Category: Succulents, Care Published November 28, 2018 · Comments: · Reading time: 12 min · Views: 3,178
Crassula or Crassula is more often known as the “money tree” - a flower to which magical properties are attributed to attract well-being - family and financial. In addition, names such as tree of happiness or monkey tree are in use.
But gardeners love this succulent plant not only for its unusual properties and the legends floating around, but also for its unpretentiousness, active growth and high adaptability. The flower requires minimal care, so it does not require much time. However, if you do not take into account that Crassula is a succulent, you can make serious mistakes and then it will get sick. What diseases of Crassula most often plague the plant and how can you help your green pet?
Why do Crassula leaves fall off?
Dropping leaves is the most common reaction of the Crassula to unfavorable living conditions. The leaves of the money tree fall for many reasons, sometimes it is very difficult to find out. Here are the most common reasons why a plant's leaves fly off:
- Insufficient or excessive watering and air humidity;
- Incorrect lighting of the plant;
- Lack of feeding and replanting;
- Diseases and pests.
Lack and excess of moisture in the soil and air affects the plant differently. But both of these factors can lead to the fact that the fat plant begins to shed its leaves. Insufficient watering and low air humidity lead to wilting and wrinkling of the leaves of the fat plant. The leaf blades become thinner, curl up and gradually dry out. Dry and half-dried leaves of the money tree flower are falling off.
When there is an abundance of moisture in the air and it stagnates in the soil, the leaves of the fat plant become covered with white dots.
If watering and humidity are not reduced in time, the root system of the plant will rot. This is accompanied by massive yellowing of the leaves, starting from the bottom. With root rot, leaves fall off, completely exposing the branches.
Errors in lighting the Crassula also affect its leaves and decorativeness.
When there is insufficient lighting, the leaves of the plant become smaller and the branches become elongated. Then the leaves fall, but this happens gradually, starting from the bottom. And in direct sun, the leaves wrinkle and turn red, and then dry out and fall off.
Very important components of plant care are fertilizing and replanting in new soil.
Crassula does not require a lot of nutrients. But if irresponsible gardeners do not replant their plants for years and never feed them, they no longer have enough nutrition. Crassula slows down its growth and loses leaves from below. In advanced cases, the plant is completely exposed.
Crassula often loses its leaves due to disease or pest damage. The most common diseases of this species are root and stem rot. At the same time, the leaves turn yellow and fall off already at the initial stages of the disease, first individually, then en masse.
There are other accompanying symptoms. With root rot, this is a cessation of growth.
With stem rot - softening of the trunk and branches. The pest-affected Crassula also sheds its leaves. They may turn yellow or dry out before falling off. If during leaf fall harmful insects are found on the plant, it is for this reason that the money tree withers and sheds its leaves.
Biological features of the Crassula
In ordinary plants, mature and well established, the root goes beyond the projection of the crown. This rule does not work with leafy succulents, including money trees.
The most commonly found in culture are the Crassula Ovata and Treelike. They form a voluminous above-ground part and reach a height of:
- in nature – up to 3 m;
- when grown at home - 1-1.5 m.
The fibrous root remains small and weak. In his homeland, South Africa, he is inactive most of the time. And when it rains, it turns into a pump, pumping water from the upper layers of the soil. And it does it quickly, because moisture does not stay in poor, well-drained soil.
Water accumulates in powerful stems, small, fleshy leaves covered with thick epidermis. They are real reservoirs for moisture and allow the fat plant to survive in drought.
In Russian apartments, conditions differ significantly from South Africa or warm countries where money trees grow outside, especially in winter. Although the plastic plant has adapted well to them, the biological characteristics and origin of the Crassula must be taken into account. Otherwise, you will have to look for the reasons why the plates have become soft, fall off, dry out or turn black.
How to save a money tree if its leaves fall
If leaves fall from the money tree (crassula), and the causes of this phenomenon are established, they must be eliminated immediately. If this is incorrect care, you can simply correct it.
The plant will begin to grow foliage and send out new shoots. With the treatment of diseases, the situation is more complicated. Here you can’t do without special compounds. You should also know how to deal with harmful insects so that the fat plant suffers less from them and regains its decorative appearance.
Adjust the watering regime
If a money tree loses its leaves due to improper watering, it needs to be adjusted. In summer, the fat plant needs to be watered abundantly, but rarely. Between waterings, the earthen ball in the pot should dry out almost completely.
Typically watered every 2 weeks in summer. In winter, the plant, which is in a cool hibernation, is watered very rarely and little.
Only in very hot weather can you water a little more often. At low temperatures, there is a high risk of developing fungal infections.
Therefore, the money tree is kept so that only the lower part of the soil in the pot is slightly damp. The rest of the earthen lump should be dry. Watering is carried out monthly in small portions.
Tap water is left to stand for 3-4 days in an open container. Water the tree with warm water, the temperature of which should be 2-3ºC higher than the ambient temperature. You should not water the plant with cold water, since when the roots suddenly cool down, the leaves of the tree often fall off.
Choose the right lighting for the plant
The fat woman is very light-loving. It grows well in bright light. But the light must be diffused. Direct sunlight can leave burns on the leaves and cause defoliation. Lack of lighting can also cause leaves to fall and branches to stretch out.
