Plant ⌀ 5 Crassula SARMENTOSA f. VARIEGATA (Crassula, Crassula)

The Crassula succulent plant, also called Crassula, is part of the Crassula family. According to information taken from various sources, this genus includes from 300 to 500 different species. More than 200 species are found in South Africa, and many more species can be found in Madagascar and tropical Africa. Some species can be found in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula; this plant is widespread mainly in the Southern Hemisphere. Its name is derived from the word “crassus”, which translates as “thick”, this is due to the fact that in most species the foliage has a fleshy structure. At home, the most commonly grown species is Crassula purslane; it is also called the “tree of happiness” or “money tree”. However, many other types of Crassula are also grown indoors.

Brief description of cultivation

1. Bloom . Crassula is grown as an ornamental foliage plant.
2. Illumination . It grows well in bright sunshine, as well as in bright but diffused light, as well as in shade. Windows with east, south and southwest orientation are suitable for this.
3. Temperature regime . In summer - normal room temperature, and in winter - from 10 to 15 degrees.
4. Watering . Immediately after the surface of the soil mixture in the pot dries to a depth of 20 to 30 mm.
5. Air humidity . Any one is suitable.
6. Fertilizer . During intensive growth, fertilizing is carried out once every 4 weeks, using a fertilizer solution for succulents and cacti. In the autumn-winter period, the plant is not fed.
7. Rest period . It is not pronounced. However, it will be better if such a succulent rests in winter.
8. Transplant . About once every couple of years. Transplantation is carried out in spring at the beginning of intensive growth of the bush.
9. Reproduction . Seed (generative) method and cuttings.
10. Harmful insects . Mealy and rootbugs, scale insects, spider mites.
11. Diseases . Gray rot, root rot, trunk rot, late blight.
12. Properties . This succulent is capable of releasing substances into the air that have antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial effects. In alternative medicine, its juice is used externally in the same cases as aloe juice, and they are also equally effective in terms of effectiveness. But it should be noted that this juice should not be taken orally, since it contains arsenic.

Crassula (crassula). Planting and care.

Signs about the Crassula flower, medicinal use of Crassula

Crassulas are frequent guests on the windowsills of apartments or offices. There is a sign that the “Money Tree” preserves the health of everyone who lives or is in the house. These plants are capable of releasing beneficial substances into the air. It is believed that they fight viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

Leaf juice is used in traditional medicine recipes. The solution helps to cope with bee stings, manifestations of herpes, and various bruises. The juice of the culture is also used as a rub to treat arthritis, as a rinse for sore throat, and gum inflammation. The juice should not be used internally as it contains arsenic.

Also, since ancient times, it is believed that the Crassula flower improves well-being and brings good luck in business.

Features of Crassula

In culture, as in natural conditions, you can find Crassula represented by herbaceous and aquatic plants, tree-like shrubs, there are both very small and large succulents, but they have one common feature: on the shoot their leaf plates are placed crosswise opposite each other . Such a succulent plant, when grown indoors, has a smaller size compared to those specimens that grow in nature; the fact is that such a crassula is limited by the volume of soil mixture, space and other conditions that are necessary for active growth. However, over time, such a flower still becomes a tree with a thick stem. The leaf blades are entire and simple; in some species they are ciliated. The lateral or terminal inflorescences can be racemose or umbellate-paniculate; they include flowers of yellow, red, white or pale blue color. But it should be taken into account that in indoor conditions, the fat plant almost never blooms. This crop is very popular among gardeners due to the fact that it is unpretentious, hardy and very easy to care for.

Aquatic species

Helms's turned-back (Crassula helmsii)

Habitats, marshy soils of Australia and about. Tasmania. The height does not exceed 40-50 cm, and grows for several years. Thin, needle-shaped leaves, fleshy, round in shape, up to 3 cm long, growing densely directly from the branches. The leaves are located on the surface of the water. Flowers in the axils of the leaves, one for each shoot, white, with a red tint. Often used as decoration for aquariums and landscapes with decorative streams.

