Caring for Crassula mix at home, varieties of money tree and methods of propagation

Description of varieties and types of money tree

This flower belongs to the Tolstyankov family. There are about three hundred varieties of it.

Crassula in pots

The plant can be either annual or perennial. It grows as a tree, bush or even grass. At home, Crassula mix is found in the following versions:

Ovata. This is a variety of oval-shaped plant. It has the shape of a small bush, not exceeding one meter in height. Juicy, rounded leaves are densely located on the trunk. Among the varieties, along the edge of each leaf there may be a red stripe or a small white fluff. Ovata is an absolutely unpretentious perennial plant. It can be grown both in the shady side and in bright sun.

Crassula minor has a slow growth rate. This plant is great for compositions and decoration of mini gardens. The leaves have a red tint. Their length is no more than one and a half centimeters. The leaf is one centimeter wide.

Thanks to the crossing of varieties of the milk tree and ovata, a variety was created - a hybrid called the hobbit. The leaves of this plant are fused from the very base to the middle. In appearance they look like they have been turned inside out. A very unusual and original plant. This flower is also considered an ornamental flower grown at home. The trunk has dense branches with leaves. Hobbit varieties include species with very brightly colored leaves.

One of the most common species, which is found in almost all homes, is Crassula mix. The flower has a massive trunk, saturated with an abundance of branches and medium-sized oval leaves. There is a red stripe along the edge. The leaves are succulent. They reach two centimeters in width and up to four centimeters in length.

Methods for propagating Crassula mix

Crassula mix reproduces without any problems, partly for this plant and is held in high esteem by gardeners. You can do this in several ways:

stem cuttings. This is the simplest and most often used method. The money tree cutting is placed in a container of water, where it soon sprouts roots. After this, it is planted as a separate plant and provided with regular watering;
seeds. The seeds of the plant are sown in prepared soil, sprinkled with a little soil on top and watered. After two pairs of leaves grow on the emerging plants, they are picked into separate containers. They are cared for like adult specimens;
leaves. This is the most difficult and least effective method, since the leaves often do not germinate, but rot. It is recommended to dry the leaf prepared for rooting in a dry place for a couple of days. It is then placed in soil or water and provided with good lighting and warmth;
dividing the bush. This method is used when transplanting an adult plant. The separated shoots already have a formed root system, so they take root quite easily.

Complete conditions for plant growth

Young Crassula

This plant is not particularly whimsical, but like any house flower, it reaches the peak of its beauty with proper, professional care.

In order for Crassula mix to constantly please your eye with green, juicy leaves, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for its cultivation.

They depend on the thermal regime, lighting, soil and air humidity, as well as the fertilizer used specifically for this plant.

Knowing all these nuances, you can grow a large flower that will not lose leaves during growth. The trunk and branches of which will be saturated with juice and will not bend under their own weight.

Temperature during care

There is a change in temperature in the room where the plant is located in summer and winter. From the very beginning of spring and throughout the summer, it is necessary to maintain the room temperature between 21 and 25 degrees Celsius.

In order for the plant to grow better, send out new branches and not fall off its leaves, you should put it on the balcony. In a private house, it can be placed in the corridor or veranda during the warm season. In such a room, the temperature will be determined arbitrarily, and the plant will comfortably adapt to climate change.

In the cold season, the flower should be in a quiet period. This time is called the hibernation period for the plant. The flower does not sprout many shoots, does not grow as in the warm season and does not produce leaves.

In winter, you should not keep the plant near radiators, fireplaces and other heating devices.

The temperature in the room should be between eight and eleven degrees. If dormancy is not ensured during the winter, the flower will shed its leaves and will not sprout new shoots as spring approaches.

Lighting and humidity for full growth

This is what a flower looks like when well cared for

The plant can be grown in indirect sunlight, but in a sufficiently lit place. A favorable place for growth and reproduction is the south-eastern side.

It is here that the plant receives the necessary amount of sunlight, but spends most of its time in the shade.

In a place that is darker from the light, the plant is more comfortable. In spring, when the sun becomes hotter every day, the Crassula mix is placed on the windowsill in the morning, and at lunchtime it is put into the shade. Thus, the plant gradually gets used to sunlight and tolerates it favorably in the future.

Juicy, fleshy leaves gain more strength in full shade. Therefore, if your windows face east and you don’t know which plant to choose, then Crassula mix is right for you.

To fully care for this plant you need very little time. The flower does not like excessive sunlight and abundant watering. When the top layer of peat soil dries, then you can water the plant with settled water. This will require a small amount of it.

Crassula mix is watered directly to the very root of the plant.

