How to form a money tree at home

The crassula plant - it is also a money tree or a fat woman - is very popular with flower growers because of its lush, branchy crown. But in order for it to form into an attractive neat tree, it is important to properly prune and pinch the bush.

Why do you need to form the crown of the money tree

At home, Crassula can grow up to 100 cm in height. There are several main reasons why a plant needs regular pruning and pinching of shoots:

• making the crown more decorative;
• increasing the resistance of the bush;
• strengthening the trunk;
• creating an open space inside the crown, thanks to which air easily circulates between the branches, preventing excess moisture from accumulating;
• preparation for a transplant, during which long branches can interfere with the procedure and break.

An overgrown money tree looks very attractive.

Without pruning, Crassula branches can reach a fairly long length and bend incorrectly. The severity of the overgrown shoots with thick leaves puts too much pressure on the trunk, because of which it cannot maintain an upright position, and the flower easily turns over with the pot. Timely carrying out of procedures for shortening the branches of the bastard helps to maintain the balance of the crown.

How to do it right

Violation of the rules for pruning and pinching can cause irreparable damage to the flower. That is why it is important to know how to form a money tree.

You can start a new procedure for shortening the shoots of Crassula only after it has recovered from the last pruning. In this case, all curved and highly branching shoots are pruned so that a straight branch is obtained.

The resulting sections must be disinfected with special agents. Often a manganese solution or crushed activated carbon is used for this. The cut parts of the plant can be used for propagation.

Crown formation schemes for Crassula

The main pruning is recommended in the spring. Subsequent corrective procedures usually occur in the summer, when the shoots are actively branching and form many new fleshy leaves.

Florists have developed several basic schemes according to which a fat woman is cut off - how to form a crown is described below:

• The bonsai technique involves the constant removal of the lower shoots and leaves from the central trunk, due to which it becomes stronger and more powerful.
• The creation of a rather tall tree with a thick bare trunk and a lush crown is possible only when cutting a young plant. Forming procedures are carried out regularly throughout the life of the flower, during which all lateral shoots and leaves are completely cut off. Removing branches from an adult bush will not give the desired result, but can only harm the plant.
• The formation of a neat, rounded, lush bush of small height is possible by removing new leaves from the trunk and shortening the growing branches.
• A spreading crassula is obtained with timely pinching of the tips of the branches, due to which shoots from the lateral buds begin to grow.

The flower can be shaped into almost any shape

After the pruning procedure, it is necessary to make top dressing, helping the flower to recover.

What to do for lush branching of the crown

You can grow a lush, branched money tree only by observing the correct agricultural techniques:

• periodically removing excess branches and leaves;
• by regular watering;
• fertilizing the plant with special fertilizing with nitrogen, contributing to the formation of new leaves;
• maintaining the necessary air humidity, temperature and providing sufficient illumination to the flower in the room;
• taking timely measures to prevent and control diseases and harmful insects.

The young plant grows very actively, so it is transplanted annually in the spring, picking up a larger pot. Crassula requires a loose, breathable soil, under which a drainage layer must be placed. The bottom of a capacious pot should have special holes to drain excess moisture.

Due to the increased moisture in the soil, the money tree stops growing, its foliage becomes dull and takes on a painful appearance, the roots and trunk can rot.

A weakened plant is attacked by pests. Therefore, watering the plant should be regular, but without stagnation of moisture in the soil. It is recommended to conduct it twice a week on hot summer days and no more than once a week in winter.

If the air in the room is too dry, a refreshing spraying is necessary. In addition to increasing the humidity level, this procedure will help rid the leaves of accumulating dust.

Excess shoots should be pruned at the very base.

The money tree loves good lighting, but it should be shaded from direct sunlight. If this is not done, then black spots of burns may appear on the fleshy leaf plates. You should also turn the plant towards the light so that all parts of the crown receive their share of the illumination.

The most suitable temperature for the fat woman is +16 .. + 20 ° C, with an increase in these indicators, the plant may begin to shed its leaves.

How to pinch a fat woman

Not every florist knows how to shape a bastard into a beautiful tree. In addition to timely pruning, the plant needs a pinch, in which their upper parts are removed from the branches. This procedure prevents the growth of shoots in length. In addition, it allows you to get the desired shape of the bush, making it spreading, round or creeping.