Caring for Crassula at home

It is very simple to grow a fat plant indoors; to do this, you need to water it not very often, regularly wash the leaf blades and feed it in a timely manner.

Illumination

Most types of Crassula cannot be harmed by direct rays of the sun, so the container with the flower can be placed on a south-facing windowsill. However, such a crop will grow best on an eastern or southwestern window. If the bush feels a lack of light, this will have an extremely negative impact on its decorative effect, namely: the foliage will fly off and the shoots will become elongated. In the summer, it is recommended to move the fat woman outside, where it will feel great.

Temperature

The fat woman is thermophilic, so this summer she feels good on hot days. And in winter, it can grow quite normally next to heating devices. However, in winter, such a crop feels quite comfortable even in cool conditions (from 10 to 15 degrees). The air humidity in the room can be high or low, the bush will grow equally well.

How to water correctly

In summer, watering Crassula should be done immediately after the top layer of the soil mixture has dried. In winter, you need to wait until the substrate dries to a depth of 20 to 30 mm. Such a plant is not as afraid of the drying out of the substrate as it is of stagnation of water in it. In this regard, it can easily stand for 20–30 days while you are away or on summer vacation.

Top dressing

Feed the bush in spring and summer once every 4 weeks; for this, use a fertilizer solution for cacti or succulent plants. In the autumn-winter period, all feeding is stopped.

Formation of the Crassula

You need to start forming a tree when the bush is still relatively young. The fact is that if you form an already mature plant, then in those places where the stems were truncated or the leaf plates were cut off, stumps will remain, which will have an extremely negative impact on the decorative appearance of the bush.

First you need to choose the right container for planting. If the pot is too large, then the root of the bush will tend to go deeper, and it will begin to actively grow upward, which is why the trunk will become elongated, thin and weakened. In this regard, it is recommended to use a fairly small and low pot for planting. It is important to prepare the correct soil mixture, which should consist of leaf, humus and turf soil, as well as brick chips (fine gravel) and sand (1: 1: 3: 1: 1). After the height of the bush is 15 centimeters, you need to pinch off the 2 smallest leaf plates located at the very top, in this place it will begin to branch, namely, instead of one pair of leaves, two will grow. In a growing bush, you need to systematically tear off the top leaves in those places where you want the stems to branch. This way you will be able to give the growing tree the desired shape.

Crassula transplant

Replanting should be done as needed after the root system becomes very crowded in the pot. It is not necessary to replant the fat plant every year, but in order for it to bloom, it must be replanted once every couple of years. This procedure is recommended to be carried out in spring at the beginning of intensive growth.

The new pot should be only slightly larger than the old one; a fairly thick layer of drainage should be made at its bottom; for this you can use crushed shards or expanded clay. Then the flower is transplanted into a new container by transferring it, while it is taken together with a lump of earth, then all the voids are filled with fresh soil mixture. If the root system of the bush has grown greatly in length, then it must be shortened when replanting so that it can fit in the new container. If you want the bush to be compact in size, you should try not to replant it at all, and once a year you need to change the top layer of the soil mixture.

Money Tree. Crassula. How to replant.

Properties of Crassula

The fat woman is able to preserve the health of everyone who lives in the house where it grows. This flower is capable of releasing substances into the air that have a powerful antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal effect. In addition, the juice of the leaves is widely used in alternative medicine for lotions in the treatment of wasp and bee stings, bruises, herpes, abscesses and cuts. It is also used for rinsing in the treatment of gum inflammation and sore throat. Also, for arthritis, the juice is used for rubbing at night. But keep in mind that this juice cannot be taken orally, since it contains arsenic in high concentrations. It has long been believed that the fat woman brings prosperity to the home and good luck in business. And thanks to its ease of maintenance, it is often found not only in apartments, but also in shopping centers and also in offices.

Formation of the Crassula

Some types of Crassula grow as a bush, but many gardeners prefer to grow it as a tree. To form a tree, all side shoots of Crassula are periodically removed until the plant reaches a bare trunk height of 25-30 cm. After this, the top of the succulent is pinched, which stimulates branching and the transformation of the plant into a real money tree.

