Description of the species
To understand how to plant a money tree at home, you need to carefully study the basic information about representatives of the species. As you know, the plant is also called Crassula and Crassula, but people are accustomed to calling it money plant. Under natural conditions, the Crassula can be found in the tropical forests of South Africa, but due to its unpretentious nature, it freely takes root in a limited environment, including in a room. Among the key features of culture, the following should be highlighted:
Crassula does not need excessive watering. Moreover, she is generally afraid of severe waterlogging of the soil.- Growing in a heavy substrate and choosing the wrong container are the main mistakes of beginners, through which the plant stops fully developing and even dies.
- As the crop matures, it needs to do formative pruning. It involves pinching leaves. You may also need to transplant it from one container to another.
- Frequent fertilizing with complex fertilizers negatively affects the external condition of the tree.
- Crassula needs plenty of sunlight, so it should not be placed in shaded areas
According to encyclopedic data, there are currently more than 350 varieties of succulents. The type of Crassula ovoid is ideal for indoor keeping, which is distinguished by beautiful leaves with a dark green color, a fleshy surface and an oval shape. It also has a lignified trunk, thickened at the base. Under favorable conditions, the plant can grow up to two meters or more.
Money tree description
Crassula is an unpretentious house tree, has a thick, woody stem and foliage shaped like money coins. Belongs to the genus Succulents, numbering over 300 varieties. The bush can have two types of trunk: creeping and straight. In a natural environment, the height of a tree can vary from 3 cm to 5 meters. Depending on the varietal variety, the foliage can be of different shapes and colors, 4-7 cm in length.
The indoor plant blooms with large white or white-pink flowers that gather in a semi-umbrella. The tree blooms quite rarely, approximately at 7-10 years of age. During flowering, the inflorescences fill the room with a persistent sweet aroma.
Interesting! Any pair of leaves is located at an angle of 90 degrees relative to the previous one.
Reproduction methods
Given the high popularity of the fat plant, many people are interested in what ways they can propagate it at home. As you know , the following options can be used for this purpose:
- Propagation by cuttings.
- Seeds.
- Leaves.
- By shoots.
The simplest method of growing Crassula is cuttings. Even a novice florist can carry out the procedure without much difficulty. The main thing is to carefully study the step-by-step guide and know how to take a shoot from a money tree:
- To prepare cuttings, it is enough to break a living twig from an adult tree. A vertical shoot is used as a shoot, which will make a beautiful tree. Its size should be no less than 5 and no more than 10 centimeters.
- The lower leaves of the cuttings break off, because roots will form in their place. If the shoot already has aerial roots, then rooting will occur much faster, although their presence is not necessary.
- The prepared planting material must be transferred to a container with water. It is advisable to treat it with a special agent that stimulates root growth. This could be Zircon or any other drug. It is enough to add four drops of a suitable substance to a liter of water, and then pour it into a glass, placing it on a lighted windowsill. Depending on the intensity of water drying, it must be changed periodically. If everything is done correctly, then within 1-2 weeks the sprout will take root.
How to plant a money tree from a scion
There are several options for propagating Crassula. So it is recommended to cut the cuttings carefully, after which it is recommended to place the shoot in water to take root.
To do this you need:
- Select a branch at least ten centimeters long and, after cutting off excess leaves from its lower part, place the shoot in a jar of water;
- To activate root formation, it is worth using stimulants. However, even without additives, the cutting will sprout its first roots within seven days from the moment of separation from the mother plant;
- After the roots are strong enough, the shoot should be planted in a pre-prepared substrate. The best substrate is for cacti or other succulents;
- It is recommended to give preference to small pots, at the bottom of which a drainage layer of expanded clay or small pebbles must be installed. If necessary, you should use a support for the young shoot.
This option for planting Crassula is known to many and is widespread in home gardening. It is characterized by high efficiency and speed of seedling growth.
Rooting in soil
Flower growers also practice the option of rooting crassula directly in the soil without placing it in a glass of water. In this case, everything is done according to the following instructions:
- Suitable planting material is treated with charcoal at the cut site, after which it is transferred to the open air to dry. As a rule, 1 day is enough for this.
- An expanded clay layer is placed in a compact container with a good drainage system. The substrate for planting is a soil mixture of one part garden soil and sand. After thorough mixing, the soil layers are added to the container.