No special tools are required for the procedure - the tops of the shoots can be manually shortened. The most common shortening with the fingers of the lower and upper branches, which makes it possible to arrange a tree in the bonsai style.

Pinch the tops of the shoots with clean hands

When to first pinch

For the first time, the procedure is carried out after the appearance of 4 pairs of leaves. You can leave more paired leaf plates, but it should be borne in mind that then the overgrown crown will turn out to be unnecessarily heavy.

The plant is pinched until it acquires a certain appearance. Do not feel sorry for the small leaves that require pinching, as they will subsequently interfere with the plant itself.

How and when to do preventative pinching

A young plant does not yet have a large number of large, heavy branches.Therefore, in the first years of life, Crassulae often try to form a strong tree with a powerful and stable trunk that can hold the crown in the future.

The top of the shoot is removed with clean fingers or disinfected tweezers, grabbing the extreme pair of leaves at the very base. The movement should be precise, slightly twisted, not jerky. If the leaves are not completely pinched off, they will continue to grow, although they will be deformed.

Pruning Crassula

Before undertaking this procedure, you should study in detail how to properly prune a money tree. A plant accustomed to the annual shortening of the shoots will be easier to recover from them in adulthood. This is the only way to get a healthy flower with a beautiful crown of the desired shape.

By a young tree

Pruning is permissible only with a sharply sharpened tool, otherwise you can harm the tree. At home, they usually use the following step-by-step technique for pruning a young Crassula:

1. The lower small shoots, as well as single branches, are completely cut off.
2. Pinch the lateral processes.
3. In mature lignified branches, remove the outermost pair of leaves.
4. Cut off the upper branches, stretching in height.
5. All sections are moistened with an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate.

A money tree that was not pruned in the first years of life grows wide and actively bushes.

After correct pruning, the plant forms a powerful central stem

By the old tree

A money tree over 5 years old especially needs to be shortened. Otherwise, its central trunk may break, unable to bear the weight of powerful shoots and thick leaves. An overgrown adult Crassula is pruned like this:

1. Determine the widest and strongest central trunk.
2. All shoots are trimmed from the bottom of the plant.
3. Cut off all the thick ones.
4. Remove large leaves, as well as small shoots in the upper part of the bush.
5. Sections are disinfected and lubricated with garden varnish.

The cut parts of the bastard are used for rooting as independent plants.

Bonsai-type succulent crown formation

The bonsai shape has a powerful central trunk with branches hanging down. Such a plant can be obtained through regular pruning and pinching of shoots at different levels.

Forming procedures begin to be carried out on a young plant, while strengthening the central trunk. To do this, in the spring and summer, unnecessary branches should be cut in the lower part of the trunk and the upper ones should be shortened. The flower is regularly watered and fed, then the trunk becomes stronger and wider.

For the first 2-3 years, the 2 thickest branches are left near the tree, allowing them to grow, after which they are shortened to the desired length. Next, the branches growing vertically up are pruned, and the ends are cut off from the side ones. In addition, all the upper shoots are pinched off so that the branches continue to grow only in the downward direction.

As the shoots grow, all excess shoots should be trimmed in time.

Further care after pruning

A pruned succulent plant must be properly cared for to recover well and quickly. The most important is to maintain the level of humidity and air temperature in the room where the flower is located.

Crassula gratefully responds to compliance with the conditions of detention

To make the pruning procedure painless for the money tree, you should adhere to the following rules:

• treat the sections daily with disinfecting compounds so that they can overgrow well;
• provide the plant with adequate lighting;
• set the temperature regime in the room within +15 .. + 18 ° C, preventing even short-term hypothermia below +6 ° C;
• regularly fertilize the soil in the pot with complex compounds for succulents;
• spray the bush with a spray bottle and wipe dust from the leaves;
• water the flower every 2-3 days, avoiding stagnation of moisture.

You can get a magnificent fluffy specimen of Crassula at home only through proper regular pruning of the succulent. An overgrown well-groomed money tree will look very attractive and will be a great addition to the design of the room.