Tree-like crassulas do not need such formation; they themselves begin to form a crown.

Many people notice that the fat plant tends to lean in one direction and reach for the light; in order to straighten it out and prevent further curvature, the pot must be turned regularly.

Reproduction methods

Propagation of Crassula by seeds

Sowing Crassula seeds must be carried out in wide bowls, which are filled with a substrate consisting of sand and leaf soil (1:2). The container is covered with glass on top, and condensation must be removed from it every day, and do not forget to ventilate the crops regularly. The first seedlings should appear after 15 days. After the seedlings have grown a little, they should be planted into a large container, keeping a distance of 10 mm between the bushes, and it should be filled with a substrate consisting of light turf and leaf soil and sand (1: 2: 1). After picking, the container with the plants is placed in a well-lit place, and the light should be bright and diffused. After the bushes have grown and become stronger, they should be picked into individual pots, which reach 50–70 mm in diameter, and they should be filled with a substrate that includes turf and leaf soil, as well as sand (1:1:1) . Until they take root, they should be kept at a temperature of 16 to 18 degrees, and then they are placed in a permanent place.

Propagation of Crassula by cuttings

Propagating Crassula by cuttings is much easier and faster than by seeds. Leaf plates and stem segments can be used as cuttings. A large leaf plate or large shoot must be cut with a very sharp knife, and the cut areas should be sprinkled with crushed charcoal. They need to be withered for 2–3 days, and then planted in a substrate consisting of leaf soil and sand for rooting. They can also be placed in water mixed with charcoal for rooting. After the cuttings grow roots, they should be planted in individual pots reaching 50–70 mm in diameter. To fill them, use a substrate consisting of turf and leaf soil, as well as sand (1:1:1). Then the bushes are removed to a permanent place, and they need the same care as adult plants.

REPRODUCTION OF A BEAUTIFUL PLANT - MONEY TREE FROM A TO Z! HOW TO PROPAGATE A MONEY TREE.

Crassula pests and diseases

The greatest danger for Crassula is stagnation of liquid in the substrate, as this can cause rot to appear on the root system and base of the trunk. The fact is that this crop is one of those plants that can be harmed less by drying out the earthen coma than by frequent watering. Drafts also seriously harm such a flower; if it catches a cold, its leaves will begin to dry out and fly away.

Mealybugs can settle on such a plant; in order to remove them from the foliage, use a cotton wool moistened with alcohol. In some cases, scale insects settle on it; to get rid of them, the bush must be sprayed with actellik. If the bush is not watered for a long time, it can be occupied by spider mites; you can tell about this by the thin cobwebs that form on the leaf blades. To combat them, you can use fitoverm or actellik.

The money tree is SICK. Diseases and methods of treating Crassula!

Problems during cultivation

• Crassula sheds its leaves when watered with very cold water;
• The leaves turn pale and wither mainly during the dormant period, when the soil is very waterlogged;
• Leaves darken and wrinkle due to lack of moisture;
• Brown spots sometimes appear due to lack of moisture;
• The Crassula trunk turned black near the soil - the plant rotted due to excess moisture. The top should be re-rooted;
• The stem becomes very elongated due to lack of lighting during the dormant period;
• Leaves wither in the summer, most often due to insufficient watering;
• The money tree drops its leaves when watered with cold water;
• Leaves dry out and fall off most often due to exposure to cold drafts.

