Crassula is a popular plant that is found in almost every home and office. In nature, there are more than 300 types of crops, among which there are annual, perennial, shrubby and grassy forms. Very often, a plant is called a monetary or coin tree.
Origin history
What is the name of the money tree? It is often referred to as a fat girl or crassula. The plant is popular due to its unpretentiousness. Another name for the culture was due to the shape of the leaves, which resemble coins. Mint in different nations is called differently. According to popular beliefs, the fat woman is the keeper of the family hearth and well-being. It is for this reason that the housewives make sure that the plant is branched and healthy.
The birthplace of the mint tree is Africa. The fleshy leaves of the succulent well retain moisture, and a long flowering period can please culture lovers. However, at home, it is very difficult to achieve flowering, most often it is impossible, since the tree must be very old. In addition, suitable climatic conditions are needed for flowering, in which the coin tree grows in the homeland. It is problematic to provide such conditions in an apartment.
In nature, there are more than 300 types of culture, but only some of them are good for indoor breeding. Despite the name, the coin tree can have a bush, ampel, ground cover form.
Kinds
For home cultivation, the following types are most often used:
- A tree-like fatty, which grows to 1.5 meters when creating good conditions. It lends itself to the formation of crowns, so it is widely used for decorating rooms. A ten-year-old plant can bloom with small flowers of a pink or white hue.
- The Craper Crassula is a groundcover. It resembles a herbaceous plant and has thin shoots that curl as they grow. The flower blooms in summer. Inflorescences have a pink-white color and exude a pleasant aroma.
- The crustacean Crassula attracts the eyes with an unusual type of shoots, which have a tetrahedral shape and unusual aerial roots. This form is very demanding on watering. It should be frequent and regular.
- The fluffy Crassula is one of the varieties of shrubby forms. The plant has pointed leaves that resemble thorns. Crassula is often ampelous; it is used to create homemade topiary. Flowering culture is almost imperceptible, since the inflorescences are not decorative. But the plant is easily propagated by cuttings.
- The oval or purslane fatty grows up to a meter in height and has thick, juicy leaves of a round shape. A culture at home blooms very rarely. Inflorescences are painted in a pale pink tint.
In addition to these, there are several more varieties that are good for home growing. Usually in stores all plants are presented under the same name, although they have different shapes.
Lighting and location
What care does a mint tree need at home? It is very important to choose the right place for the fat girl. It is best to put it on the southeast window. The plant does not like direct sunlight, which causes redness and wilting of leaves.
Loss of foliage in a crop may indicate a lack of fresh air. In summer, the coin tree can be put on the balcony, where it will feel comfortable. In winter, the plant can be put on the south side.
Watering
In the hottest periods, the coin tree (photo is given in the article) must be watered twice a week. Under normal conditions, disposable watering is sufficient. It is necessary to monitor the state of the earthen coma. It can not be very dry, but the overflow is very harmful. The most common mistake of housewives is excessive soil moisture. In winter, the plant can be watered no more than once every two weeks.
Temperature mode
Continuing the conversation on how to care for the mint tree, it is worth saying a few words about the temperature regime. In summer and spring, the plant must be kept at a temperature of +20 ... + 25 ° C. In warm time, the crassula should be taken out to fresh air. In winter, the culture feels good at +15 degrees. However, the temperature should not fall below +4 degrees. The plant can hibernate at room temperature, but there is a high risk of wilting and falling leaves.
Breeding
According to popular belief, to create a real family amulet, you need to grow a coin tree yourself. A flower can be obtained from a process bought in a store or given by friends.
You can divide the plant into cuttings and plant them at any time of the year, not paying attention to the season.
Sometimes young plants are obtained from seeds. This option of reproduction is far from the easiest. In addition, it does not always give a good result. The easiest way to get a new plant is by grafting. It is difficult to get not only the seeds themselves, but also to properly root them.
A flowering money tree at home is a rarity. Therefore, there is no guarantee that the collected seeds will have good germination. It is much easier to order them online or purchase them in a store. Reproduction by seeds is a long and complicated process. The seed is first left to swell in warm water. After a day, the seeds are placed in the ground, covered with glass. After the soil is regularly moistened with a spray bottle. The first sprouts can appear in two weeks. In the future, plants will begin to actively reach for the sun. At this stage, it is necessary to ensure the correct temperature regime (+18 ... + 20 ° ). Young plants need to be watered with care, as excessive moisture can ruin them.
