Crassula - species and varieties, lymphoid and Perforata

A money tree, a fat woman, or crassula is a plant whose homeland is hot Africa. In its natural environment, it can grow to enormous sizes, a trunk about a meter in diameter is covered with thick bark. However, when growing at home, the fat woman looks quite compact. Among the large number of varieties, each grower can choose an option to his liking.

General characteristics of the plant

There are more than 250 species of Crassula around the world, which feel comfortable not only in Africa, but also on other continents. However, the historical homeland of the amazing plant is the southern regions of the "black continent". In addition, endemic species are found in Madagascar.

According to the wisdom of the East, a money tree, or a bastard, should be grown in a house for financial stability.

Crassula arborescens - that's how the money tree is scientifically called. The flower is also called the monkey tree. But the most popular name is due to the fact that the leaves of the fat woman with their rounded shape resemble voiced coins. The tradition of growing Crassula for enrichment originated in ancient China, from where it spread throughout the world.

General characteristics of the plant:

• evergreen;
• the root system is fibrous. In the wild, it is often unable to sustain a powerful plant, which is why many fat women in Africa fall. Gradually, their branches grow to the ground, forming thickets. Home crassulas can also fall, so they are tied to a support;
• the trunk of the Crassula is thick, covered with dense bark, several branches branch off from it, forming a crown. At home, the height rarely exceeds a meter, the diameter is 1.5-4 cm;
• leaves are thick with juicy pulp, they are often round, but in some species they may have teeth. The color is different: from pale green to rich shades, bordered with juicy red braid. Leaf length 2.5-3 cm, width 1-2.3 cm;
• flowers are small, up to 1 cm in diameter, with a sweet slightly sugary aroma. However, crassula bloom can only be observed if the tree is more than 10 years old.

This is Crassula: its species are diverse, while the plant is unpretentious and undemanding, perfect for a beginner.

The sign says: if you take good care of the fat woman, then there will always be money in the house

Fat woman ovoid (Crassula Ovata)

Crassula ovata is a classic money tree preferred by those who dream of financial stability. It is a succulent plant, in nature it prefers the arid climate of the Arabian deserts, but it is also found in tropical forests. Differs in fleshy oval leaves, "coins", collected in a rosette. Young leaves are pale green or have a silvery tint. Old leaf plates acquire a reddish tint over time.

Inflorescence panicle, crassula flowers are small, but very fragrant.

The fat woman is ovoid - an unpretentious plant to care for. However, in order for it to please the eye of its owner, it should provide him with the following conditions:

• it is best to plant in a clay pot;
• prefers a bright area, protected from drafts, but with a constant supply of fresh air. It does not need an openwork shading;
• a soil mixture from leafy earth, turf, sand and humus taken in equal proportions is suitable as a soil. You can also buy a ready-made substrate for tropical plants or succulents.

Watering is needed very carefully, waterlogging of the soil should not be allowed, the plant may die. It will endure a short dryness of the soil, but decorativeness will decrease for a while. The amount of irrigation is significantly reduced in winter, it is quite enough to make sure that the earthen lump does not dry out unnecessarily.

For feeding, use ready-made fertilizers for cacti. It is very important to strictly observe the dosage, otherwise the shoots of the fat woman will greatly lengthen. Long branches, practically devoid of leaves, do not look very attractive.

The ovate fat woman is an unpretentious succulent in care that feels great in a city apartment

The main value of Crassula for a person is not in the therapeutic effect, but in the fact that, according to beliefs, it is able to bring income. That is why succulent pots are placed in offices, study rooms, shops and bars - wherever an influx of finance is needed.

Crassula mix

It is believed that the financial flow to the house can open an amazing plant, Crassula, the varieties of which are quite diverse. Crassula mix is ​​another species suitable for growing in a room environment. This is a southern tropical visitor belonging to the Tolstyankov family. For decorativeness and unpretentiousness, it is loved by novice florists.

Distinctive characteristics of Crassula mix:

• massive trunk, enriched with moisture. It can reach a height of 2 m, woody in old plants;
• there are a lot of branches, they are abundantly decorated with small fleshy oval leaves. The main color is deep green with crimson edging. They grow in length up to 3.5-4 cm, in width about 2 cm.

Experts attribute several different varieties to the Mix variety.

Caring for this fat woman at home is quite simple. It is necessary to withstand a temperature regime of 23-28 ° C. Moderate humidity, plenty of sun, protection from drafts - these are the basic conditions necessary for rapid growth.

Fatty Mix is ​​several varieties of succulent at once

Main varieties

The Mix group includes several varieties of the fat woman. This is the Tricolor, which got its name from the combination of three colors on the leaf plate: the main green, red on the border and white, which colors the veins. Minor is a tiny variety, the leaves of which are unusual due to their pronounced red tint. The dotted crassula is no less decorative, its branching shoots are covered with leaves decorated with red dots.

