Fat or money tree - growing and grooming
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GROWING AND CARE OF MONEY TREE, CRASSA
The name "money tree" has grown so strongly to this plant that often people do not know its real name. Well, apparently the tree is really strong, if, without flaunting luxurious flowers, it could become so popular.
They say that at the money tree - Silver Crassula (Crassula argentea) - the leaves look like coins, although in fact they are not round, but oval.
Family name Crassula comes from the Latin crassus - “thick”, which emphasizes the features of leaves and stems.
JUICY PLANT
Fat women are succulent plants. Succulents (from the Latin succulentus - "succulent") are perennial plants that have learned to accumulate water in thickened leaves and stems. That is, these are storage plants, which means they store, save, in this case, money.
Tips for growing crescent-shaped crassula (Crassula falkata) - found back in the XNUMXth century from E. Regel, director of the Imperial Botanical Garden in St. Petersburg.
They say that this tree came from China, where it has long been a symbol of wealth. In China, the money tree is really grown and revered, they even hang coins on it so that there is prosperity, only the plant is different.
The Chinese money tree is called Pachira (Malabar chestnys), Malabar chestnut (Malabar province is in India).
The Malabar Chestnut has five-part leaves, each segment of which represents one of the five elements: water, earth, fire, metal, or wood.
APPEARANCE
Over time, the plant grows into a real tree with a thick, bizarrely curved trunk. It can be trimmed if necessary. To imitate a "tree" it is useful to pinch it. It is believed that plucking the trunk becomes thicker and more like the trunk of a real tree. It is a good idea to fertilize the money tree with special fertilizers for succulents.
TIPS FOR CARE OF CRASSA
- It is not recommended to put in a bright sun - the edges of the leaves turn red.
- In a dark place, the plant grows slowly, and its leaves deteriorate.
- The fat woman needs a winter rest at a temperature (+ 8 ... + 12 ° С). If the plant is left to winter in the apartment, the reason for the leaf dropping is that the plant is hot.
- With proper wintering, the fat woman is not watered. At elevated temperatures, watering is very rare. In summer, the fat woman is watered moderately.
HOW TO CORRECTLY Pour out the MONEY TREE
My money tree periodically throws up the leaves. The neighbor says that the plant does not have enough water, so this reaction. But I water this flower, like everyone else. Do you have any features of watering in this case? A.P. Pokrovskaya, Armavir, the Krasnodar Territory
Money tree is very popular in our country. Perhaps this is due to the crisis, when people try to earn money by any means, even raise money.
By the way, the name “money tree” was coined in Russia. In other countries, they have no idea that it can be called that. The standard name for this plant is fatty, but among scientists they call it Crassula.
Freely it grows, sometimes growing to a height of up to two meters, in southern Africa, in deserted lands. There, and learned to plump water to save because in the homeland of natural watering may not be months.
The leaves of Crassula, like batteries, accumulate water in themselves and slowly spend it on the needs of the plant. Those leaves that completely squeezed out of themselves water, dry out and fall away. Given this, it is very simple to understand that the plant does not have enough moisture - the leaf fall has begun, which means that the fat girl must be watered.
Excessive watering, however, can also seriously damage the money tree: its roots will simply begin to rot.
It is undesirable to water the plant with ordinary tap water. It is best to pour water into a large container and let it stand at least 2-3 a day, but the most desired for a fat woman will be melted snow or rainwater.
The volume of water for irrigation directly depends on the season. For example, our calendar winter coincides with the period of rest in a fat woman, so for three winter months, you can pour a fatty only three times, literally once a month, spending a liter of water on a pot.
In other seasons, you can water a money tree based on the state of the soil in the pot; if it starts to dry, then watering is a must. Nevertheless, usually even in the summer, when the herb grows most actively, it can be watered no more than three times a month, but in spring and autumn - twice during the same period of time.
For those who didn’t plant a money tree on their own, but bought it already in a pot, we still recommend checking if there are drainage holes at the bottom of the pot and a drainage layer at its base - these are indispensable conditions for the normal growth of the money tree. True connoisseurs of this plant are advised to divert up to a third of the pot under drainage and use expanded clay only.
