Crassula oval and tree-like are everyone’s favorite and widespread indoor and garden plants, but their genus includes more than 300 species of incredible beauty.
Crassula tree, Crassula or money tree is a plant that has become widespread in the apartments and gardens of many of our compatriots. In European countries it appeared towards the end of the 17th century, and its peak of popularity occurred at the beginning of the 19th century. From our article you will learn what types of crassula there are, how to plant a money tree, what conditions are necessary for its growth, and much more.
Uncommon Crassula capitella, also known commercially as Campfire
The money tree is a fairly common and very traditional indoor plant, but it is also pleasing to the eye in any modern interior.
Types of Crassula
There are about 300 varieties of money trees. Most of them are succulents, although herbaceous, aquatic and creeping ones are also found. The most commonly bred types of Crassula are:
- Crassula oval. The fleshy leaves are rich green in color and have a characteristic shine. In the wild, Crassula ovala can reach a height of three meters, while in an apartment or house it stops growing after reaching 0.6-1 m. This plant differs from its fellows in that it has characteristic aerial roots on the branches and trunk.
In many species of succulent money tree, the root system extends superficially horizontally
Flowering of the money tree Crassula ovata, also known as Crassula ovata or Crassula ovata.
- Crassula arborescens. It was this variety of plant that received the name “money tree” due to the similarity of the shape of the leaves to coins. Outwardly, it is similar to Crassula oval, but has a more rounded shape of the leaves and a bluish coating on them. A flowering money tree is rare, but this variety is still able to please its owners with flowers after it reaches ten years of age.
Tree crassula blooms only after reaching the age of about ten years
The flowering money tree is an excellent companion for other succulents, they get along well in the same pot
- Crassula minor. A small plant with rounded leaves with a reddish border.
One of the most popular types of money tree in home floriculture: crassula minor
- Sunset Crassula. This variety has reddish-yellow streaks on the leaves.
Sunset Crassula has a bright red border on the edges of the leaves.
Pale pink Crassula Sunset flowers
Advice! If you want to enjoy the original look of the colorful leaves of Crassula Sunset, grow it under bright sunlight in a greenhouse, as in simple home conditions its leaves turn green.
Sunset Crassula develops a beautiful red border on its leaves only if it receives enough direct sunlight.
A money tree in a succulent composition is always a great touch to the landscape design of walls and the design of the yard itself.
- Crassula tricolor. This plant is distinguished by beautiful white stripes on a green background and red-pink edging.
- Crassula crescent. One of the few flowering varieties of Crassula. Characterized by large umbrella inflorescences of a reddish color. Under indoor conditions, this type of money tree blooms in July-August.
In English-speaking countries, the crescent plant is popular under the name “propeller plant.”
Bright red flowers of crescent crassula
Flowering money tree - myth or reality?
“Those who see a blooming money tree are guaranteed material profit.”
Those who have seen Crassula bloom can be classified as lucky. The plant does bloom, but it does so extremely rarely at home. Its buds are small, and the flower petals are most often light in color:
1. White and green.
White and green money tree flowers
2. White.
White flowers of the money tree
3. White and pink.
White and pink money tree flowers
The flowers exude a subtle sweet aroma. The flowering period is quite long and can last for several months. Naturally, it falls on the active phase in the life of the plant.
The flowering period of the money tree is quite long.
There is also a belief about this, akin to the story of the fern. Those who see a blooming money tree are guaranteed material profits.
There is a completely scientific explanation for why Crassula rarely blooms even with excellent care at home. The problem is the lack of daylight: in the tropics, daylight hours are much longer. So no mysticism!
The flowering of the money tree is quite a rare occurrence.
Money tree: care and reproduction
This plant is propagated by the vegetative method - leaves and cuttings.
It is best to plant Crassula in shallow pots, the bottom of which is covered with a drainage layer (small pebbles, expanded clay). Before planting, the soil must be moistened and a small depression formed in it. Place the shoot in it and dig it in lightly.