- In the center of the container, use the back of a pencil or ballpoint pen to make a small indentation (3-4 cm). Then the treated cuttings are transferred into it. The earthen lump nearby is slightly compacted and moistened with a spray bottle. It is necessary to water the sprout as the upper soil layers dry out. For this purpose, settled liquid at room temperature is used.
- Under favorable conditions, the process of rooting cuttings will take no more than two to three weeks. As for transplanting into another pot, it is carried out only after six months.
If you follow the above steps exactly according to the established instructions, then in a few months you will be able to grow a real miracle of nature - a money tree.
Technology of planting a shoot
There are several ways to plant shoots of a magical plant. The general technology is the same for all methods, only there are small nuances.
Without spines
There is a situation in which the shoot needs to be quickly planted in a container or the petiole does not produce roots for a long time. In this case, you can plant the shoot directly into the substrate. A drainage layer is laid out at the bottom of the flower pot. The container is filled with a nutrient mixture. Next, a small depression is made in the substrate, a petiole is planted and sprinkled with soil. After planting, the seedling is covered with a glass container. The container is not removed until the first sprouts appear. Watering is carried out as the soil dries, preferably through a tray.
in winter
The optimal time for planting reeds is considered to be spring and summer. However, planting can be done at other times of the year. The main thing to remember is that in winter, biological processes slow down in all crops. Consequently, it may take a little longer for the planting to take root and develop. It is also important to provide the necessary microclimate for the plant, maintaining the desired temperature and soil moisture.
Important! In winter, it is necessary to protect the young tree from sudden temperature changes and drafts. You should not place a container with fatty mushrooms in close proximity to heating appliances.
In water
When growing petioles, water is used as an intermediate step. Leaves and petioles are germinated in a container with water for further transfer to the pot. Do not leave seedlings in containers with water for too long. The longer they stay there, the more the root system will grow, which in the future can cause some difficulties with the growth and development of the plant.
With roots
The prepared container with drainage holes is half filled with substrate. Carefully place the seedling without pressing it, so as not to damage the young roots. Holding it, sprinkle the shoot in a circle with soil. The petiole should be placed directly in the center of the flower pot. When planting several seedlings in a long container, it is necessary to maintain a proportional distance between each of them. After planting, the plantings are watered with settled water at room temperature.
According to feng shui
The preparation and planting of the shoot from the biological side remains unchanged for Feng Shui adherents. Otherwise, it is generally accepted that a stolen shoot will bring more luck than one bought or given as a gift. According to Feng Shui beliefs, the container for planting should be black, red, brown or burgundy. You can also choose gold or silver tones. It is recommended to plant on the waxing Moon; Wednesday is considered a favorable day.
Interesting! Followers of the teaching believe that when planting a shoot, it is important to say the magic words: “For you to grow, I have enough to bloom.” This is my will - it will be so!”
How to plant a cutting
The next way to grow crassula is to use shoots. To successfully complete this task, you need to figure out how to plant a money tree shoot without roots and carefully study the step-by-step guide:
- First you need to place a small drainage layer at the bottom of the pot.
- Then fertile soil is poured into the container, which can be used as a mixture of equal parts garden soil and sand. However, when using this soil mixture, it is pre-treated with a manganese solution.
- A hole is made in the central part of the soil where the cutting will be installed.
- As a result, the layer of earth is leveled and compacted.
To successfully carry out planting work, you need to choose the right pot. It is not advisable to use containers that are too small, because as the crop matures, it will rapidly grow in breadth, becoming large in diameter. The ideal pot has a diameter of 7-10 centimeters. In such containers, the money tree can quickly take root and grow. If everything went well, after a year the seedling will be suitable for transplanting into a larger flowerpot.
How to plant Crassula from a leaf
Growing a money tree from a leaf is a labor-intensive task that only experienced gardeners can do. Since when using cuttings, an almost ready-made seedling is taken as a basis, this option is not difficult.
But growing an adult tree from a leaf will require a lot of time and effort.
However, subject to a number of rules, this is also possible for beginners.
