How to feed a money tree at home

Synonyms:

Characteristics:

Foliage color

Bud color

Dimensions Flower sizes

Taxonomy:

The money tree (Crassula ovata) is one of the most popular species of succulent plants from the Crassula family. This popularity is due to simple maintenance requirements and interesting shapes that fit into any interior.

Small jade coins seem almost artificial, and sometimes grow very slowly. Sometimes it seems that the flower has stopped growing . But is this really so? Let's learn more about why the Money Tree does not grow and how to grow it faster.

What to do if the money tree grows poorly: how to fertilize it

As first aid, experienced gardeners use universal solutions intended for feeding indoor plants, or special mixtures for cacti. Common varieties that can be used to fertilize a drooping money tree include Agricola, Good Power, Flower Paradise, and vermicompost.

The money tree is a succulent that can store water in its leaves.

Important! All specialized compounds activate processes occurring in plant cells. Due to them, metabolism accelerates, Crassula begins to grow and bloom. Some formulations may not be suitable for her; before purchasing, you need to check the manufacturer's recommendations.

What to do when the plant only stretches upward or wide?

If you notice that the money tree is growing unevenly, take immediate action. Otherwise, the plant may become asymmetrical and fall under the weight of the crown.

How to make Crassula grow evenly:

• Turn the pot in different directions towards the light.
• Periodically pinch out the top and growing side shoots.
• If the growth is severe, trim off excess branches, leaving two pairs of leaves. Use a disinfected knife when working. Sprinkle the cuts with crushed charcoal.

What kind of feeding does a money tree need?

How to water a money tree at home

Before wondering how to feed the fat plant at home, you need to carefully examine the flower. Its appearance will tell you which nutrients it is lacking:

• the plant completely stops blooming, simultaneously shedding its leaves, due to a lack of phosphorus;
• small and weak leaves appear when there is a lack of other elements, the situation is corrected with the help of zinc or copper;
• Lack of potassium leads to yellowing of the leaves, thinning and drying of their edges, and increased vulnerability of the skin. Only solving the problem of element deficiency will make them turn green;
• the appearance of a red or brownish border indicates oversaturation of the soil with potassium substances, the problem can be corrected by adding magnesium;
• Falling and yellowing of leaves is a sign of calcium deficiency.

Note! An excess of calcium leads to a lack of potassium. The plant cannot be fertilized with compounds in which nitrogen occupies the main place. Its excess stops the development of the tree, provokes rotting of the root system and foliage diseases, and attracts insect pests to it.

Watering with fertilizing

Potassium, calcium, nitrogen and phosphorus

Special solutions for Crassula are mixtures for cacti containing nitrogen in minimal volumes. An overdose of nitrogen components causes foliage to grow at an accelerated pace, at which cracking and rotting of the skin and tissues occur. The result will be the appearance of small and soft leaves and insufficient trunk density.

Important! The plant needs nitrogen, especially when planted in sandy soil. Following the manufacturer's recommendations will help not harm the plant.

Potassium and phosphorus are the most important elements for the normal development of succulents. The phosphorus base helps the development of the root system and the absorption of potassium. If their quantity is insufficient, one should not expect regular flowering. Potassium is responsible for the formation of a strong bark that protects the money tree from sunlight. When it is deficient, the color of the foliage changes to pale green with a bronze tint.

Crassula responds well to calcium and consumes it in large quantities. But if applied incorrectly, absorption is disrupted. Gardeners recommend extreme caution when applying calcium supplements, since excessive alkalization of the soil can destroy Crassula.

Why is it developing poorly or slowly?

1. Lighting. With a lack of light, the plant becomes lethargic, grows poorly, or, conversely, stretches out.
2. Burns on the leaves can slow down growth. When exposed to direct sunlight, the plant fades and withers.
3. Lack of feeding. A lack of nutrients will lead to disruption of natural life processes and slow growth.
   Important! Excess fertilizer can cause the succulent to become diseased.
4. Inappropriate temperature conditions. Large temperature changes inhibit growth.
5. Priming. The soil should be porous and light, acidic with low nitrogen content.

Mineral fertilizers for Crassula

How to transplant a money tree at home

For Crassula, ready-made mixtures of useful substances are produced. Flower growers prefer:

• "Gumisolom Gumi";
• "DingoGumate";
• "Uniflorom-Caxus";
• "Gilea."

For your information! Each solution has a diagram of actions that even an inexperienced gardener can easily handle. With their help, the issue of poor development of Crassula is resolved.

Mineral fertilizers

Timing for applying mineral fertilizers

What to do if the fat plant does not grow? Feed, and with the onset of March. The nutritional composition is applied under the roots of the plant every two weeks. This period is enough for the soil to dry out and ventilate.

It is important to observe the temperature regime; during the growing season it should be within 18-22 °C. The active development of the money tree continues almost until September. In the future, the frequency of feeding is reduced, preparing the fat plant for the dormant period.

With the onset of October days and until March, the plant does not need fertilizer or watering. If it has bloomed at this time, then you should water it no more than once a month. The water is pre-settled and waited until it warms up to room temperature. Too cold can cause the stem to wilt and lean to the side.

