Currently, almost every home has flowers that bring positive emotions to their owners. In order for the plants to always be in perfect order, they need proper care.
A houseplant such as a fat girl, or money tree, is probably familiar to everyone. The flower has an unusual appearance and ease of care. At the same time, it is believed that the cultivation of a fat woman in the house helps to increase the wealth of the owners. Let's try to figure out if this is really so.
Origin and real name
In nature, the money tree is found in Central and South America, as well as in Africa. Finding itself in more severe conditions, this plant requires more thorough care. To achieve it at home is not easy, but possible.
A fat woman appeared in Russia many years ago. Such a popular name for the flower was due to its wide stalk. Outwardly, the leaves resemble a flat circle or coin. Therefore, the flower received a large number of nicknames. But few people know what the fatty is actually called. Even experienced flower growers who have long known everything about caring for a money tree may be surprised to hear its scientific name - Crassula. This plant may have a bushy and grassy form. Crassula belongs to the first type.
What are the varieties
Many lovers of indoor plants are interested in caring for a money tree. In Russia, the most widespread is the tree-shaped species of Crassula. There are still three hundred varieties. As a rule, they all grow in warm climates. Why did the fat woman (money tree) mainly gain popularity? Caring for this plant is quite simple and does not require serious preparation.
Consider some types of this flower:
- Ovoid fatty: the flower is named in full accordance with its appearance. On top of short stems, round ends can be found. Outwardly, they really resemble an egg. In most cases, the tips of the leaves are red.
- Purslane fatty: on the branches and trunk there are aerial roots. Because of this, the plant requires additional care. It is important to protect it from drafts.
Thus, the crassula differs depending on the type. The differences may be in the form of a leaf and branches. However, the juicy and massive stem always remains unchanged.
Care: main features
How to grow a money tree flower? Caring for this plant is not particularly difficult. Nevertheless, there are certain subtleties that beginners need to know about. In this case, you can provide the plant with favorable conditions for growth.
The main factors affecting growth:
- Lighting. For normal and fast growth, Crassula needs good light. A pot with a plant is best installed on a window facing the southeast side. Money tree loves light, but exposure to direct sunlight is best avoided. In the warm season, it is recommended to take the flower pot out to fresh air. This will help the culture form a defense against the effects of diseases and pests.
- Temperature. Under what conditions is it necessary to maintain a money tree? Care and reproduction of this plant is best done at temperatures from 19 to 25 degrees. In winter, you can slightly reduce these values - up to 14-17 degrees. The pot is not recommended to be placed near batteries and radiators.
- Humidity. It is no harder to grow a Crassula than any other house flowers. Money tree care requires little. It tolerates any moisture. The main rule is the absence of drastic changes in the conditions of detention. Otherwise, the flower may begin to fade.
- Watering. In vivo, the Crassula grows in impenetrable wild places, so the flower is adapted to a prolonged lack of fluid. The plant has dense thick leaves that contain a supply of moisture for further growth and development. In summer, watering the plant is recommended only after the soil has dried. Too much watering can lead to rotting of the roots.
- Top dressing. Earlier it was said that in the wild, the fat woman grows in fairly harsh conditions. She has to literally get nutrients and useful microelements from the soil. Therefore, home care involves feeding the plant only once a month in the warm season. Best of all, special compounds are suitable for this purpose, which can be purchased at flower shops. In addition, you can also use additives for cacti. In autumn and winter, the fat woman does not require plentiful feeding. It is enough to water it every two months with a weak solution.
Where to begin?
If you decide to plant a money tree at home (photos, care and features of this plant will certainly interest you), you need to thoroughly familiarize yourself with all the subtleties. Where to start? Let us examine the question of how to properly plant a money tree.
First of all, you will need to decide on the choice of pot. Beginning flower growers often make a very common mistake, namely, they select a standard form capacity. Since the root system of the fat woman diverges to the sides, simple pots are not suitable for it. At the initial stages, it is better to choose flat containers with a small recess. Also, special shallow oval flowerpots are suitable for growing a money tree. In this case, you will be able to achieve rapid growth and flowering.
