The money tree, also known as the crassula or fat plant, is a succulent plant that's easy to care for indoors. This houseplant has beneficial properties—it purifies the air of harmful compounds, and its parts are also used in folk medicine. While the fat plant doesn't have any special care requirements, some difficulties can arise if care instructions aren't followed. There are a couple of ways to propagate crassula. Most often, a new specimen is obtained by cuttings, but sometimes this flower is also grown from seeds.
Description and history of the plant, its beneficial properties
Until recently, the plant's homeland was believed to be South Africa, but it has been established that some species originated in Madagascar. The correct name for the money tree is Crassula. This ornamental foliage plant received its name from its coin-shaped leaves. This term originated from the legend of the living Sun Tree, which says that one can enter heaven if one is generous in life. The name was first used by the Chinese during the Han Dynasty.
The Crassulaceae family, which includes the money tree, comprises over 300 plant species, all similar in appearance and care. Crassula leaves are thick and fleshy, storing moisture for dry periods. As the plant matures, the trunk becomes woody; young shoots are initially thick and green, but later develop a thin bark, increasing the money tree's strength and resilience. When grown in containers, the money tree rarely blooms. Crassula releases phytoncides into the air, which disinfect it.
The juice and leaves of the money tree are used externally in folk medicine due to their medicinal properties:
- For inflammation of the gums and sore throat - gargle your mouth and throat with crassula juice diluted with water 5 times.
- For abscesses, insect bites, cuts and bruises, make compresses from crushed leaves of the fat plant, which are kept on the damaged area for up to 4 hours.
- For herpes, apply juice from the leaves of the money tree to the lips (the affected area) every half hour.
- For calluses - leave a crassula leaf, peeled of its outer film, and attach it to the injured area with a bandage, keeping it there for 8-12 hours.
Popular varieties
Several subspecies of Crassula are cultivated, differing in leaf shape and color. Among the varieties are those considered groundcover and prostrate, not just upright. The most common type of money tree grown is Crassula Ovata, an ovate plant with rich green, fleshy, oval-shaped leaves. The following Crassula varieties are also popular among gardeners:
- Arborescent – the leaf blades are a rich green shade, can reach 10 cm in length and 7 cm in width. The main shoot is woody, the root system is small, so the plant requires additional support.
- Silvery - the leaves are oppositely arranged, the height of an adult plant can reach 60 cm.
- Sunset - green leaves with a red border; the plant sheds them when there is insufficient light.
- Hobbit and Gollum are cultivars with bright green leaves. They are elongated, while Gollum's are curled into a tube.
- Lycopodioides is a low-growing plant, with a maximum height of 23 cm. The foliage is located close to the shoot, and the petiole is virtually absent.
- Tricolor - the leaf blades are distinctly green, the veins are whitish, and the edging is scarlet.
- Four-sided - leaves of a rich green shade with a pointed end, large.
- Columnar perforated – the foliage is a pale green with a gray tint. The leaf blade is diamond-shaped. The leaves are arranged oppositely.
- Dotted - the maximum height of an adult specimen is 20 cm. There are "cilia" along the edges of the leaf blades, with dark dotted inclusions over the main color (green).
- Rockweed is a tall plant with closely spaced leaves of a bluish-green hue. The leaves are broad at the base and taper toward the tips. The maximum height of a container-grown bush is 60 cm.
- United - the leaves are arranged oppositely, the shape of the blade resembles a rhombus, there is pubescence.
Plant care
For a flower to grow as pictured, it requires proper care, which includes providing a microclimate similar to that in which the crassula grows in its natural environment. It's important for crassulas to be watered regularly, not excessively, and to receive adequate light. The plant also responds well to periodic fertilizing and pruning. Not every money tree variety requires bush shaping, but some will not look attractive without this technique.
Temperature and lighting conditions
The optimal temperature for normal development of the money plant is +25 to +30˚C. At this temperature, the crassula actively grows foliage. During the summer, it is permissible to move the money plant outdoors, but it should be placed in the shade to prevent foliage burn. Watering is carried out according to the same schedule as when growing the money plant indoors, but the substrate should be mulched. During the winter, it is advisable to lower the temperature, but the temperature should not drop below +9˚C. The potted money plant should be kept away from heat sources.
It's best to position the money tree so that it receives good light; an east-facing windowsill is ideal for this. It can also be placed on south- and west-facing windows. The plant will grow slowly on a north-facing window. If the container is placed on a south-facing windowsill, the money tree should be shaded to prevent direct sunlight. Every 2-3 weeks, rotate the container by ¼ of its axis toward the light source.
Watering schedule and room humidity
It's important to avoid stagnant moisture in the substrate, so water the crassula slightly less frequently than when the topsoil dries out—once every 3-5 days in the summer and once or twice a month in the winter if the crassula is located near a heating device. During the winter, the plant doesn't absorb moisture, so water is only needed to maintain the health of the crassula's root system. Humidity should be moderate—50-70%. There's no need to mist the plant; periodically wiping the foliage with a damp cloth to remove dust is sufficient.
