Money tree is a popular houseplant. It can be found not only in homes, but also in shopping centers, offices, shops. It is believed that it improves the financial situation. However, for the plant to grow well, to have large sheets of saturated green color, it needs to ensure proper care. The main thing is not only to plant it and water it, but also to feed it. Only in such conditions will the plant be truly beautiful. This article will tell you when, how and how to feed a money tree. We also consider other equally important points: recommendations of specialists for growing, transplanting, watering.
Short description
Crassula is a plant of the succulents family with a tree-trunk and a branched crown. Her homeland is Africa. Leaves can be either large or small, depending on the variety. They are fleshy and quite dense. Some people compare them to coins, as they have a rounded shape. An adult plant grows to 50 cm in height. There are instances and more of this mark.
In total, there are more than 300 types of money tree. Care recommendations will be given a little later. The most common variety is considered to be a tree crape. There are also other varieties:
- Crosbis Compact A distinctive feature is the reddish leaves of a small size (1 × 1.5 cm).
- Crassula ovata var. Obliqua. This variety combines two varieties. They are different leaves. In the first - white veins, in the second - yellow. The shape of the leaves is triangular with a sharp tip.
- Gollum and the Hobbit. Flowers of this variety have tubular leaves of an interesting shape.
Care Features
Those who decide to grow a fat woman at home, you need to choose the right place where she will stand. The fact is that the flower loves the light very much, but does not tolerate direct sunlight at all. They are detrimental to the plant. It is recommended to put the pot next to the window, if it is the south side. The southeastern part of the apartment is considered optimal. If there is not enough light, the leaves will begin to stretch, growth will slow down, the crown will be uneven.
Even with proper care at home, flowering money tree almost never pleases. In order to see the flowers, you need to create a natural habitat for the plant. And this is impossible in the latitudes of Russia. Inflorescences of the Crassulaceae are small. They can be of different shades: pink, white, yellow.
Why is a fat woman growing poorly?
Many novice flower growers are faced with the fact that the money tree is poorly growing (Crassula). How to care? In the reviews of specialists, the following reasons that slow down growth are highlighted:
- Violation of the rules of watering. The plant needs a different amount of water depending on the season. This will be discussed in more detail later.
- Pests and diseases. A diseased flower cannot fully develop. Because of this, its growth is suspended. Leaves may be lethargic. The mealybug, scutellum, spider mite are considered the most dangerous for the fat woman. Also, the plant may be affected by a fungal infection.
- Incorrect temperature conditions. During the growth period, the room should be + 20-30 ° . And when the plant is at rest, the temperature must be reduced to +16 ° C.
- Dust. If the leaves are covered with dust, then this negatively affects the development of the flower. Therefore, you should regularly wipe their surface with a damp cloth or cotton moistened with water.
Fertilizer and fertilizing
Often in reviews, people are interested in what and when to feed a money tree? This moment is very important. Without fertilizers, it is unlikely that you will be able to grow a beautiful flower. In the period of dormancy and active growth, it must be fed in different ways. Fertilizer is applied once a month, starting in April. Since October, its number has been halved. The frequency also decreases. It is important to fertilize the plant abundantly before dressing. This will protect the roots from burns. The next day you need to take a shower in the morning and evening.
How to feed the money tree? For this, experts recommend the use of universal tools for indoor plants. There are also special ones on sale that are designed for cacti and succulents.
Feeding rules:
- Dry fertilizers are diluted with either boiled or rain water.
- It is not permitted to add supplements while the plant is taking root.
- The best time for fertilizing the soil is evening.
In order for the money tree to fully develop, it needs nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and calcium. It is important to remember that both their lack and excess are negatively affected.
Calcium-based dressing
Of course, every grower can go to a specialized store and purchase ready-made fertilizer. However, it is possible to enrich the soil with calcium at home. As you know, this element is contained in an egg shell. There are three ways to prepare fertilizer for the fat woman.
- The first is to use the shell as a drainage layer. It is poured into the bottom of the pot with a thickness of 2-3 cm.