As soon as the money tree reaches 3-5 centimeters, it can be transplanted into a separate pot.
Landing
To plant a coin tree, you need a shoot of at least 5-8 centimeters in length. Cuttings root perfectly in the ground. For planting, you should purchase a specialized substrate. In flower shops there is always a wide selection of soil for cactus and succulents.
If you plan to prepare the soil yourself, then you should mix one part of the turfy soil, the same amount of sand and three parts of leafy soil.
Before planting at the bottom of the pot, lay out expanded clay drainage. You can also use broken brick crumbs. As fertilizers, you can use wood ash, mineral complexes and humus. For better survival, the stalk needs to be dried. After a day, it can be planted in a pot.
In addition, you can root the plant in water, adding a little ash for disinfection. Usually the first roots appear within a week. You can plant a stalk at the moment when the root system reaches two centimeters.
Another option for reproduction is the rooting of the leaf. To do this, you need to take a large copy. The leaf is rooted according to the same technology as the stalk. The pot for the money tree must be chosen quite spacious, since over time the plant takes on significant dimensions. A stalk is planted in the middle of the tank.
Feeding and watering
How to water a coin tree? Plant care is very simple. Since the tree belongs to succulents, it tolerates drought well. Fleshy leaves accumulate a lot of fluid. Nevertheless, the plant needs regular watering so that it does not lose its attractive appearance.
Water the tree with filtered water. But you should not allow overflow, which can lead to decay of the roots. But the plant does not need spraying. You can regularly wipe the leaves from dust or arrange a bath for the tree.
Fertilizing is necessary from April to September, but not more than once a month. For this, you can take special complexes for cacti. They must be applied after watering.
In the cold season, the need for nutrition and watering of the plant decreases. Therefore, fertilizer must be half as much.
Pruning
Pruning is an integral part of forming the crown of a coin tree. Home care is simple and does not require significant time costs. If you want to get a certain form of a plant, then you need to start forming a fatty woman early enough. To do this, pinch the culture every three to four leaves. Branches will appear at these points in the future. They also need to pinch. The places of cuts must be sprinkled with wood ash. For these purposes, you can use the most common activated carbon.
If you want to get a tree shape, then you can follow the advice of experienced gardeners. It is necessary to remove all side shoots until the sprouts reach a sufficient height (25 centimeters). After that, you will have to pinch the crown so that the lateral branches begin to form actively. If you approach the process responsibly, you can get a beautiful branchy tree with a dense crown.
Healing properties
Although the plant is widespread, not many people know about its healing properties. It contains unique substances that are very effective in treating various ailments.
Crassula is used:
- For the treatment of dermatological diseases: eczema, psoriasis, lichen, herpes. To do this, apply lotions and rubbing with the juice of the culture.
- For the treatment of kidney ailments. Use tincture from the leaves of the plant.
- For healing ulcers. It is necessary to eat two leaves of a coin tree on an empty stomach. This method helps to cope with colitis and gastritis.
Alcohol tincture from leaves helps to heal and disinfect wounds. It can be used as a gargle for the throat. To help deal with hemorrhoids, the juice of the fatty can.
Despite all the useful properties of the plant, there are contraindications to its use - this is individual intolerance. Overdose during treatment can also cause allergies.
What problems can arise when growing?
Money tree is considered unpretentious culture. Nevertheless, beginning flower growers very often encounter some problems when growing. Crassula is of interest due to its attractive appearance. But often leaves fall. This problem is one of the most common. The plant quickly loses its decorative effect.
There may be several reasons for this phenomenon:
- Excess moisture can cause the leaves to fall. In this case, it is necessary to extract the tree together with an earthen lump and dry it naturally. After the plant returns to its place. In the future, the frequency of watering should be reviewed.
- The reason for dropping foliage may be a lack of nutrients. We already mentioned that top dressing should be carried out monthly, then your tree will always look attractive. But in autumn and winter, the amount of fertilizer should be minimal.
- When a plant freezes or when it is poured with cold water, leaf fall is also possible. In this case, the tree must be placed in comfortable conditions, then it will quickly recover from stress.
When is a transplant required?
The need for a transplant occurs after a few years. A sign of the need to place the tree in a new container is entangled with the roots of an earthen lump. When the fat girl does not have enough space, she stops growing.
Without acute need, the tree should not be disturbed. Most often, it feels comfortable in the hill for the first three years. And only after that you can think about transplanting a money tree. Leaving at home for him otherwise will not cause you trouble.