Well, advice to those who leave for a long time, leaving the money tree literally to the mercy of fate. It is recommended to install a pot of flower in a tray with a height of 3-4 cm, filled with water. This amount of moisture can last for a month, and sometimes more. In order that the water from the pan can not evaporate, it can be wrapped with food film along with the pot, so that only the soil of the pot is open.
CRASH MONEY TREE - GROWING AND CARE: ADVICE AND REVIEWS
THE CRASSWAY WILL SURELY BLOWER
For many gardeners, Crassula blooms very rarely. And some didn’t even see it happening at all. I want to share what I do to make the plant happy with fragrant inflorescences. I just want to warn you that it begins to bloom at 4-5 years of age. Therefore, if Crassula is still young, there is no need to try to stimulate it.
LIGHTING AND TEMPERATURE
A light-loving fat woman stands on a sunny windowsill. Of course, it can grow on the north side, but then you won’t be able to wait for flowering at all.
In winter, the plant is comfortable at +10-12 degrees, (without cold drafts) in a well-lit place. High temperature is one of the main factors why Crassula does not bloom. In the summer, I take it out to the balcony, where there is a lot of fresh air.
BOTTLENING AND SUPPLEMENT
Money Tree does not tolerate waterlogging.
However, it is important not to allow the earthen ball to dry out completely.
During the period of active growth, I feed Crassula once every 2 weeks with complex fertilizers for cacti, adding preparations (alternating): “Lignohumate” (labeled “B” and “BM”) - for growth, “Gileya” - a mixture for flowering plants, succinic acid.
TRANSPLANT HYGIENE
I replant the tree when the pot becomes very small. It does not like frequent transplants and grows more readily in cramped containers. The substrate is made up of turf soil, coarse sand (or perlite) and pieces of charcoal. To prevent water stagnation, I pour a high drainage layer of expanded clay.
Be sure to remove old, dried leaves and faded buds from the plant.
© Author: Nadezhda STEPANOVA, Voronezh region.
COIN TREE FOR THE FORGETIVE – QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMENTS
Nyusya from Kyiv asked what was wrong with her coin tree: “The lower leaves begin to gradually dry out, shine strangely, turn brown and eventually fall off. Is this some kind of mushroom? What to do?"
Mira from Tatarstan was the first to respond and drew attention to the fact that money tree (tol-styanka) does not like excess moisture. I asked how often it was watered.
Nyusya replied that she doesn’t water the tree much. “It doesn’t grow very quickly, although it’s on a south-facing windowsill. Maybe he needs some shade?
Muscovite Rom165 admitted that she had ruined more than one money tree until she finally figured out what he needed. It turned out that there is practically no need to water it. So, once every two weeks and just a little bit, literally moisten the surface of the soil. And she advised: if the tree looks completely unimportant, then it is better to plant the cutting in a new pot and start all over again, this time correctly. Yes, and the pot shouldn’t be too big, it might be cramped for the roots.
Sofia from Lugansk reported that in winter (from November to March) the money tree is not watered at all. And in the summer - once a month and quite a bit. “I ruined a lot of money trees, until I simply forgot to water one for four months, right from October. And it happened like this. I rented an apartment in Kyiv, and on the balcony in a glass I found a cutting of a money tree with roots.
The water dried up a long time ago, but he doesn’t care, he’s so cheerful. I’m not a fan of high-rise buildings, I didn’t go to the balcony and I remembered that I wanted to pour water on the cuttings only a month later. And it was the middle of summer. Well, I think that's it, the end of the tree. No, it's alive and green! I took pity on it, planted it in a tiny pot (which I found) and began to water it. I see that the tree’s mood has deteriorated. I put it back and forgot about it again until October. And in October it had already grown beautifully, and we went home to Lugansk with it.
There I watered it once and left home until February. And upon arrival, looking out of my windows, I didn’t recognize the tree - it had grown so big. And here's another important point. Pots for a money tree are usually chosen in the same way as for other plants, but this is wrong. A money tree requires half the capacity.”
