Even those people who do not really like to mess around with indoor plants and consider them optional in the home interior, often do not resist the temptation and start a fat man on their windowsill. This succulent grows with proper care in a luxurious tree, which most owners call money, and many - family. The names "tree of fortune" and "tree of friendship" are also known. In principle, all names come down to a peaceful, sustainable and friendly relationship and success in life.
Varieties of Crassula
There are a lot of subspecies of this plant. Unites their common part of the name - Crassula. They differ for the most part in the shape and color of the leaves. However, it is the “money tree" that is usually called the ovoid (or oval) fatty. Some gardeners call it tree-like, but this name is incorrect; it is most likely due to the ability of the plant to form a strong, powerful trunk.
Omens
A variety of superstitions are associated with the oval fat. So, it is believed that if you put a coin under the pot (not a bill!), Steady well-being will come into the house, and money will never run out in it. And on the contrary, if the money tree did not take root or died abruptly, this indicates future financial troubles.
Those who consider the fat girl a family tree, note that so far everything is safe with relatives - the plant grows and pleases the eye. And when quarrels begin or one of the relatives is seriously ill - it begins to die.
Whether this is true or not is up to everyone to decide. However, it has been scientifically proven that a fat woman is attached to a person no worse than a pet and responds to the care by raising the mood of the owner.
Care Rules: Lighting
The most attractive for lazy gardeners is that the fat woman does not require special efforts in its content. It is people who are accustomed to this who are very surprised: why the leaves of the money tree fall , it hardly takes away attention. Almost, but not quite!
First of all, you need to choose the location of your tree. It loves light, but hardly tolerates its excess. An ideal choice would be east and southeast windows. Slightly worse - the south; in the summer there is a lot of sun, and its excess is one of the reasons why the leaves of the money tree fall. If there is no other way, you will have to give the fat woman a window sill in the south, but in the summer you need to think through a shading system, otherwise the tree will not survive. But the north side does not fit categorically! The light there is so insufficient that it will have to provide highlighting, and that is not a fact that will help.
Care rules: watering
Like other succulents, the fat woman does not require strict adherence to the irrigation regime. Yet this type of plant is intended by nature to survive in dry areas; and what we consider to be leaves is a kind of rainy day moisture accumulator. Those who have forgotten about this may not even wonder why the leaves of the money tree fall, - most likely, the problem is excessive watering. Crassule needs water only at the moment when the ground in the pot is already completely dry. And it is necessary to water slowly, waiting until the already poured is absorbed, and making sure that a puddle does not form in the pan. If within a hour or two of the "saucer" the tree did not drink water, then it is superfluous, and it must be drained. In summer, of course, you have to water more often (and even then, in the thick of it - once a week, not more often). And in winter, once a month is enough.
Additional worries
Among the list of "How to properly care for the money tree" there is no mandatory spraying of the crown. Unless, in your opinion, the leaves are very dusty. And even the proximity of heating radiators does not create fatness inconvenience.
It is certainly worthwhile sometimes to unfold the tree so that the sun shines on it from different sides. Otherwise, it may acquire an inharmonious form, with an increase in the deformation of the crown it will begin to tip over; Yes, and the lack of light from the side of the room can be the answer to the question why the leaves of the money tree fall from one side.
Occasionally, most often somewhere in a couple of years, Crassula must be transplanted. Doing this too often is not worth it - the roots of the plant should completely braid the ground inside the pot. The next "receptacle" of a fat woman buy centimeters five more in diameter than the previous one. Transplant into an oversized pot - the money tree will grow much more slowly.
A prerequisite for the survival of the crassula is a thick layer of drainage at the bottom of the pot. And expanded clay will be ideal for it - unlike home-made drainage charges, it definitely does not have a “bad” flora, is light and quite large in size.
You can take in the store ready-made soil for succulents or cacti. Some do not recommend buying a universal one, but most gardeners agree that it suits a money tree, you only have to add sand (about a third of the volume).
Fatty rescue in emergency cases
Crassula is not prone to disease or pest damage. However, she also has problems. Here, it seems, is a safe, well-established money tree. Why do leaves fall, becoming sluggish and starting to rot? The excess water is to blame! It is urgent to stop watering, put it on a radiator in winter to dry the soil in a pot, and in the summer in the sun (only hide the branches). If the process continues, then the decay has affected the roots. A fat woman will have to be transplanted urgently, and during the transplant, cut the affected roots.
Another case. The same money tree that has become native: leaves fall. The reasons for yellowing and leaf fall are not clear? This time there is a lack of light. And if before that it seemed to be enough, take a look - whether the neighbor built a protruding balcony or if a tree has grown near the house. In any case, your plant will have to rearrange on a "lighter" window sill.
There is another option when the leaves of the money tree fall, however, at the same time they are covered with light spots in the middle before falling off. Most often this happens when, with the arrival of heat, plants are carried out to the garden or balcony. And these spots are signs of sunburn. If these signs appear, you should relocate your tree to another place, more shaded, as soon as possible. Otherwise, if too many leaves are burned and fall off, the fat woman will die entirely.
Spend some time on the money tree, love it - and it will reciprocate. And there, you look, and money will be added ...