Money Tree - scientific name and where it grows
Content:
This culture is considered the most popular talisman, which has the property of attracting wealth and prosperity to the house. Many lovers of home plants acquire such a "pet" with fleshy leaves, something similar to coins. The flower has two more names: crassula or fat woman. It also has healing qualities - its leaves are used to treat nail fungus.
The scientific name of the money tree
If we talk about the scientific name, then in Latin it sounds like Crassula, the plant itself is a representative of the Tolstyanka family. This includes 300-350 different species whose habitat is found in South Africa.
Money tree, appearance
Also, some plants are common in Tropical Africa, Madagascar and the Arabian Peninsula.
The plant is very famous among indoor flower lovers. In principle, it does not matter what you call it: Crassula or Fatty - all this is one plant. Further material will be of interest to those who have not yet dealt with such a flower, but only want to purchase it.
Description of the flower money tree
It is worth moving on to the appearance of the plant itself. Crassula, in another way she can be called a fat woman, is a succulent, i.e. a plant that can survive in arid areas, creating a supply of fluid in the leaves. There is indeed a large amount of water in the thick leaves of a house tree.
Crassula or fat woman
The Tolstyankovye family includes about 350 varieties of similar plants. Some of them have a very small height of about 5 cm, others grow up to 3 meters. There are creeping and aquatic representatives, all of them are united by leaves of impressive thickness. Their shape depends on the variety, there are plants with leaf plates:
- oval;
- cylinder;
- rhombus;
- lanceolate shape.
Most often, a money tree located at home or in an office looks like a tree with a thick trunk. The older the flower, the thicker its trunk.
Leaf plates are interesting not only for their diverse shape, but also for their color variations: from the usual bright green color to silver or even spotty.
How does a money tree grow in nature
Under natural conditions, the plant reaches 1-2 meters in height, its trunk is about 30 cm thick. The leaves are small in size, have the shape of an ellipse, the color of the plates is bright emerald, in some species there may be a red border around the perimeter. For domestic species of the money tree, flowering is uncharacteristic, but if such a rare phenomenon occurs, then small white flowers appear, collected in inflorescences - umbrellas. The birthplace of the tree is in the Transvaal. This plant is also called ovata.
Money tree in nature
Purslane Crassula is a variation of the previous plant.Its trunk and branches cover aerial roots. Initially, they are white in color, gradually darkening. Flowering for such a plant is very rare, it occurs at a mature age. Flowers are small in size, collected in a paniculate inflorescence. The petals are white and pink.
How to grow a big money tree
Under natural conditions, there are only a few plant varieties that can reach large sizes. If the owner of home flowers intends to grow a giant Crassula, then it is recommended to heed the following recommendations:
- The fat woman needs a certain soil. The best option is a land suitable for cacti. It contains all the components needed for a money tree. As the "pet" grows, it will need to be transplanted. This procedure is carried out every 2-3 years.
- The capacity for planting is selected in such a size that it is suitable for a voluminous root system. When choosing a pot, they look at the diameter of the crown; it should match the diameter of the pot.
- The pinching procedure will help to get a large tree, otherwise the plant will grow as it is more convenient for it, this makes it unattractive.
- Top dressing is added monthly by adding them to the ground. The necessary fertilizers are purchased in specialized stores.
Big money tree
- Providing the right lighting. You won't be able to get a large culture if it doesn't have enough light. It is worth remembering here that the money tree is from the African continent, therefore it requires a lot of sunlight.
- Crassula needs moderate watering. They are carried out as the earth dries up. An excessive amount of moisture leads to the fact that the leaf plates acquire softness and pale color. Without correcting the situation, the plant will simply die.
- Daily spraying of the flower is recommended, because he is a great connoisseur of moisture.
How long does a money tree live
Growing conditions directly affect the length of life. If a suitable microclimate is created for the money tree, then it will grow for more than one decade and successfully add in size. There are representatives of the family and fifty years of age, the question is, will the owner have enough patience for such a long care?
Varieties
The most popular variety of the fat woman is oval; it includes varieties in large quantities. The leaf plates are 6 cm long and 3 cm wide. The petiole is absent, the plate itself is attached to the stem.