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Types of Crassula with photos and names

As mentioned above, there are a very large number of species of Crassula. Below we will give a description of those species that are most popular among gardeners. Representatives of tree-like crassulas, called “money trees”:

Crassula oval (Crassula ovata), or ovoid

This type is most popular among gardeners. Its homeland is southwestern Africa. In nature, the height of the bush can reach 300 cm, but when grown at home it does not exceed 150 cm. The oval glossy leaf plates are painted green or gray-silver. This plant is fast growing and produces a large number of shoots. The apical umbrellas consist of small pink or white flowers. This species is distinguished by the greatest shade tolerance from all others, which is very important when cultivating at home. Breeders use this species as the main one for breeding a large number of varieties, which are very simple and easy to grow even for novice gardeners. For example:

• Crassula Minor is a compact form of Crassula ovoid, the “Crosbys Compact” variety stands out especially, its pale red leaf plates reach up to 15 mm in length and up to 10 mm in width, this variety is good for mini-gardens;
• Crassula Hobbit and Crassula Gollum - these 2 American hybrids of Crassula milk and Crassula ovoid are very similar to each other, they have an unusual shape of leaf plates that seem to be turned outward, which are fused from the base to the middle - in the Hobbit, and are rolled into tubes, expanding funnel-shaped to the tips Gollum's leaves;
• Crassula Sunset - this tricolor cultivar has foliage, the surface of which is decorated with stripes of yellow or white, and it also has a red edge.

Crassula arborescens

This species is similar to Crassula ovate. Its trunk and branches are bare, the shape of the flat fleshy leaf plates is round-obovate, they have a grayish color with a pale blue tint and a red border along the edge, their length can vary from 35 to 70 mm. Paniculate inflorescences consist of white or pinkish flowers, however, when grown indoors, flowering in such a plant is very rare. In order for this species to grow and develop well, it needs bright sunlight, but it does not like shade. The following varieties are cultivated by flower growers:

• Crassula undulatifolia - flat narrow foliage of a bluish-silver color with red tips, there is also a variegated form;
• Crassula curly - with wavy large leaf plates.

Crassula portulacea, or silvery

Externally, this species is very similar to Crassula tree and oval, but it is more compact in size.

The most popular among gardeners are the following creeping Crassulas:

Crassula lycopodioides or Crassula muscosa

This shrub plant is compact; it reaches a height of no more than 25 centimeters. The creeping fleshy stems have a tetrahedral shape and curled tops. In terms of the placement and structure of the leaf plates, this species is very similar to the clubmoss. It is undemanding and grows well in shade, and in bright sunlight its foliage becomes slightly reddish.

Crassula pseudolycopodioides

The stems of this species are more curved, and they are not very pressed against the shoots. There are forms whose foliage is silver, yellow or variegated.

Crassula lactea, or milky (Crassula lactea)

This large hanging plant has a stem length of about 0.3 m. The greenish-gray leaf blades, rounded and pointed at the tips, are 30–40 mm long and 20–30 mm wide.

Crassula picturata

This type is highly decorative. On the lodging branching stems there are leaves that have an unusual color: on the green surface there are many red dots, on the underside of the plate they look purple. There are transparent cilia on the edge of the foliage.

In addition to these creeping species, flower growers also grow Crassula Cooper and tetrahedral.

In culture, the most popular columnar crassulas are:

Crassula perforata, or perforated (Crassula perforata)

The small bush is decorated with diamond-shaped foliage, which covers the shoot as if it were strung on it. The color of the foliage is greenish with a touch of bluish color, and along the edge there is a gristly red border.

Crassula Buddha

This hybrid of Crassula perfoliata and Crassula pyramidalis is more correctly called Crassula “Buddha's Temple”. Such a bush is similar in appearance to columns, which consist of tightly pressed triangular-shaped leaf plates strung on a shoot and dark green in color. Once the height of such a “column” exceeds 15 centimeters, it is capable of collapsing on its side under its own weight. Short apical inflorescences consist of red flowers.

Even in indoor conditions, the following species are cultivated: Crassula marginal (or bordered), spatulate, rocky, rounded, offspring, rosette, crescent-shaped, grouped, pierced-leaved, woolly, Schmidt, etc. In specialized stores, in some cases you can find a plant called "Crassula mix" In this case, it must be taken into account that this is not the name of the form or variety, but simply the marking of a batch of Crassula, which means that it consisted of various species and varieties.

Common types and varieties of Crassula! Varieties of the Money Tree!