A plant in partial shade weakens and grows poorly. First, the leaves fall on the lower branches, then in the rest of the crown.
In order for the fat woman to feel good, it needs to be placed on the south-east window. There is too much direct sun on southern windows; the plant needs to be shaded. In winter, the tree also requires bright light. But since during this period the natural light is weak, it is recommended to supplement the plant with phytolamps.
Adjust the feeding scheme
Crassula is adapted to life on depleted soils. Therefore, the leaves of the money tree fall only when there is a severe nutritional deficiency. To prevent leaf falling, it is necessary to regularly feed the plant with fertilizers.
Feeding of the fat woman is carried out from the beginning of May to the end of September.
Feed every 2 weeks. Fertilizers are applied to moist soil 3-4 hours after watering. This way the fertilizer is better absorbed and does not damage the roots.
When feeding fat plants, they use fertilizers for cacti and succulents. It is advisable to purchase liquid formulations that can be easily diluted with water to obtain a portion for watering. They can be used in accordance with the instructions.
You can buy fertilizers for decorative leafy plants. If you dilute them according to the instructions, then their concentration will be too high for the fatty acid. They are diluted with water to obtain 2 times less concentration.
Choose the right container for planting
When choosing a pot for Crassula, the following characteristics are important: material of manufacture, dimensions and shape. Crassula is best planted in a clay pot. This is a porous material, it allows air to pass through to the roots, and water evaporates through it. In a clay pot, the roots of the plant will not rot, since the earthen ball has the ability to dry out evenly in all directions.
Crassula grows much worse in plastic pots. There is a risk of root rot even with moderate watering.
Crassula does not need a large pot. Its root system is small, much smaller than the crown of a tree. The pot is needed such that when planting there is a distance of 1 cm from the roots of the plant to the walls of the pot.
You can’t buy a pot “for growth.” The roots of the plant will not develop the soil, it will begin to turn sour. The tree pot should not be tall and narrow. Wide and shallow pots are preferred. The container should be no higher than its diameter.
Cure Crassula from disease
The most common diseases of the money tree that cause leaves to fly off are fungal infections. The most common of these are:
- Root rot is a dangerous disease. First, the leaves of the crassula turn yellow and fall off, and the fall becomes widespread. Then the plant dies, since its roots are completely damaged and do not perform their functions. The only way to save a plant from root rot is by emergency replanting;
- Trunk rot is a disease in which the trunk and branches of a plant gradually rot and the tree falls. No treatment has been developed for this disease. Sometimes root rot progresses to stem rot. In this case, you need to trim the roots and part of the stem to living tissue. The top of the tree can be rooted and then you can enjoy the look of the Crassula;
- Sometimes rot occurs on tree branches. Such a branch is cut out, removing all rotten places. Its top can also be rooted. And the entire plant must be treated with an antifungal drug.
Eliminate Crassula Pests
, the following types can most often
- Spider mite - when affected by this pest, the leaves of the Crassula intensively fall off. The pest itself is not visible due to its small size. But the cobwebs on the undersides of the leaves give it away;
- Scale insects are one of the most dangerous pests. Adult insects can be collected by hand, as they are not sensitive to pesticides;
- Mealybug - can infect not only the fat plant, but also nearby flowers. It moves slowly through the plant. In places where they accumulate, everything is covered with white powdery discharge.
To control pests, commercial preparations are used:
- Insecticides – to control insects;
- Acaricides – means to combat ticks;
- Mixed drugs.
Lighting and location
Feng Shui strongly requires that the fat plant be placed on the southeast side. This is understandable from a botany perspective, because the plant loves good light, but does not tolerate direct sunlight. If there is absolutely no place to put it according to the rules, it is permissible to place the pot with a flower on the south side, but shade it for a while while the sun's rays fall, or place it next to the windowsill. In summer, Krasulla can be taken out to a shaded balcony, but in winter it can be placed in the south. The formation of the plant's crown directly depends on sunlight, so it is recommended to turn it from time to time so that it grows evenly. A layer of dust can interfere with the growth and normal condition of the leaves, so usually the leaves of the money tree are wiped with a damp, clean cloth.
Money Tree
You should not spray the plant with a spray bottle. It doesn't rain often in his homeland. In addition, spraying helps create a thick dust layer. It is better to rinse it about once a month in the spring and summer seasons under a weak, not cold shower. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that water does not get on the soil when washing. The moss-shaped crasulla easily tolerates shading, and the tree-like one grows calmly on western and eastern windows, but the rocky and tetrahedral ones have an extremely negative attitude towards the lack of light. Unlike orchids, the dollar tree tolerates changes perfectly if they do not violate its life requirements and do not deprive it of necessary conditions.
Krasulla loves fresh air, like many other indoor plants, but does not perceive drafts negatively. This may be one of the reasons why the tree begins to lose leaves.