Important! In cloudy weather in summer, the fat plant does not need watering. Excessive moisture can damage the root system.

Transplanting and feeding a money tree at home

Another reason why the money tree does not grow or bloom in an apartment includes fungal infections. In this case, the fat plant needs to be replanted with simultaneous treatment of the roots with foundationazole (1 g per 1 liter of water). The blackening of the leaves is associated with the soil and root system; when transferring to another pot, this soil cannot be used.

Transplantation work is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. The plant is carefully removed from the container.
2. The roots are washed with plenty of water.
3. Remove the affected areas.
4. The root system is immersed in a solution of potassium permanganate. 20 minutes. enough to destroy all pathogenic microflora.
5. Replant in fresh, slightly moist soil.

Note! The fat plant is transplanted into a larger pot if its roots have filled the entire container. Most often this is required every three years. After transplantation, you must wait three weeks and only then begin adding nutrients.

Crassula transplantation is carried out every 3 years

Lack of lighting

The fat woman is a lover of bright but diffused lighting. If it remains consistently in shady conditions, its growth will slow down, the foliage will become small, and the stems will begin to stretch.

Solution. Place the plant in a southwest or southeast window. If this is not possible, shading must be arranged on the southern windowsill to avoid burning the foliage.

By following our advice, you can easily understand what exactly is hindering the active development of your pet. We hope that Crassula will be able to delight you with its active growth!

Organic fertilizers for Crassula

What else you can fertilize the fat plant at home is wood ash, which contains a minimal amount of nitrogen, but sufficient amounts of calcium, phosphorus and potassium. The substance is used in one of 2 ways:

• watering with a pre-prepared solution: 200 g of wood ash is mixed with water and left for a week;
• dry ash is scattered onto the ground and carefully dug up to 2 cm.

Money tree - how to plant a shoot at home

The plant must be fed every 14 days. Wood ash contains a basic set of beneficial substances that help activate the immune system of the Crassula.

Important! It is prohibited to apply manure or concentrated chicken manure. They are enriched with nitrogenous elements, which can seriously harm Crassula. They lack the phosphorus necessary for the money tree, which makes their use useless and dangerous.

A large number of useful elements (phosphorus, potassium, calcium) are found in fish and bone meal. They contain the maximum amount of phosphorus, which makes it possible to solve the problem of deficiency of necessary substances without special solutions.

Fish bones are crushed and added to a pot with a plant. The gradual dissolution of flour will help enrich the soil and activate the growth and development of Crassula. Bone meal is used no more than once every three years due to the long decomposition time.

Description

The money tree is an evergreen perennial from the genus of succulents, belonging to the Crassulaceae family. It has a luxurious rounded crown. The main advantage of the fat woman is its size. Sometimes the tree grows up to 1.5 m in height, which is why it serves as a decoration for hallways and office buildings. The succulent has medium-sized leaves with a smooth surface. They are quite fleshy, covered with thick skin. The leaf blades are distinguished by a rich green color, and the presence of a reddish edging indicates the healthy state of the plant. In their shape they resemble coins, which is where the name of the tree comes from. The trunk of the Crassula is tree-like, gray in color with a slight brownish tint.

Is it possible to make flower food with your own hands?

The question of what else can be fed to the fat woman is solved with the help of proven folk recipes. They use minerals.

Natural sources of calcium include chicken egg shells. Gardeners use it to create a nutritious tincture, as a drainage base and for dry enrichment of the soil. The shells are pre-washed and calcined in the oven or in a frying pan.

Instructions for preparing the tincture:

1. Pre-washed and calcined shells of 10 eggs are ground into powder.
2. Pour into a glass container and pour boiling water over it.
3. Insist for 14 days in a shaded room.
4. Used as a solution for irrigation instead of ordinary water.

The use of eggshells as a substitute for classic drainage is carried out in a standard way. After washing and calcining, large pieces are carefully laid out at the bottom of the container to a height of no more than 2 cm, and covered with earth. This method will help avoid moisture accumulation near the root system and its rotting.

Note! The dry method is used when transplanting crassula. Pre-crushed 2 teaspoons of shells are poured into a pot, sprinkled with soil and the plant is planted.

The eggshell infusion should sit for 14 days.

Use of fertilizers depending on the season

Fertilizing the soil for a money tree is easy to do even for inexperienced gardeners. During this time, the natural life cycle of Crassula must not be disrupted by carrying out work in the autumn-winter period. Proper use of gardening mixtures will help a healthy money tree grow and bloom.

Spring-summer period

With the onset of spring days, Crassula begins to actively increase its green mass. The first feeding is carried out at the end of March or beginning of April, then monthly until the first days of September. Balanced mixtures will help the plant receive a sufficient amount of minerals, which will allow it to develop normally and delight its owner with flowering.

in autumn

September days are associated with a decrease in money tree activity and the end of the growing season. The frequency of watering is reduced, the plant needs rest. Over the summer months, it has managed to stockpile nutrients and does not need constant feeding. After the September application of the nutrient solution, the next one is carried out in the fall no earlier than 2 months later.

In the dormant stage, the flower should not be disturbed