Crassula mix - how to care for a flower
Content:
Crassula Mix is a common house plant. Among the people, it is better known as the "money tree". This plant can be found in almost every home, because it is believed that it can attract money. Therefore, it is important to know how to properly care for the Crassula mix so that it not only grows magnificently, but also, possibly, pleases with its flowering.
Crassula mix: main characteristics and appearance
Сrassula Mix is a representative of the large Tolstyankov family. The fleshy and thick leaves of Crassula are arranged in pairs. Their size, depending on the species, varies from 1-2 to 4-5 cm. Due to the fact that the plant is native to South Africa, the surface of the foliage is covered with a wax coating, which prevents the rapid loss of moisture.
Crassula mix has a lush massive crown
The color of the foliage is most often of different shades of green, but variegated and purple species are also found. The trunk is erect, sometimes it can even reach 2 m, over time it becomes lignified, covered with bark.
With the creation of favorable conditions and proper care, the Crassula mix blooms. Its racemose or umbellate inflorescences can be of different colors, but most often they are white.
With good care, the plant blooms
Popular varieties of the money tree
The Tolstyankov family has more than 300 species, differing in shape and color. But most often they are grown as indoor plants:
- Tricolor. The leaves of the species have a bright red edging and white stripes;
- Hummel's sunset (Sunset). Leaves with a pronounced red border have white and yellow stripes;
- Minor (Minor). Miniature plant shape with small reddish leaves;
- Lycopodioides (Lavender). A kind of ground cover bastards, with abundant light, the leaves turn reddish;
- Picturata (Spot). Shoots lodge and branch strongly, leaves are small, covered with red dots.
Crassula flower care at home
In general, the plant is considered unpretentious both in terms of keeping and in caring for it. However, knowing some of the features and preferences of Crassula, you can get luxurious shoots and a decorative look that can decorate any interior.
Illumination and temperature conditions
Crassula mix for home care does not require too bright lighting. In a more shaded place, the foliage of the plant becomes juicy and rich in color. The best option would be if the pot with crassula is placed in the morning on the sill of the southeast side of the house, and in the afternoon it is removed to a more shaded place.
The temperature regime in the room where the crassula is located depends on the season. In spring and summer, during active vegetation, when new shoots and young leaves appear on the plant, a suitable temperature is 20-25 ° C.
Starting in autumn, the plant gradually stops growing and by winter it begins a dormant period. At this time, the room should not be more than 8-12 ° C.Otherwise, the money tree can drop almost all the foliage, and in the spring there will be no active awakening.
The species diversity of fat women is amazing
Watering rules and humidity
The money tree does not like an abundance of moisture and excessive watering. The procedure should be carried out as soon as the top layer of the substrate dries. At the same time, it is not worth pouring the plant, watering is done directly under the root with settled warm water at room temperature in moderation. The optimal time for the procedure is evening.
In the winter period, if the plant is provided with a dormant period, watering the money tree is significantly reduced and is carried out once every 30-40 days with a small amount of water. An excess of moisture in this state is very dangerous for the plant, since excess moisture at a low air temperature contributes to the development of fungal diseases and rotting of the root system.
This procedure is needed to clean the leaves from accumulated dust, and not to increase the humidity of the air. It is important to remember that the plant is much better able to tolerate the dry air of apartments and a lack of moisture than its excess.
Young plants require an annual transplant
Top dressing and soil quality
For planting and growing a plant, the soil is suitable, which is used when planting cacti. If the substrate is prepared independently, then you need to mix sand, soil and charcoal.
There is no need to feed recently transplanted plants, they have enough nutrients in the fresh substrate. Fertilizers for feeding are taken either universal or for succulents. Top dressing is carried out in the spring and summer 1-2 times a month, in winter it will be enough once every 1-1.5 months. In this case, the dosage of fertilizer in winter can be halved.
Flower container size
A feature of Crassula mix is the fact that its above-ground part is quite impressive in size both in height and in volume, and the root system is at the same time of modest size. Therefore, so that the massive crown does not cause the pot to overturn and damage the plant, it is advisable to pick up a shallow pot, but wide, stable and heavy.
It is better for the plant to pick up a stable pot
Features of plant transplant
When transplanting a money tree to the bottom of the pot, in which there must be holes for draining excess water, a layer of drainage material is laid (expanded clay is most often used). It should be 2-3 cm, and if the pot is quite high, then up to 8-10 cm.
During transplantation, the plant is usually transferred along with a lump of soil, but at the same time the roots are examined for damaged or rotten ones. If they are found, they are carefully cut with a sharp tool and processed with crushed coal. If roots are too long, you can shorten them.
Flowering and dormant period of the plant
How the money tree blooms, know those growers who were able to provide the plant with the necessary conditions for keeping.Since the buds of flowering are laid during the rest of the plant, then with the onset of autumn it is better to gradually lower the temperature of the plant's maintenance and the frequency of its watering. In addition, pruning during this period is undesirable.
After the money tree rests and gains strength, it throws out flower brooms. Watering during this period is moderate.
It is better to remove the money tree from direct sunlight.
Crassula mix breeding methods
Crassula mix multiplies without any problems, partly for this plant and is held in high esteem by flower growers. This can be done in several ways:
- stem cuttings. This is the simplest and most commonly used method. A stalk of a money tree is placed in a container of water, where it will soon sprout roots. After that, 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 earth a little on top and watered. After two pairs of leaves grow on the plants that have appeared, they are dived in separate containers. They look after them as if they were 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. Then it is 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 processes already have a formed root system, so they take root quite easily.
Possible problems when growing a fat woman
Problems in growing Crassula mix arise when the rules of caring for it are grossly violated. Most often, flower growers face the following difficulties:
- the plant has dropped the foliage. This was due to the fact that either watering was done with cold water, or the crassula was in a draft, or watering was not done for too long;
- foliage turned red - traces of sunburn;
- leaves are pale, colorless - a sign of excessive watering;
- foliage wrinkled and lost its shine due to lack of watering;
- curved stem - lack of lighting or waterlogging of the soil.
Diseases
Among the diseases that most often affect Crassula mix are fungal diseases and rot that appear with excessive watering in combination with low temperatures.
Crassula mix lends itself well to reproduction
Pests
Among the pests, the spider mite annoys the plant most of all. Therefore, when small cobwebs appear on the Crassula, it is imperative to treat it with an insecticide solution. For minor lesions, you can try to treat the plant with a solution of laundry soap.
Crassula mix is a perennial of the extensive Tolstyankov family. Taking care of the money tree, as the plant is also called, is not at all difficult. To get numerous shoots with succulent leaves, you just need to adhere to certain rules in the care and provide the plant with a dormant period in the winter.