Crassula lymphoid

This is a jumbo flower, which does not have a characteristic trunk and watery leaves, but the decorativeness of Crassula did not suffer from this. Distinctive features of Crassula lymphoid:

• there is no trunk. The stems are straight, each plant has many of them. The average length is about 20 cm. Gradually adjoin, resembling lyes, from which this fatty woman Crassula got its name;
• leaves are triangular, small, located directly on the stems. Color from deep green to yellowish, old plates gradually turn red;
• blooms very rarely, only if the grower manages to create rest conditions for the fat woman. Crassula flowers are small, yellow, very odorous. Duration of flowering is about 30 days.

Care as a whole does not differ from the peculiarities of growing other types of jerky. Here are the main points to watch out for:

• the soil is chosen for succulents with the obligatory presence of a drainage layer of small pebbles, perlite or brick chips. Crassula will feel comfortable in light soil that does not retain moisture and allows air to flow to the roots;
• watered by immersion once a month, it is important to ensure that the water does not stagnate in the container;
• if the plant is flooded, immediate transplantation into dry, clean soil will save the situation;
• are fed in the spring-summer period with compositions for ornamental deciduous plants.

Reproduction is possible by cuttings, dividing the bush and layering. The plant is unpretentious, not afraid of pests and has good immunity to diseases. The only possible problem that can be encountered is root rotting due to excessive moisture.

The original view of the lymphatic fat woman

Crassula Perforata

It is also called crassula variegata. Grows in some provinces of South Africa. It is a succulent plant with elongated shoots creeping along the ground. When grown indoors, Crassula Perforata does not grow, has a neat compact shape, the number of stems is no more than 9-10.

The leaves of this variegated plant look interesting, they are heart-shaped, alternately sitting on the stem. Acceptable color options are any shades of green: from light green to rich emerald. Sometimes a deep red border runs along the edges of the plate, especially bright in young leaves.

The flower of the fat woman Perforata creamy small size. But thanks to the huge number of inflorescences, the bush itself takes on a very interesting look.

Care is simple, but the plant can grow strongly, lose its decorative effect and attractiveness. Therefore, the tops of the shoots must be pinched. Moderate watering, it is very important to avoid waterlogging of the soil. Crassula Perforata is fed with complexes for succulents. In the spring, one top dressing per month is enough, in the summer they fertilize every week. In autumn and winter, mineral complexes are not introduced.

The fat woman Perforata, thanks to its pale green leaves with red edging, looks original and interesting

Crassula The Hobbit

Another non-standard type of fat woman with the interesting name Hobbit. It has a powerful trunk about 50 cm high. Another name for Crassula - Shrek's ears - gives an idea of ​​the shape of its leaf plates. Due to its medium growth rate, this succulent can be successfully grown in a variety of flower arrangements.

Botanical Description:

• elongated leaves with a rounded end are bright green in color. With a certain fantasy, the shape resembles the body of a dolphin;
• if the flower pot is on the sunny side, then the leaf plate becomes crimson;
• Crassula blooms very rarely at home, only when ideal conditions are created. Small pink or white flowers are collected in panicle inflorescence;
• Crassula lifespan from 20 years.

A high-quality substrate for the Hobbit fat woman should consist of turf, river sand and leafy earth. A drainage layer must be laid on the bottom of the pot, preferably expanded clay.

Fat Hobbit looks unusual, evokes associations with a fantastic world

Crassula Gollum

Another plant with a name that recalls the fantastic world created by R. Tolkien is Crassula Gollum. It is not difficult to take care of her, it is within the power of even the person who is just starting to practice floriculture. An unusual look is a distinctive feature of this flower; not everyone will like it.

Crassula leaves are elongated, slightly wrinkled, ending in a kind of suckers. The surface color is grassy green, but there is a red stripe along the edges. It blooms with pink flowers resembling tiny stars.

The basic tips for growing are similar to those for other fat women. Gollum does not like high humidity and needs warmth. The temperature should not drop below 23 ° C, otherwise the growth and development of the plant will stop.

At the ends of the sheets of the fat girl Gollum there are peculiar suckers.

Some others

Often, an artificially created Spring Time variety is grown at home, which is characterized by increased decorativeness and unpretentiousness. A small compact bush will not take up much space, and the lush, watery foliage will be a worthy decoration for a home flower garden. The variety is capable of flowering in captivity, the flowers are fragrant, pale purple.

Crassula Marnier has a straight trunk with few lateral branches. Blue leaf blades and white flowers, concentrated at the top, distinguish it from other members of the family.

Milky fat woman is a shrub up to 50 cm high with green leaves decorated with white dots. The flowers are small, whitish, they are not particularly decorative.

Temple of Buddha is an unusual variety of Crassula with red flowers and dark green triangular leaves.

Fat Woman The Temple of Buddha has an unusual appearance, due to which it brings a special charm to the home flower garden

These are the main varieties of Crassula, an unpretentious succulent that does well when grown on a windowsill. It is an ideal plant for beginners in floriculture, as well as for anyone who believes in the magical power of flora and wants to increase the money channel directed to the house.