For cultivation, it is recommended to give preference to healthy leaves, which need to be broken off or cut off. As a last resort, if you don’t want to injure the flower, you should even use fallen leaves. Often leaves that fall into a pot germinate on their own, so they are perfect for propagation.
There are two main ways of planting crassulas - with preliminary germination in water and in a substrate.
Each option has its own advantages. When pre-germinating in water, the likelihood that the seedling will take root increases significantly. The first roots with this option appear already on the seventh day.
The selected leaf is placed in a small container of water so that the cutting is immersed in it by a third. To be sure, you can add some stimulants to the water. After germination, the seedlings are transplanted into a pot.
If there is no time or desire to wait for the leaf to take root, you can immediately place the cuttings in the substrate, systematically moistening it.
It is important to consider that, regardless of the chosen method of planting, it should be done in summer or spring. This is a period of increased growth, which is especially important when growing seedlings.
About how to plant a money tree correctly, all the details, watch the video:
Growing from a leaf
Another popular way to grow crassula is propagation from leaves. To successfully germinate a plant, it is important to follow these instructions:
- Almost any Crassula leaf can be used as planting material, with the exception of old and flabby specimens that will not be able to take root.
- A suitable leaf is moved into a small glass filled to the middle with water, after which it remains to wait until the first roots emerge from it.
- Then the leaf with roots is placed in a small container with fertile, light soil. Watering is carried out no more than twice a week. For this procedure, a small amount of settled water is used. Within a month, the leaf should finally take root and begin to grow.
Propagation of cacti by seeds
Cactus seeds can be purchased at almost any flower shop. Despite its availability and prevalence, the problem with germination, alas, has not been canceled.
First, the seeds are soaked in water and left for about one day. After soaking, carry out a 5-minute treatment in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After these steps, you need to select a miniature, low container and fill it with washed river sand. The thickness of the sand is usually several centimeters. Subsequently, it will perform the function of drainage, removing excess moisture from the pot. After finishing work with the drainage, they begin to fill the container with soil for the future plant.
The seeds themselves are laid out on top of the soil without pressing them into the ground. It is necessary to sow no closer than 5-10 mm from each other. Considering that not all of them will sprout and take root, the frequency of future cacti will be optimal for subsequent care.
It is recommended to sprinkle small layers of sand on top. Watering of this entire structure is carried out exclusively from below, by immersion in a container of water.
What to do if the seeds do not germinate
The most likely cause of this situation was too much soil above the seeds. Unfortunately, it will no longer be possible to do anything here. However, it is necessary to learn from experience and use a smaller layer of soil and sand on top of the seeds in subsequent sowings.
Another possible reason is that the ambient temperature is too low. In such a situation, sometimes it is enough to cover the pot with a small piece of glass or plastic film and move it to a warmer place. That is, it is necessary to create conditions that are as similar as possible to greenhouse conditions.
You can read in more detail about all the intricacies of germinating cactus seeds in this article .
Planting seeds
Some housewives speak well of the seed propagation of the fat plant. However, this method is not very popular due to its labor intensity. However, if the emphasis is on growing from seeds, then this requires the following steps:
- The seed material is transferred to a container of a suitable size with a high-quality soil composition. It is desirable that there be a stable temperature indoors in the range of 20−25 degrees Celsius. Bottom heating of the container is not necessary.
- After sowing the seeds, the container must be covered with polyethylene. If we are talking about growing in a compact greenhouse, then a lid is used. Seedlings need daily watering with settled water at room temperature. After treating the crops with a spray bottle, the greenhouse should be kept for an hour without a lid for ventilation. Good air exchange will thoroughly dry the soil and saturate it with oxygen. The container is then closed again.
- As soon as the first shoots emerge from the ground, remove the lid or plastic film while continuing watering. Rooted shoots are transplanted.
When and how to cut a cactus
The most favorable period for obtaining cactus cuttings is from May to July. That is, we are talking about the phase of active growth of the main stem. At this time of year, the plant is most active in all processes and has the maximum reserve of vitality. All metabolic processes occur quickly and efficiently in the summer. Especially when using complex fertilizers .
On the contrary, in winter , such manipulations with the plant are absolutely contraindicated. The succulent needs rest and proper temperature conditions . It is he who will subsequently play a key role in the flowering of the bush.
