Fat woman or money tree: home care

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

The Fatty Woman plant, which is also called the "money tree", is a real green talisman that is grown to improve one's wealth and well-being. It is noteworthy that for several centuries the Fat Woman (or Crassula) has been considered a natural symbol of wealth in many countries.

Description of the plant

Under natural conditions, this plant from the Crassula family grows in Africa. It is believed that the plant got its name "money tree" due to the fact that its leaves resemble coins in their shape, although this is not the only assumption about the origin of the name.

The Fat Woman has an amazing property that many owners of this plant do not even know about - the plant can bloom if it is properly cared for at home. However, sometimes, even with proper care, the plant does not bloom, but this in no way diminishes its decorative qualities. Perhaps, as with aloe, this is a matter of luck.

Location

The fat woman (money tree) requires certain conditions. Home care begins with choosing the right location. The plant needs good lighting, but do not place the pots on the windows where direct sunlight falls. If, nevertheless, the plant is located on such windows, then in the summer, protect it from the scorching sun.

Moreover, in the summer heat, it is recommended to keep a pot with a plant on the balcony or by an open window, since the lack of fresh air is harmful to the fat woman.

Landing

With proper care, the plant can grow tall. For this reason, many make the mistake of planting it in a large pot and letting it grow. The fact is that in a large flowerpot the plant begins to stretch out strongly, grows unevenly, which is why it begins to resemble a bush rather than a tree. That is why it is recommended to plant it in a shallow flowerpot - this way it will be easier for you to form a tree.

It is important not to let the plant grow. Due to uncontrolled growth, the plant develops unevenly - some shoots are actively stretched out, others do not grow at all, which can cause the tree to become crooked.

Therefore, the growth of the Fat Woman should be carefully observed and helped to form correctly. In order for the houseplant to branch evenly, the crown should be pinched. From the ends of the shoot, pinch off several small leaves, and then branching will begin in this place.

The fat woman (money tree) does not like heavy soil. The plant prefers to grow in loose and nutritious soil. For these purposes, you can choose a substrate intended for cacti, since it is more suitable for a fat woman.

The composition of the soil for cultivation should include sand. Thus, the optimal composition of the soil is sod land, sand, leaf land (ratio 1: 1: 3, respectively).

The fat woman does not like acidic soil, so you can add a little ash and clay - they neutralize acidity.

The fat woman (money tree) loves fertilizers, so home care should include feeding, but not too much. It can be fertilized with cactus mixes. They feed her only in summer, she does not need additional food in winter.

Watering

It is not advisable to water the fat woman. Since it is a succulent, the money tree is able to accumulate excess moisture in the trunk, in the fleshy leaves. Thus, it is able to do without moisture for a long time.

It is not desirable that the roots and soil dry out, and therefore it needs to be watered once a week, in extreme heat - twice a week. However, over-watering is also harmful. Due to abundant and frequent watering, the water will stagnate, due to which the plant may begin to rot the roots. Also, this may cause gray rot.

If you notice that the "money tree" has begun to shed its leaves, then this may also be due to over-watering. The same is indicated by the appearance of brown spots on the leaves. The conclusion is this - water the plant sparingly, drain the excess moisture after watering.

The nuances of winter watering should also be taken into account. Due to the low temperature, watering can lead to root rot, so in winter the plant should be watered once every two weeks.

As for the humidity of the air, the "money tree" is a rather unpretentious plant, therefore it does not require special conditions.

Reproduction and transplantation

Fat woman does not need frequent transplants. It is advisable to transplant when the bush grows strongly. It is optimal to transplant once every 3 years, except for young Crassulas, which have acquired a lush crown, and the pot has ceased to withstand the plant.

Propagate this by a tree cuttings or leaves. But it often happens that the plant itself carries out the reproduction procedure, when a leaf that has fallen into a pot starts up roots. You may find that there are already several plants growing in the same pot.

However, it is better to control this process. For reproduction, it is necessary to remove the leaf, leave it in the shade for 2-3 hours, then plant it in the ground, slightly pressing it. It is not required to bury it.

The easiest way of reproduction is from the cuttings, for which it is placed in a glass of water, and when it gives roots, they are planted in the ground.

Diseases and pests

As for diseases and pests, the most dangerous for this houseplant are mealybugs, spider mites and scale insects. In case of a tick and scabbard infection, the plant must be treated with soapy water and Fitoverm or Funanon. If Fatty is damaged by a mealybug, then insecticides should be used to get rid of it.