Selecting a substrate
The composition of the soil mix for money trees is similar to that used for cacti, so you can buy it at flower shops. However, more sand is needed for the Crassula soil (approximately 100-200 g per liter of prepared soil). You can make your own soil mix for crassulas; its composition should be as follows:
- high-moor peat – 2 parts;
- leaf soil – 2 parts;
- coarse-grained river sand – 3 parts.
Top dressing
Fertilize only during the active growing season—from April to the end of August. Use liquid fertilizers, adding them only after watering to prevent burning the money tree's roots. Fertilizers designed for succulents or cacti are suitable. Avoid fertilizing if the money tree has recently been repotted, if its appearance has deteriorated, or during the winter. Fertilize the money tree three times during the growing season with a fertilizer diluted according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Diseases and pests
Crassulas are rarely attacked by harmful insects, as their tissues contain high levels of arsenic. Among the pests that can worsen the plant's condition, spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects often migrate to crassulas from other infested plants. These parasites can be seen on the shoots of crassulas if the plant is weakened by improper care.
Money trees rarely become infected with fungi; the main sign of damage is soft and rotting leaves. This condition is a consequence of overwatering. Brown marks on the leaves indicate a copper deficiency, so treatment with copper-containing products is recommended. Treating crassulas with fungicides is also recommended. Once every three years, money trees may lose all their leaves, and this is normal. The plant will quickly regain its former density.
How to make it bloom
In theory, the money tree enters the budding phase at three years of age. The inflorescences are white, star-shaped, and have a sweet aroma. The flowering phase lasts 2-2.5 months. After the buds fade, they are cut off to prevent the crassula from wasting energy on seed formation. However, flowering is impossible if any of the care instructions have been neglected. Reasons why the money tree may not bloom include:
- insufficient watering and weakened absorption of nutrients by the plant;
- lack of lighting;
- poor ventilation in the room – lack of oxygen;
- lack of additional feeding;
- the crassula is in a draft;
- the fat woman hasn't been replanted for a long time;
- there is not enough humus in the substrate.
Reproduction
New crassula specimens can be obtained by cuttings or grown from seeds. The former method is quick, as rooting occurs within a couple of weeks. Seed propagation has a low germination rate. Moreover, such specimens are quite weak; not all emerging seedlings will reach flowering age; most will die early.
Cuttings
This propagation method is simple: simply separate a crassula shoot or leaf, which is then rooted. The specimen from which the cutting is taken should be healthy and mature. First, the cutting is germinated in water supplemented with activated charcoal and a growth stimulant. Then, once roots have formed, the cutting is placed in a container with soil. If it's a leaf, it's immediately buried 1 cm deep in the soil mixture.
Seeds
Sow seeds in a shallow container on top of the soil. Sand should be added to the substrate (use a cactus mix). Then cover the container with glass or plastic wrap. Water daily, spraying the seedlings with warm (25–28˚C) settled water from a spray bottle. Air the germinating seeds daily. The first shoots will appear in 2–3 weeks. Once they have 2–4 true leaves, transplant them into individual containers. Subsequent care is the same as for mature crassulas.
Pruning and shaping the plant
Single-shoot Crassulas are not trained; their shoots are simply pruned in the spring (if the end begins to dry out). Bush-forming Crassulas, also known as tree-like Crassulas, need to be trained properly to ensure they are lush and densely foliated. Pruning of mature specimens is carried out in the spring. Any unhealthy-looking shoots are cut off, and the terminal bud at the end of the stems is removed to encourage branching.
For young plants, annual pinching of the terminal bud is sufficient. To ensure a lush money tree bush, pruning begins once the plant has four pairs of leaves. Two new shoots will begin to develop in its place. These are pinched using the same method. Once the bush is sufficiently lush, stop pruning, limiting the process to removing any unsightly shoots.
Common problems when growing
Problems with growing a money tree can arise due to improper care. For example, if you water the plant with cold water (up to 25˚C), it may shed its leaves. A money tree's failure to thrive is a sign that its pot is unsuitable. Ideally, the pot should be the same diameter as the crown. Crassula leaves may turn yellow and wilt if underwatered. Overwatering can also cause this symptom, except the leaf blades will also become wet. In this situation, remove soil from the roots, soak them in a deep pink solution of potassium permanganate, and then trim off any damaged parts, sprinkling the affected areas with crushed activated charcoal or charcoal. Leaf drop in money trees can also be caused by sunburn; in this case, the plant should be shaded or moved to a more inviting location.
The money tree is a undemanding plant that's easy to care for. Crassula needs regular watering, but avoid overwatering, as it's classified as a succulent. With regular feeding, pruning, and adequate light, the money tree may bloom after reaching three years of age. Money trees can be propagated in two ways: by cuttings or from seed. Caring for the money tree is almost hassle-free, and it rarely suffers from diseases or pests.
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