The color of the leaves can be rich green or have a silvery sheen, their edges are decorated with a red border. The flowers of the oval bastard are pink or white. The main advantage of this variety is considered to be undemanding to care.
Tree crassula
In height, the tree can reach 1.5 meters in height. Gray leaf plates, also framed by a red border. The length of the leaves is about 9 cm, the width is 4.
Crassula tree
The flowers are white; over time, it acquires a pink tint. It is recommended to place the tree representative on the west or east window.
Fat woman Schmidt
The leaves are characterized by a lanceolate shape with pointed tips. The upper part of the leaf is silvery-green, the reverse is red. The flowers of the shrub are also red. This variety is popular in European countries; it is planted as an annual plant every season.
Fat Schmidt bloom
Puffy crassula
The plant possesses fleshy, narrow leaves with a sharp point similar to scales. The color of the flowers is yellow, but the culture is appreciated for the original branches hanging from the pot as it grows.
Poultry variety
In height, the bastard grows up to 25 cm. Some lovers of indoor flowers plant it in the same container with other succulents to get very beautiful compositions. Caring for this species is simple, because the plant is unpretentious. Life expectancy is over 10 years. Reproduction occurs both by leaves and cuttings.
Rocky crassula
It is a representative of creeping plants, reaching a height of 0.5 m. Stems are thin, with small thick leaves, decorated with a red border.
Rocky
The flowers can be pinkish or yellow in color.
Point fat woman
It is a shrub with leaf blades close to the stem. The leaves themselves are ovoid and have a sharp point in the upper part. They are greenish in color, there is a silvery tint and dark spots. The culture will bloom with white flowers.
Spot Crassula
Purslane Crassula
It has bright glossy green elliptical leaves with a thickening in the middle and a thinner part at the edges. As the shoots begin to develop, they get thicker. In height, such a plant can reach 2 meters.
Purslane
Fat Cooper
The shoots of this plant are especially interesting. The lower part is characterized by vertical growth, the upper part is inclined downward. The more they (shoots) grow, the more they are pressed against the ground. The leaves of the flower are elongated, with red dots, which gives the culture a very elegant look.
Fat Cooper
Caring for her is as easy as for the rest of the family.
Care
Planting a home culture in open soil is not recommended. If the weather is good, you can move the pot outside to fresh air. This procedure will have a beneficial effect on the well-being of the plant.
Despite the fact that Crassula has rather harsh living conditions in its homeland, there are some aspects that are worth knowing in order to grow a healthy flower in the house. Money tree home care:
- The fat woman loves light, but direct sunlight does not suit the plant. To provide the flower with diffused lighting, it is recommended to place the tree on a stand or shelf under the window. In the summertime, it is worth thinking about shading the glass (this is especially true for the southern and southwestern windows). On the north side, the plant is placed directly on the windowsill;
- Dry air is not a problem for a succulent; due to frequent changes in humidity, various diseases can develop. The plant is difficult to adapt to frequently changing conditions;
- An adult Crassula has a negative attitude towards transplants, therefore, if there are no vital indications, the plant is best left alone;
- Excessive watering leads to decay of the root system, which ends with the death of the flower. In spring and summer, the crop is watered once a week. Water is used soft, settled, at room temperature;
- Frequent feeding should also be discarded. It will be enough for the plant that it will be fertilized once every six months;
- Contraindication - drafts, they provoke illness.If in winter it is necessary to ventilate the room, then it is recommended to take the flower out of the room for this time or cover it. Prolonged exposure to cold air leads to the fact that leaves begin to crumble from the culture.
Content temperature
In the spring and summer, the optimal temperature for Crassula is + 20-25 ° С. With the onset of suitable weather conditions, it is recommended to take the flower out to the street or balcony, because the tree reacts poorly to lack of fresh air.
Mealybug
In winter, the most comfortable mode is + 15 ° С and below, but not less than + 4 ° С. If you organize the wintering of a money tree at room temperature, then you can face such unpleasant moments as wilting and falling foliage. Placing the pot next to a central heating radiator is not recommended.
The unpretentiousness of the fat woman makes the money tree a favorite of many flower growers. If all the recommendations for care are followed, the plant will look great, delight the owner for decades, and he will not need treatment.