Particular attention should be paid to the choice of substrate. The opinions of gardeners about what kind of soil a fat woman needs are very often divergent. You can try to buy ready-made soil in a specialized store, but experienced flower growers advise you to prepare the substrate with your own hands. For this purpose, 4 parts of soddy soil, one share of river sand and one portion of a mixture of humus with deciduous soil are used.
How to plant?
A room money tree, the care of which will not be of great difficulty, needs to be planted correctly at the initial stage. The shoot is planted only after the root system has become sufficiently developed. At the bottom of the pot you need to put drainage. Pre-prepared soil is laid out on top.
In an adult plant, the root system slowly begins to break through the topsoil. Many flower growers who are interested in the money tree, reproducing and caring for this plant at home, have a completely logical question of how to properly transplant a flower. The finished potted culture can be transplanted 2-3 weeks after acquisition. This time is needed for adaptation. Transplant the flower into a larger container. In the future, this process is carried out at least once a year. An adult flower is transplanted about once every 3-4 years in order to renew the substrate. This procedure allows you to supply the root system of the plant with nutrients and nutrients.
Crown formation
How does this happen? Many dream of growing a beautiful fat girl with a lush crown. But for this you need to try hard. New shoots should be pinched correctly. This is done so that instead of one kidney, several new shoots appear at once. As a result, the crown will be voluminous and magnificent. To form a bush of the desired shape, pruning is performed. This process also helps to protect the money tree from premature bushings.
Care of the money tree must necessarily include a pinching procedure. Only branches on which 3-4 pairs of leaves grow are subject to it. Tweezers need to remove a new kidney located between the last pair. Instead of a remote escape, several new ones will then appear. Thus, you can get a plant with a beautiful magnificent crown.
If the branch has reached a fairly large size, it can be trimmed a little. For this purpose, it is quite possible to use ordinary scissors. Usually only the very end is removed at the base of the last pair of leaves. The slice should be immediately covered with crushed activated carbon. To obtain a beautiful crown of a fat woman, the procedures for trimming shoots and pinching are mandatory. If you do not perform the above steps, then the tree will look bushy.
Bonsai tree
Today, many gardeners are interested in questions about how to grow a money tree (transplanting, home care and reproduction will be discussed in the article). The reason for this is the creation of Japanese bonsai culture. To form a whole living sculpture from a small process is a real art. We describe the main steps that will have to be performed in order to get an excellent result.
First, do not spare new branches and leaves. Elongated processes must be trimmed in a timely manner. Shoots 10 cm long must be cut so that only 1-3 pairs of leaves remain on them. To form a crown of a certain shape, sometimes you have to cut two-thirds of the entire bush. To obtain a dense crown, pinch each 4th pair of leaves. Another important point is shaping. Young shoots should be directed along the correct growth path. As fixing elements, clothespins, wires and other accessories can be used. With their help, it is necessary to fix the shoot in the correct position. Growing a bonsai is actually not that difficult. However, this process takes some time. Florists argue that it can take from two to three years. But the result will exceed all expectations.
We plant a money tree
Not all experienced flower growers are able to properly plant the herb. It can be more difficult to separate than other home flowers. A money tree, the care of which is not particularly difficult, can grow in such a way that the entire root system is opened. An attempt to cut or untangle the roots may result in the complete death of the plant.
How is the money tree propagated?
Let us consider this process in more detail. A hoodie can be propagated using three different types of elements — seeds, leaves, or cuttings. And now in more detail about each of them.
Experienced flower growers try not to use seeds, since it is almost impossible to collect material from a money tree. If you still manage to remove the seeds from this plant, then for their germination you will have to do some more manipulations. Firstly, it will be necessary to prepare the substrate for planting in advance. To do this, mix one piece of sand and two servings of sheet land. Secondly, prepare special oblong shaped containers. They need to decompose the prepared substrate and sow the seeds. After this, the plates are covered with plastic wrap for a while. The soil should be irrigated daily with water. A month later, the first shoots appear. When they get stronger, it will be possible to transplant seedlings in larger containers.