Cactus cuttings
The sequence of actions to obtain a new bush using a cut cutting:
- Using a sharply sharpened knife (or a razor blade, which is more convenient), we cut the selected cuttings 10-15 centimeters long.
- The cut area must be treated with garden varnish, a special product, or, in extreme cases, simply sprinkled with charcoal crumbs.
- The cut cuttings must be thoroughly dried. It is left without processing the cut, in the open air, for 7-14 days. Usually, this is done in a container with completely dry sand or even left in the open air. Watering is not needed at all. The base of the cut should dry completely. The main purpose of this action is to prevent the cut from subsequently rotting. That is why you need to wait for it to dry.
- small pot is selected A small drainage layer of expanded clay or small pebbles is poured into the base. Next, sand is poured. Now the sand is moistened and moisture is maintained for the formation of the plant's root system.
- After the cactus has adapted to the conditions and formed primary roots, it is transplanted into prepared, special soil for succulent plants .
- In the case of cultivating forest cacti, special attention is paid to the humidity of the surrounding air. For these varieties, you will need to set up a mini greenhouse similar to a polydarium. In the simplest version, you can build a structure from glass or transparent plastic to retain excess moisture.
Thus, to summarize the above, it is necessary to remember that the optimal time for rooting and planting a cactus shoot is spring or summer. If the succulent plant will live in normal indoor conditions, then you need to choose a warm, not too bright place for the flower pot.
How to choose the right shape and size of the required cactus pot is described in detail in this article .
So, we select the shoots located on the main stem of the plant. It is necessary to separate the children as carefully as possible, without damaging the cactus trunk itself. Otherwise, rot , which will lead to the complete loss of the succulent.
Children are cut, usually with a well-sharpened knife or a sharp cutter. The most important thing is, under no circumstances, do not immediately plant the baby in the ground. For several days, it is necessary to dry the cut area. Ideally, put the cut baby in a dark, but not cool place. Remember, cactus is a very resistant plant to drying out .
To grow a cactus from a shoot yourself, you only need patience and accuracy. The cut, slightly dried shoot is placed in a small container with slightly damp sand. The key point during this period is temperature . The ambient temperature should not be lower than +18…+20 degrees Celsius. After one to two weeks in the wet sand, roots begin to form.
Now you can carefully replant the plant into special soil for succulent plants . After replanting into a new container, be very careful about adding water to the soil. Overmoistening is unacceptable. While the plant is very small, it is very easy to flood it.
The soil for the shoots should contain a large amount of sand and have excellent drainage. It is allowed to make additional drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.
crumbs onto the very bottom of the pot. The use of crushed stone is not recommended. It has very sharp edges and easily damages the roots of the plant. This becomes especially important during bush transplants. Damage to roots when using crushed stone occurs very often. In most cases, this negatively affects the speed of adaptation and growth of the plant.
Diseases and pests
Despite its relatively unpretentious nature and strong immune system, the fat woman can be exposed to dangerous diseases and pests. Most often, it suffers from spider mites, the vital activity of which is accompanied by the appearance of a whitish coating-web on the leaf cover. To overcome the problem, simply treat the leaves with a soap solution. If the problem is seriously advanced, you will have to use a complex remedy called “Fufanon”.
If the leaves of the crop are covered with brown or rusty spots, this may indicate the activity of another dangerous pest - scale insects. The affected areas should be treated with a brush soaked in alcohol, and then wiped with a sponge soaked in soapy water. Fufanon or Fitoverm can be used as effective drugs for pest control.
The appearance of white flakes in the leaf axils is often explained by the activity of mealybugs. Also, when affected by this parasite, the plant begins to grow slowly and suffers from deformation of the shoots. Frequent leaf shedding also occurs. For small lesions, foreign formations are removed with a regular brush. At advanced stages, you will have to use Actellik solution. The sooner radical measures are taken, the faster the plant will return to its previous regime and take on a healthy appearance.
If the leaves turn yellow and wilt, it is necessary to reconsider the watering regime. Perhaps it is too intense, which leads to the development of putrefactive processes. The falling of leaves is explained by long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the leaf cover. To prevent the problem, the container with the plant must be moved deeper into the room and watered additionally.
How to grow a money tree at home - planting and care instructions
The money tree is a plant belonging to the Crassulaceae family, named for the shape of its leaves. Other common names are Crassula and Crassula.