The flower tolerates drought better than excessive amounts of water. In winter it is worth watering even less often. It is during this period that the plant may die from excess moisture. This happens due to rotting of the root system. In the cold season, watering is required no more than once every forty days.

The most favorable time for watering is late evening. If you find that the leaves of a flower have become dull and have begun to wither, this means that the plant does not have enough moisture. There is no reason to spray the leaves of the plant. Crassula tolerates drought well. Dust from leaves and branches can be removed using damp gauze.

You can also wash the leaves under low shower pressure. Only in this case it is better to cover the soil with polyethylene.

Problems in growing

If you follow the recommendations for growing a money tree, difficulties arise extremely rarely. If care requirements are grossly neglected, the following problems may arise:

if you water the fat plant with cold water or place it in a draft, its leaves will begin to fall off;
red, yellow or brown spots appear on the leaves - this is sunburn;
if the crown of the plant has become pale, you need to reduce the frequency of watering;
if the trunk is bent, it means the tree does not have enough light.

Diseases rarely affect flowers, most often due to an excess of moisture combined with a violation of the temperature regime.

Rotten

Crassula mix can get gray or root rot. In the first case, a dirty or yellowish coating, similar to mold, will appear on the leaves. To prevent the plant from rotting completely, you need to remove the affected parts and treat the flower with an antifungal drug.

If a money tree gets root rot, the root system and the stem at the base suffer - they begin to turn black and rot. To prevent the plant from dying completely, it needs to be transplanted into a new pot with a complete replacement of the soil. In this case, it is necessary to cut off rotten roots during the process.

Important! To protect Crassula from root rot and other diseases, you need to disinfect the soil before planting.

Late blight

First, the fungus attacks the above-ground part of the plant. The leaves lose color and brown spots with fluff appear on them, similar to mold. The flower as a whole looks unhealthy. Treatment with antifungal drugs is necessary. Otherwise, the fat woman may die.

Late blight infection

Pests

Among insects, a spider mite can attack a flower. If cobwebs are noticed, you need to treat with insecticides or soap solution.

Another pest is the mealybug. White bugs, which can be seen with the naked eye, drink the sap of the plant. They live on stems and leaves. To combat insects, wipe the leaves with a cotton pad soaked in an aqueous solution of alcohol.

Crassula mix is an unpretentious flower that pleases the owner with a beautiful crown. It can be easily grown at home. It is believed that the money tree attracts money, cleanses the apartment of negative energy and has bactericidal properties. Crassula is often given to relatives and friends as a talisman that brings good luck.

Comments (2)

Varya
08/05/2018 at 21:55 |
Crassula is one of my favorite plants. It does not cause allergies, is easy to care for, beautiful to look at - in general, there are many advantages, in addition, they say it brings prosperity and good luck to the house.
Answer
Yulia Expert Plodogorod
03/21/2019 at 22:00 |
Hello, Varya! You are absolutely right, this is quite unpretentious for the plant. We would like to note that there are several simple rules that will help you grow a beautiful and healthy flower.
It is important to follow the watering regime and not to over-water these plants, because they are succulents. In addition, in winter, the temperature must drop slightly. Good lighting is required to ensure decorative effect.
You must initially choose the right pot. It is better that the container is wide and not very deep, made of some solid material.
A drainage layer should be installed at the bottom. Expanded clay, gravel, sand, and shells are suitable for this purpose. The layer of these materials should reach 30% of the total volume of the container.
If a narrow, high-shaped pot is chosen for planting, the growth of the flower will slow down and may stop altogether. The main secret: the diameter of the container should be equal to the diameter of the crown of the plant.
You should be more careful with fertilizing. The fact is that from an excess of minerals and organic matter, the appearance of the flower deteriorates, the color changes, and the condition of the crown worsens. Also, the plant ceases to be compact.
If a flower begins to have problems with the foliage, for example, it falls, dries or turns yellow, then you need to analyze its care.
The most common mistakes in care: excess heat in winter, insufficient lighting, or missed replanting time.
If you water this plant too intensively, leaf fall may also occur.
Drafts, watering with cold water and other stresses for the plant are also harmful. If the container with the flower is on the floor, it may freeze. Ugly, limp and elongated shoots usually indicate a lack of light.
Answer

How to care for Crassula at home: 8 main rules

The money tree is easy to maintain and has good immunity. The popularity of a houseplant is added by the opinion that it increases well-being and brings wealth to the house. There is no scientific basis for such statements. But it has been proven that if you care for the fat plant correctly, the flower purifies the air, removes toxins from the apartment, and actively releases oxygen and phytoncides.