What other options are there to grow a money tree? Few people know, but for this it is enough to use only one leaf. You just need to cut the sheet and place it in a container of boiled water. The glass must be left for a couple of days in a shaded place. Water in the tank is changed every 2-3 days. Two weeks later, the leaf takes root. When they become strong enough, the plant can be moved to the ground. Further cultivation is carried out in accordance with the basic norms and requirements. The disadvantage of this method is its duration, but still worth a try.
How is a money tree propagated by cuttings? To properly cut off the shoot, you need to find a green bud in the shape of a small tubercle. At this point, a small incision is made so as to prevent damage. Before planting the handle in the ground, it is kept in a glass of water. This is necessary for the proper development of the root system. Once the roots are strong, the plant can be planted in suitable soil.
Magical properties
It is worth noting that this plant looks in a special way. To see this, just look at the photo. Money tree, care at home for which the novice will be strong, will fit perfectly into any interior. It is believed that the fat woman brings wealth. But for a flower to grow well, it needs to provide comfortable conditions. How to plant a money tree so that it starts to make a profit? There is a belief that a fat woman brings monetary well-being faster if the process is stolen. For this reason, a completely logical question arises: is it possible to give cuttings of your money tree? It is believed that this can attract financial difficulties to the family, so doing this is better not worth it. How to plant a stolen Crassula?
There are a few secrets:
- the plant is planted with a growing moon;
- eight identical coins must be put on the bottom of the pot, always with the emblem up;
- a fat woman needs to be watered every Wednesday, pronouncing special words.
When the money tree grows, it will be possible to hang coins on the red thread on the branches.
It is believed that the juice of the leaves of Crassula has healing properties. It is able to fight viruses, bacteria and have an anti-inflammatory effect. However, experts are very skeptical about this.
Another important issue to consider is the location of the money tree. Feng Shui is indispensable here. Earlier we talked about where it is better to put a flower so that it grows well. A money tree is best placed on the southeast side of the room.
How does the flowering process
This is a very interesting point. How does a fat woman (money tree) bloom? Home care sometimes allows you to achieve the appearance of inflorescences. To stimulate a plant, it is necessary to expose it to sunlight, while protecting the leaves from the appearance of burns. Crassula blooms quite rarely. But it looks very beautiful. Beliefs say that flowering is an omen of an improvement in financial condition.
Possible problems
Why does a plant fall leaves? Home care for the money tree was not provided as expected. If you notice signs of a deterioration in the condition of the plant, then it’s possible that pests or diseases are to blame. The flower is extremely susceptible to fungal infections. Crassula can infect it only from the neighboring "pet in a pot." To eliminate this problem, it is necessary to treat the fat woman with special insecticides, which can be purchased at flower shops.
Another common problem when growing money tree is associated with falling leaves. This process looks rather sad. The reason for this phenomenon may lie in improper watering. With excess water, even healthy leaves may fall. During the drying of the soil, on the contrary, they will turn yellow and wither. Another possible reason is the harmful effects of sunlight. In this case, the plant can generally discard the leaves. Negative impact on the fat woman and sudden changes in temperature. Keep track of the climate in the room where the money tree grows. Winter care is especially important. If you notice that the flower has begun to shed its leaves, be sure to check whether all growing conditions are met.
Another problem that beginner gardeners may encounter is the slow growth of the fatty woman. In this case, it is necessary to check whether the pot is correctly selected. If the plant strongly roots down, this can significantly slow down the growth process.
Conclusion
In this review, we presented a photo of the money tree flower, the proper care for it was also painted. There are certain features in the cultivation of rosula, but if you familiarize yourself with the basic recommendations of experienced gardeners in advance, you can create a real magnificent money tree in your apartment.