What to do if a tree has dropped its branches
Crassula lowers branches when their elasticity decreases. This happens for several reasons:
- Insufficient watering and decreased air humidity. The fat woman is adapted to life in water shortages. However, the room often experiences not only a dry, but even an arid climate, especially in winter during the heating season. If the branches of the plant become limp and drooping, the leaves fall off, you need to water the plant, and then adjust the watering regime;
- A sharp drop in temperature. A sudden drop in temperature occurs not only in winter, but at any time. After standing in a cold draft or under air conditioning, tree branches lose turgor and leaves fall off;
- Stem rot. Turgor is sharply lost due to stem rot. The trunk and branches rot from the inside, the leaves fall off. A sick plant can be revived by removing rotten areas. Cut branches are rooted. The plant is transplanted into a new pot and cared for as usual.
Why does Crassula turn yellow and its leaves fall off?
The fat woman is quite unpretentious, but she also suffers from excessive care or lack thereof. Its leaves turn yellow from lack of lighting if the plant is located on northern or northeastern windows.
If the succulent drops its leaves, it was most likely over-watered or was watered with cold water. Lack of light, frequent fertilizing with fertilizers, or drying out of the earthen coma are also likely.
What measures to take if the money tree breaks
Crassula is a fairly large and fragile plant. When a money tree falls, not only will its leaves fall off, it may break or break into small pieces. The plant may fall out of the pot during dry wintering. Its roots do not hold well in dry soil, and its crown is quite lush and heavy. Sometimes a tree falls when the trunk softens.
In case of a normal fall, if the plant is severely damaged, it is recommended to collect fragments of the tree and cut cuttings from them.
If the plant is almost undamaged, you need to trim the fat plant, removing broken branches. Plant the rest in new soil. If a tree falls due to stem rot, it cannot be saved. You can try cutting cuttings for rooting from apical shoots. But they must be cut carefully so that there are no rotten areas left on the cuttings, otherwise the cutting will not take root and will die.
general information
This succulent comes from South Africa, its arid regions. It is a modest-sized evergreen perennial tree with a short, thick trunk. In its natural environment it reaches a height of one and a half meters, however, the apartment version is much more compact than its wild counterpart.
The foliage of Crassula is round in shape, fleshy, the length of the leaves is 5–7 cm. The color is light gray or green, the plates are covered with a bluish waxy coating. Botanists note an interesting feature - each pair of leaves is located at an angle of 90 degrees relative to the previous one.
Domestic vegetation is often shrouded in a mass of signs and superstitions, and the “money tree” is not left out. Having received its name because of the shape of the leaflets, it has turned into a symbol of material well-being and many gardeners note that the flower works! And followers of Feng Shui are confident that if Crassula grows well and has strong, healthy, round leaves, then its owners will not be left without money. Naturally, this is impossible without love, care and some tricks!
This is interesting! In order for a flower to become a talisman of good luck and prosperity, it is recommended to grow it yourself; in Feng Shui it is believed that a tree purchased by an adult will work “carelessly.” And to activate it, you need to place a coin in the ground, under a pot, or hang a red ribbon with coins on a branch.
Many gardeners are skeptical about such superstitions, however, they agree that the Crassula is an amazing plant! It is capable of actively reproducing and even from one leaf you can grow a whole tree. In addition, flower shoots can produce roots even in the air, turning into a completely independent succulent.
But what to do if your pet has lost its shine, and along with it its foliage? Why did the money tree tree begin to fall off its leaves and show other signs of disease? In this case, the flower needs help, and without it you can lose its exotic inhabitant.
Crassula does not grow.
The fat woman can remain small if she does not have enough nutrients to grow.
Sometimes the absence of visible signs of growth is associated with the plant's dormant period, for example, in the winter in a cool room. However, there are also other reasons - lack of lighting or nutrients, as well as poor watering.
If your Crassula stands far from daylight, this is most likely the reason for the lack of growth.
The solution to the problem is very same as in the previous case - changing the location or additional lighting.
If the Money Tree stands in a well-lit place, but still does not grow, think about how often you water it, perhaps you forgot about it and the plant did not receive moisture for the second month. How long have you been fertilizing the soil?
The solution to the problem is to water the plant and then apply fertilizer (use a dosage 2 times less than indicated on the package).
A white (silver) coating appeared on the leaves of Crassula.
The coating on the leaves of Crassula can be white or silver.
If you find a white or silvery coating on the leaves of Crassula , inspect your plant carefully. If no additional symptoms are found, perhaps this is due to the stress your Crassula has experienced and thus she is simply recovering . In this case, she does not need your intervention!
White dots on Crassula leaves.
If you find other symptoms on your plant, for example: mealy discharge in the axils of the leaves or roots, then most likely it is a pest that has settled on your plant - mealybug .
The Money Tree is not believed to be susceptible to insect pests. This is not entirely true. A plant with a weakened immune system can still suffer from various pests. And then you need to know how to save him.
Shield.
Scale insects are very noticeable on the plant.
It is very difficult not to notice the scale insect on Crassula, it looks like such a tubercle as in the photo above. It is better to remove insects from the plant manually and destroy them, treat the plant with a soap solution and use a chemical against scale insects - Fitoverm. The instructions describe detailed instructions for action.
If you haven’t found the answer to your question, ask it in the comments and we’ll try to help you.
Health to your plants!