About 350 species of this succulent are found in nature. Crassula ovoid is common in indoor floriculture. Its oval leaves are dark green and fleshy. The trunk is lignified, thickened at the base. The plant is spreading and branched, and can reach two or more meters in height. Learn how to grow a money tree at home from scratch.
- Methods of propagation of the beautiful Crassula
- Conditions and rules for growing fat plants
- Ideal soil and the right pot
- Location and regular care
- Crown formation and wintering
- Dangerous diseases and pests
Methods of propagation of the beautiful Crassula
Growing a homemade money tree yourself is very simple, even for a novice gardener. This can be done in several ways.
With the help of a shoot . Rooting of a Crassula cutting occurs quite quickly.
Rooting in water:
- A cutting 7-10 cm long is placed in a container of water, removing about 3 cm of leaves from the bottom.
- You can add rooting stimulants to the water, for example, kornevin, but this is not at all necessary, since without any additives the cuttings will take root in about a week.
- The resulting shoot is planted in the ground.
Plant the shoot directly into the ground:
- The base is buried 2-3 cm into the ground for cacti or succulents, sprayed with water and, if necessary, a support is installed.
- The pot is chosen to be small in size and a layer of drainage is placed on the bottom.
- Roots appear quickly, within 1-2 weeks.
Using a sheet . A money tree is grown from a leaf using the same methods as from a cutting. First, I root the leaf in water, then plant it in the ground, or immediately plant the leaf in the ground and wait for young shoots. The principle is the same as when growing violets from a leaf.
Conditions and rules for growing fat plants
In order for the money tree, according to popular belief, to bring profit and improve financial well-being, it must be properly cared for. After all, as legends say, only a healthy, powerful and properly formed plant has magical properties.
Ideal soil and the right pot
The best soil for Crassula is suitable for cacti and succulents. If a universal mixture is used, then part of the river sand is added to it in a ratio of 3:1. If the soil is acidic, then dolomite flour is added to it - Crassula does not grow well in an acidic environment.
The pot should be low and wide. Select the size of the pot based on the size of the plant. The diameter of the pot should be approximately equal to the diameter of the crown. The money tree grows equally well in clay and ceramic dishes, as well as in plastic pots. Be sure to add a few centimeters of drainage to the bottom of the container.
Location and regular care
The fat woman prefers a bright and warm place. The eastern side is ideal for growing it , but the western and southern sides are acceptable. When grown on a southern windowsill, the tree must be shaded from the scorching rays of the sun.
Every 2-3 weeks the pot should be rotated on 1/4 axis towards the light source. It is necessary to protect the plant from drafts. They can cause leaves to fall. By the way, the toast is recommended as a plant for the bedroom; it is believed that its presence improves the relationship between spouses.
The money tree should be watered regularly and abundantly. The earthen clod should not be allowed to dry out more than 2-3 cm. The water should be at room temperature. In winter, watering is slightly reduced.
Feed the fat plant with universal fertilizer or fertilizer for cacti and succulents. The frequency of fertilizing during the spring-summer growing season is once every 2-3 weeks. The rest of the time, fertilizers are not used.
Crown formation and wintering
To grow a thick money tree , you need to plant it in a small pot. When the entire earthen ball is entwined with roots, the fat plant will begin to increase the mass of the trunk, and then the crown.
In order to stimulate the formation of a lush crown , pinching begins already when the young plant has a bud above four pairs of leaves. It is pinched so that after some time two shoots form in its place, which, in turn, are pinched in a similar pattern.
Crassula does not have a pronounced period of rest. However, from October to February-March, it is advisable to keep the plant in a cooler place, approximately 15-20 degrees. Watering is carried out when the earthen clod is half dry.
Dangerous diseases and pests
The most common cause of Crassula disease is spider mites . In this case, the trunk, branches and leaves are covered with a white coating of cobwebs. A soap solution will help get rid of it. A soft sponge is moistened with soap dissolved in water and wiped all areas of the plant. In case of severe damage, it is worth using the drug "Fufanon".