- The second is to make shell flour. Some gardeners use a blender for this. But you can grind it with a rolling pin. However, the shell must be well dried before this.
- The third is tincture. It is done very simply. Five eggshell eggs are poured with boiling water (0.5 l). Insist 7-10 days in a dark place. After that, they are used when watering instead of plain water.
Fertilizers from the store
If you are interested in how to feed a money tree, then you can purchase Gilea fertilizer. Its composition is great for succulents. Among flower growers is popular. Diluted with boiled water with the calculation of two caps, not a single liter of liquid. Top dressing is carried out only during the period of active growth. Also, Pokon, Effekton DC, Lignohumat, and Uniflor Cactus proved to be quite good.
Very carefully you need to choose fertilizers for the fat woman. It is not recommended to use mineral supplements with a large amount of nitrogen. Its excess will lead to the death of the flower.
Organic fertilizer
And how to feed the money tree? Wood ash! This fertilizer is considered the best for a fat woman. It contains just relatively little nitrogen, but there is an abundance of other substances. There are two ways to apply organics:
- Stir the ashes with the soil or add about 2 cm to the ground.
- Make a solution and water. To prepare it, you will need to take 200 g of ash, pour it with water and insist 7 days.
Features of watering
How to water a money tree at home? There are many nuances in this matter. The fact is that stagnation of water will inevitably lead to the death of the plant. Therefore, you need to be extremely careful with watering. Professionals believe that a fat woman is better off less water than more. But it is undesirable to dry the soil. If the flower does not have enough moisture, then this will be displayed on the leaves. At first they will become shriveled, then they will completely dry out.
So how do you water a money tree? Everything will depend on the season. In the summer in the heat, you need to do this every day, but little by little. It is important to wipe the crown regularly. But in winter, it is necessary to reduce watering to once every 2 weeks. If the room has a high level of moisture, then do it even less often.
In order to check if the soil has dried out, it is necessary to deepen the finger by about 2-3 cm. If it is dry, then it's time to water.
Recommendations
How to plant and grow a money tree? Let's find out what the experts recommend.
In order to plant a fat woman, nothing special needs to be done. Even a beginner grower will cope with this. It is necessary to prepare a pot. It is best to choose clay or ceramic, but in the absence of such, plastic is also suitable. Particular attention should be paid to the size of the container. In a very large pot, the tree will be uncomfortable. Its growth and development will slow down. To avoid unpleasant consequences, the size of the pot should be proportional to the height of the flower.
Having dealt with the container, you can begin to select the substrate. The money tree grows best in soil intended for cacti. If there is no way to buy ready-made soil, then it is done independently. To do this, you need to mix four parts of leafy or soddy soil with peat and sand. The latter are taken in a ratio of 4: 1. Do not forget about drainage. It is made of expanded clay, broken brick or ceramics, shells. This will prevent root rot in case of overflow.
Breeding a fat woman is easy. For this, cuttings, processes and even leaves are suitable. As for the latter, the plant discards them when a new shoot appears from the kidney. This leaf can be deepened into the kidney, and it will give roots over time. Do the same with cuttings. However, it is better to put them in a glass of water, so the roots will appear faster.
How to transplant a plant?
Large or small money tree must be transplanted. In the first case, it is recommended to do this no more than once every three years. But with young processes will have to tinker. They are transplanted regularly, as the fat woman “grows” out of the pot. How to do this in order not to harm the flower?
- Carefully remove the tree from the container. It is important not to forget that the fat woman has superficial roots.
- To clear all old soil. Can be washed under water.
- Inspect the roots for damage. If there are putrefactive processes, they must be removed, and the plant should be soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate.
- Prepare a new pot. Make a drainage layer. Pour the substrate. Moisten it a little.
- In the center, make a small indentation. Carefully put the plant in it.
- Add soil and slightly compact it.
- The last stage is watering.
That's it, the money tree has been transplanted. Now it will grow beautiful and healthy. Just do not forget that you can fertilize it no earlier than two weeks after the transplant. But how to feed the money tree is described in detail above.