© Author: E. GROSHAVEN
FLOWER OF PROSPERITY, HAPPINESS AND LONGEVITY
Surely many people have this living talisman at home - the Crassula. And my mother’s “money tree” has been growing for many years. One day I decided to have a plant at home.
In the spring, I cut off part of the stem with a sharp knife and placed it in a glass of water, having previously dissolved an activated carbon tablet in it. As soon as the roots appeared, I planted the cuttings in a small pot with a light substrate. A month later I transferred it to a larger container, into soil for succulents.
Despite the fact that the fat plant loves the sun, in the heat its leaves can get burned. In summer I place the plant on a window facing east or southwest.
As a true succulent, the Crassula does not tolerate high humidity., so I water it infrequently; I always drain the water from the pan. I regularly wipe the leaves with a wet cotton pad to remove dust that prevents the plant from breathing.
I feed Crassula in the spring with complex fertilizer for succulents, in the summer - for indoor species Fertika (according to the instructions). For an adult bush, once a month I add 1 tsp to the top layer of soil. wood ash.
When the fat woman grew to 20-25 cm, it began to form a crown.
BENEFICIAL PROPERTIES OF JERK
Probably, few people know that this plant is in no way inferior to aloe in its beneficial properties. I was convinced of this in practice.
I moistened a bandage with juice from the leaves and applied it to cuts, scratches, and sprained ligaments.
Compresses made from the pulp of the leaves helped with a broken arm.
I heard that you should not abuse medicinal preparations based on fatty acids when taken orally, as they contain arsenic.
© Author: Elena KODOCHIGOVA, Kirov.
Experts comments
It is known that plants contain arsenic in minimal quantities - from 0,009 to 1 mg/kg of green mass. It enters them with water containing dissolved compounds of this element, or with fertilizers, since many of them (including superphosphate, ammonium nitrate, etc.) receive it as a natural impurity when extracted from rocks.
So the content of arsenic in indoor plants is not news, the question is the quantity. There is no data specifically on Crassula, but we can assume that it is a few milligrams per 1 kg of green mass.
This element is not volatile and is not released from the leaves into the air, so growing Crassula indoors is completely safe. Only from pets and small children (they can bite off and eat a twig), it is better to keep it away, however, like other poisonous plants (euphorbia, dieffenbachia, oleander, catharanthus).
For medicinal use. If the external use of the pulp or juice is one-time, then there is nothing to worry about, but if you plan to apply bandages regularly for a long time, it is better to avoid it. You should also not take fatty acid preparations internally, for example, chew the leaves and swallow saliva - there is always a replacement for this plant.
But caring for Crassula, admiring its healthy, powerful appearance, and performing “money rituals” for those who believe in its magical powers is completely safe and will only improve your mood.
© Author: Dina BALYASOVA, Ph.D. chem. sciences
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The fat woman is resting in the cool
When this crassula appeared in the collection of my daughter Natalia last year, we immediately began to study what conditions and care she needs. Gradually, the plant adapted to the new place and now feels great.
Lighting prefers bright, so it stands on the south side.
We reduce the temperature of the content for the winter (up to + 10-15 degrees). At this time, the fat woman has a period of rest.
Water after the soil is dry to a depth of 2-3 cm.
We feed only during the period of active growth (from May to September) with fertilizer for cacti and other succulents - once a month.
The bush is still young, so it has not been transplanted yet. It is recommended to do this every 2-3 years in the spring.
BTW, it was interesting and pleasant to know that Crassulas release substances into the air that destroy viruses.
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I want to share my joy with all the readers of Home Flowers. My fat one, which looks just like a tree, recently bloomed. And this is the second time in her life. My beauty is 7 years old.
For the first time, Crassula surprised at the age of three, but, however, the flowers appeared only on a few branches and a young shoot. And now the whole tree is like a white cloud!
