before planting the plant in the soil, it is necessary to properly arrange the layers in the pot:
- 1-2 layers of expanded clay fall asleep at the bottom.
- Lay prepared soil in half or 2/3 of the volume.
- Crassula is planted with a tree or its other variety.
- Add earth and press the top layer.
A planted flower must be watered.
How to care for a plant
Caring for a money tree at home does not require much effort - the plant is unpretentious. Nevertheless, it is necessary to observe hygiene measures of the floristic pet, properly water, feed in a timely manner and form a crown.
Watering mode
Money tree - a fat woman - accumulates moisture in itself and holds it for a long time, therefore it does not need abundant moisture in the soil.
How to water a fat woman:
- In summer, you need to water the tree no more than 2-3 times a week, but the moisture volume should be determined nevertheless by the state of the soil. If the surface of the earth dries, then the addition of water is required. It is important not to turn the soil into a swamp.
- In winter, watering the plant is almost not necessary, the tree is in hibernation. Mode - 1 time per month. Of course, if the pot is above the radiator battery, then the humidification mode is summer.
Dust removal
Money tree - Crassula - has dense leaves on which dust normally falls. To remove it, use a moistened soft rag. Spraying with wide leaves may not be effective. Some gardeners practice showering procedures for the tree of life: they put a pot in the bathroom and spray them with water from a shower head. In this case, do not direct the jets towards the pot so as not to overmoisten the soil.
Lighting and temperature
To take care of a tree was easier, you need to place it in favorable living conditions. The plant loves the sun, but in moderation - it is better to put the pot on the western, eastern or adjacent sides. The southern direction gives too intense radiation, from which green leaves are burned and become brown. In the north, illumination is not enough.
After winter, you need to accustom the plant to the sun gradually, dosing it on the sunny side.
You can grow a money tree quickly only in comfortable temperature conditions:
- In summer - + 20–22 ˚C;
- In winter, during hibernation - not lower than +70 ˚C.
In summer, the tree can be taken to the plot or to the balcony - it loves fresh air. With significant cooling, the pot must be brought into the house.
Top dressing
Another rule in the series “How to Care for a Money Tree” is timely soil fertilization. The plant is unpretentious, does not require frequent interventions. Nevertheless, cactus mixtures sold in flower shops will help improve the condition of the earth. Use them in the summer according to the instructions. In winter, fertilizer is not required.
Crown shaping
Often a tree is formed unevenly, some branches develop rapidly, others slowly. To prevent warping, pinch the weaknesses on 2 sheets, at this point the growth of a new shoot is activated. Molding is carried out in the spring-summer period, so that new shoots have time to lay blooming buds.
Flowering indoor tree
Probably few people saw the money tree blooming. Many novice growers are sure that Crassula is not a flowering plant at all, but it is not. The photo below shows the beauty of the tree in bloom.
The flowers of Crassula are white-pink in shape resembling an asterisk. They are collected in loose panicles and are located at the ends of young shoots.
Flowering is possible only in adults from 10 years old, young plants do not possess such a trait. Blossoming begins in the autumn-winter period, when the plant is preparing for rest.
A living tree blooms for 2-3 months, as the flowers wilt, they are removed so that seeds do not form, if this is not required.
A plant can bloom only with full observance of the simple rules of care with complex irrigation, a sufficient amount of sunlight and top dressing. If Crassula is good, then she will certainly let you know.
After flowering for the remaining winter period, the tree needs to be removed to rest in a dark place before spring.