Please note that it is better not to disturb an adult plant unless necessary - it will be enough to replant the fat plant once every three years. But while Crassula is still young (up to three years of age), the money tree should be transplanted annually, preferably in the spring.
Unusual plant Crassula Campfire. The more often and more it receives direct sunlight, the brighter the color of the leaves.
Which soil should you choose?
The indoor money tree grows excellently in succulent soil. If it is difficult to find it on sale, you can make the substrate yourself. To do this, you will need to combine sand, humus, leaf and turf soil in a ratio of 1:1:1:4.
Advice! You can also add small pieces of charcoal to this mixture.
DIY home decoration: Crassula and other succulents growing on driftwood
Step-by-step guide: creating a composition of Crassula, other succulents and sphagnum moss on dry driftwood
Does the fat woman need feeding?
Like many other plants, the money tree requires vitamin and mineral feeding. And if in winter and autumn Crassula does not feel an urgent need for it, then in spring and summer it will not hurt to feed it. To do this, use universal fertilizer for succulents 1-2 times a month. The best time to fertilize is immediately after watering.
Crescent Crassula preparing to bloom thickly
Small hanging florariums with echeveria and miniature money tree
How to care for a money tree at home
Taking care of a money flower is not difficult. You just need to follow a number of simple rules that are necessary for all indoor flowers. This minimal care will contribute to the full development and growth of the plant, and will also protect it from possible diseases (some viruses and fungi).
Illumination and temperature conditions
Is it possible to keep a fern at home?
The optimal place for growing indoor Crassula will be windows located on the southeast side. The flower loves well-lit areas, but the south side is often not suitable due to too much exposure to sunlight. In shaded conditions, Crassula will continue to grow, but its leaves will begin to fall off, and it may not bloom at all.
For your information! Not only botanists, but also Feng Shui experts advise placing the plant on south-eastern window sills.
In the summer, the fat plant can be taken out to the balcony or open veranda, but in the winter it should be placed on the south side to maintain the usual daylight hours. In the spring and summer months, flower pots should not be placed in rooms where the temperature is below 20 °C. Also avoid extreme heat. The plant won't like it. In winter, the optimal temperature is from 4 °C to 15 °C. Room temperature is also acceptable, but the leaves will wither and fall off.
Important! You should not place the fat woman near batteries.
Watering rules and humidity
The watering regime directly depends on the temperature:
- in hot weather - 2 times a week;
- room temperature - once a week;
- In winter, watering is reduced to once every 3-4 weeks.
It is better to water in the evening; the soil should not dry out, but also not be too wet. Moisture deficiency is tolerated normally by the fat plant, so it does not need spraying. As dust accumulates, the leaves are wiped with a soft damp cloth. Crassula likes warm showers, which are recommended once a quarter, after covering the soil with polyethylene.
Fertilizing and soil quality
In order for the plant to grow, develop well and not become sluggish, feeding will be required. Special mineral complexes for succulents and cacti are used as fertilizers. In summer, the fat woman is fed twice a month, in the remaining time once a month. The fertilizer concentration also becomes 2 times less.
The plant is unpretentious to the soil, but when planting it is better to purchase a ready-made composition for succulents. It will feel most comfortable in it. For experienced gardeners who like to do everything themselves, a mixture of leaf soil, turf and sand in equal parts is suitable. In addition, it is important to provide drainage so that the water does not stagnate.
Flower container size
In order for Crassula to grow, bloom and reproduce, it is important to plant it in the right pot. The vessel should not be deep, since in it the plant will first intensively grow the underground part, the root will stretch out and become thin. This is not typical for flowers with fibrous root systems. The stem will also lengthen, the leaves will become smaller and sparser.
Important! Frequent transplants should be avoided; Crassula does not like this. Planting in a new pot should be done when the flower has outgrown the current pot. Transplantation is carried out by transshipment.