I have been feeding him since the beginning of spring with fertilizer for cacti. The soil in the pot is also special for "thorns". The plant stands among other succulents on the floor of the southern balcony on a low stand. The room is insulated, but not airtight. And all the cacti that are there are blooming. So far, only aloes and agaves do not form buds, but I think this is a matter of time.
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I want to share with you my joy: I have a fat tree (a tree of happiness), and recently it has blossomed. Each branch has white flowers. And this is the second time!
The plant is seven years old. She first bloomed in the third year of life. For some reason, only three branches and a young shoot bloom for me. These plants stand on the south balcony, on the floor on a low stand. The balcony is not hermetically insulated, but in the old fashioned way.
Also, all the cacti that are in bloom. I fertilized from the beginning of spring with special fertilizer and also took special soil for cacti.
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I always believed that the money tree is a non-flowering plant. But one acquaintance told me that he allegedly has white flowers.
Is it true? Why did not the money tree bloom in my life?
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Your friend is right. A money tree, or a tree-size tree, of course, blooms. Its flowers are small (about 1 cm), can be white, white-pink, white-green, spread a strong sugary smell.
But often a fat girl does not blossom. The reason for this is the content of the plant not under optimal conditions. In order to stimulate the flowering of the money tree, it is necessary to keep the plant on the street or on the balcony throughout the warm season (from the beginning of the summer and up to strong frosts). And it is desirable to arrange it so that it does not get direct sunlight. In winter, the best place for a fat woman will be a cool room (10-15 °). The plant does not tolerate temperature changes, so it can not be moved immediately from the street into the room.
Perhaps the fat woman does not bloom due to the fact that she is crowded in the pot and already lacks nutrients. Transplant it into a more spacious container - and this must be done carefully, without violating the earthen lump.
In no case should the plant be poured. It should be watered only when the earth is completely dry. During the period of active growth (spring and summer), watering can be every other day. But from mid-autumn to early spring - 1-2 times a month. It was noted that after a slight drought (7-10 days), the plants bloomed. And another important fact: only plants older than 5 years bloom.
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I am often asked why the fat leaves fall, the barrel rot. I will share my observations.
The main thing in the care of the "money tree" is not to overdo it with water and top dressing.
The leaves fall away from the excessive moistening of the substrate and its supercooling. Perhaps, after thoroughly watering, you put the plant on a cool window sill - and here's the result.
WINTER watered every two, and at a temperature on the windowsill + 10-15 degrees., Once in 3 weeks.
If the problem still arose, you need to examine the roots: rotted - cut off and allow time to dry out. If the trunk is also damaged, cut
it to a healthy tissue, and let the wound dry out the days of 5. Plant the plant in a fresh dry substrate and do not water the 2 weeks, even if the leaves are wilted, later the turgor will recover. The main thing is to stop the process of decay.
If the trunk is damaged so that it is impossible to help the plant, cut off the side branches, dry the 2-3 cuts of the day and plant the cuttings in a dry substrate - suitable for cacti.
I first use plastic cups: when the roots will weave a clod of earth, I transplant the plant into a small pot. Every year or two, I gradually increase the capacity.
Planting a small specimen into a spacious pot also can cause the death of the plant: the roots are unable to quickly absorb the volume of water and rot.
The HANDICON is less dangerous, since the fleshy leaves contain a lot of water.
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For many years, I have been growing a money tree. I noticed that it grows especially well when I put it on a glazed balcony. This year almost all summer and autumn the plant stood on the balcony, but after one particularly cold night it was still frozen. To what temperature can you keep a money tree on the balcony?
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The Purslane Crassula, which is often called the money tree, is a succulent plant. It stores fluid in fleshy leaves. The homeland of this plant is subtropics. In spring and summer, the fat woman grows well at air temperatures of 20-25 °, in winter and autumn - at 10-15 °. But this plant is hard to tolerate sharp fluctuations
temperature, is experiencing great stress and is recovering for a long time. The fat girl dies at a temperature below 4 °. Therefore, if the temperature dropped to zero or lower on the balcony, the plant could not be saved. If there are living, unfrozen leaves, then the fatty will recover. However, this process will take time.