If brown or rusty spots appear on the leaves of the money tree, then we can conclude that it is infected with scale insects . The affected areas are wiped with a brush dipped in alcohol, then, as in the case of spider mites, the leaves, branches and trunk are wiped with a sponge dipped in a soap solution. It is recommended to use "Fufanon" or "Fitoverm" among the drugs.
White flakes in the leaf axils indicate mealybug . In this case, the plant slows down its growth, the shoots become deformed, and the leaves may fall off. If the lesions are small, then foreign formations are cleaned off with a brush. If a significant part of the plant is affected, then it is necessary to use actellik for treatment.
If the leaves have lost turgor, become lethargic and yellow, then there may be several reasons:
- One of the most common is insufficient watering. The pot is placed in a container with warm, settled water for 15 minutes, then the excess moisture is allowed to drain.
- The second reason is decay. The leaves become wet. The plant is taken out of the pot, the soil is shaken off, the roots are inspected and damaged ones are removed. The cut areas are sprinkled with crushed coal. Plant the tree in fresh soil and reduce watering for a while.
- Long exposure to direct sunlight can cause leaves to yellow and fall off. To prevent this, the pot with the plant is removed to the back of the room and sufficient watering is provided.
In the warm season, the money tree can be kept in the fresh air - used for a garden on a balcony or in landscape gardening. It is important to ensure that the air temperature does not fall below 15 degrees and not leave the plant in the rain.
Home gardening expert Nastasya Vorob spoke about how to properly grow a money tree from a shoot or leaf. Tips for proper care of house plants are waiting for you in this section.
Proper care
Having figured out how to grow a crassula from a shoot, it remains to clarify the basic requirements for caring for a newly grown crop. For a tree to grow healthy, strong and blooming, you do not need to know any special tricks or perform complex procedures. It is enough to properly and promptly care for it, following a number of simple rules:
- It is known that the fat plant is a light-loving plant, so when kept indoors it should be kept on a well-lit windowsill. At the same time, light partial shade is tolerated by the plant quite normally. However, if the light regime is very poor, the tree will stop developing normally, the leaves will begin to fade and become sick, and instead of lush flowering, you will see empty, unopened inflorescences that will soon fall off.
- Adult representatives of the species do not need excessive watering. If you do not maintain the optimal level of humidity, then over time you will notice a rapid fall of leaves, as well as the appearance of diseases of the root system.
- When watering, the correct dosage must be observed. This procedure is carried out several times a week. In winter, watering is reduced to twice a month.
- As for fertilizing, they are applied no more than once every 30 days and only during the growing season of the plant.
- If you spray the succulent with melt water, it will give it a colorful, glossy hue.
- In summer, flower growth will be more active in the fresh air.
As you know, Crassula blooms very rarely. If it so happens that the tree blooms, it means that this is incredible luck and an isolated incident. Since ancient times, this phenomenon has been considered a good harbinger of good luck and wealth.
Crassula is an amazing representative of tropical flora, about which there are a variety of reviews. Possessing an interesting appearance, relatively unpretentious character and a talisman of the family hearth, this plant is of interest to many fans of indoor plants. Growing a crop is not only interesting, but also simple, because all the subtleties of care come down to a few mandatory procedures. Nature does the rest on its own.
Proper care of the growing money tree will be a sign of imminent wealth and prosperity.
How to plant a shoot to attract money
Most Crassula owners believe that proper plant care alone is not enough to attract cash flow. It is important to plant and speak a flower correctly in order to comply with ancient beliefs about wealth.
In order to ensure well-being in the family, when planting a shoot, you must follow some tips:
- When landing, pay attention to the current phase of the moon. Planting a tree on a waning moon is a bad omen.
- The flower itself is not a carrier of the energy of wealth and prosperity. The plant receives all its energy from the outside. Therefore, it is best to get the shoot from people with a good level of income.
- During boarding they say the phrase “I attract money. I'm getting rich. My income is increasing."
- It is important during the disembarkation process not to be distracted by extraneous conversations or actions.
- A few coins must be placed at the bottom of the container, thereby attracting cash flow.
- Water for the money tree can be infused with gold or silver for three days. It is important not to use jewelry for these purposes - they already have their own, not always positive, energy. It's better to use coins.
Remember! Gold coins and red ribbons serve as additional talisman for attracting money. They are hung on the leaves of the flower, creating an additional flow of financial energy.