How to water a money tree?
Crassula has thick, fleshy leaves that accumulate moisture well. You should not water this tree often, because this can have a bad effect on the appearance and health of the plant. In summer it will be enough to water it when the soil is still slightly moist (about 1-2 times a week), and in winter when it is completely dry. Carefully ensure that no water remains in the pan, because its excess will cause the money tree to fall off.
If you need to go on vacation or a business trip, and there is no one to water the fat plant, do not worry: this plant can easily cope with the absence of watering for a couple of weeks.
Important! If you take a pot with a plant to the balcony in the summer, you need to carefully ensure that when watering, droplets of water do not fall on the leaves of the money tree.
The money tree, like all succulents, withstands the lack of watering, you can even forget about it for a while
Money tree, tall or the smallest varieties, looks great in the company of squat succulents
Money tree - what kind of flower is it?
Money tree is the popular name for the Crassula plant. It belongs to the genus of succulents in the Crassulaceae family. This family includes more than 300 species. About 200 of them are native to South Africa, and many Crassula species are native to Madagascar and the southern Arabian Peninsula. This means that in nature all these species are distributed only in the Southern Hemisphere. For flower growers, only one type of money tree is most often known; they do not even suspect that other types of crassula are also successfully grown in indoor conditions.
Important! Money tree leaves can be poisonous because all succulents tend to accumulate arsenic in the soil. This rule does not apply to plants grown in soil that does not contain this element.
One of the types of Crassula in nature
Short description
Since the diversity of Crassula species is large, it is difficult to identify common characteristics. But the following points are characteristic of all varieties of Crassula:
- the trunk is short, thick, often low relative to the branches with leaves located on them;
- the height of some species in nature reaches 4 m, in apartment conditions it grows to 1 m or more;
- the leaves are fleshy, thick, their shape depends on the type (round, oval, heart-shaped, elongated, twig-like);
- the length of the leaves is from 1 cm to 7 cm, their color is all shades of green;
- the arrangement of leaves on the trunk is opposite, they are often collected in a rosette;
- the flowers are small, the inflorescences are collected in white or pink umbrellas, the aroma is sweet and strong. At home, flowering rarely occurs.
All representatives of the genus look simple, but at the same time very impressive, regardless of where they are grown.
Domestic varieties of Crassula
Optimal temperature and humidity
As for thermophilicity, the money tree feels excellent at home. In the summer, it is placed on the balcony or terrace. Ideal temperature indicators for Crassula are from 18 to 25 degrees. In winter, when the air in the apartment becomes dry and hot due to heating devices, it is recommended to move the pot with the plant to cooler rooms with temperatures up to +15. You should not place Krasulla near radiators and heaters.
As for humidity, the fat plant is relatively unpretentious and grows well in both humid and dry air. However, as a preventative measure, it is recommended to spray the plant once a month with a spray bottle (especially during the heating season).
The popular and familiar indoor flower “money tree” looks completely different in a funny pot
Is it possible to stimulate the flowering of the money tree?
“It has been noted that the Crassula loses its color after any stress.”
Expecting the Crassula to bloom due to excellent care in the first years of life is nonsense. At home, such a miracle can happen no earlier than in seven, or even ten years. Sometimes flowering does not occur at all, despite all the efforts of the gardener, but this is not a reason to give up.
Start moving towards your goal by following all the recommendations for caring for a money tree growing at home. Learn to recognize subtle changes in a plant's appearance.
The first flowering often occurs after 7 years
It was noted that the fat woman loses its color after any stress. Some create such situations for the plant intentionally, for a long time, without watering it or organizing an unacceptable temperature regime for it. The first watering after a dry period and getting into optimal conditions can produce the desired effect and, in gratitude for the salvation, the money tree will bloom. But is the game worth the candle? After all, your talisman may not withstand the test and simply die, taking with it your hopes for material well-being.
