Crassula

Crassula (Crassula), or bastard, belongs to the plants of succulents from the Fat family. Most of the representatives of this genus live in the southern or tropical regions of Africa, as well as on the island of Madagascar. Another habitat for fat women is the Arabian Peninsula.

Crassula owes its scientific name to its fleshy leaves - it comes from the word "thick". This plant is also known as the money tree. Often this is the name of one of the types of crassula - purslane, one of the most common as a houseplant. At the same time, many other types of Crassula are suitable for home cultivation.

Description of Crassula

Crassula plants have many varieties that differ in size and shape. Among them there are annual or perennial aquatic plants, ordinary grasses and tall tree-like shrubs, as well as very miniature, dwarf species. All of them are united by one main feature - the leaves of crassulae are arranged crosswise.

Even large specimens of Crassula in domestic culture are more compact in size. The height and vigor of a plant directly depend on the volume of the container in which it grows. But even in limited conditions, Crassula gradually turns into a tree with a thin trunk. Its leaves are opposite and most often have a green or greenish-silver color with a smoky bloom. Crassula flowers form inflorescences in the form of brushes, umbrellas or panicles. Sometimes single flowers are located in the leaf axils. Their color palette includes yellow, white, light blue and red. But it is almost impossible to achieve flowering in indoor conditions. Exceptions are adult plants (5 years old and slightly older), kept in ideal conditions. The flowering period usually occurs at the end of winter.

In floriculture, Crassula is appreciated for its elegant thick leaves. This plant is also remarkable for its unpretentiousness, durability and ease of maintenance.

Brief rules for growing Crassula

The table shows brief rules for caring for Crassula at home.

Crassula can release substances with a strong antibacterial and disinfecting effect into the atmosphere. The juice of a fat woman in folk recipes is used in the same way as aloe juice - their properties are almost the same. But it cannot be taken inside because of the content of toxic substances, including arsenic.

Crassula care at home

Growing Crassula at home is not a big problem. The plant needs the simplest care, as well as timely wiping of the leaves.

Lighting

The vast majority of Crassula species are not afraid of the direct sun, so they can be safely kept on the southern windowsills. These properties are distinguished by forms that have a bluish or waxy coating on the leaves - they are better protected from scorching rays. But slightly shaded east or south-west windows are considered almost universal for the plant.

You can understand whether Crassula has enough light by looking at its leaves. If they often fall off, and the shoots begin to stretch out, you should look for a more illuminated corner for the succulent pot or use additional lighting lamps. In the summer, you can take the container with the fat woman outside.

Temperature

A heat-loving plant can calmly endure summer heat, and in winter it can tolerate proximity to hot batteries. But in winter, the bush is still recommended to be placed in a cooler room, where it keeps about +12 degrees. This will help hybrid and variegated varieties to maintain a spectacular color. Without observing this condition, the leaves often acquire a less saturated or ordinary green hue.

Watering mode

The soil is rarely moistened. In the summertime, Crassula should be watered when the soil in the pot is dry at least 2-3 cm deep. At the same time, periods of drought are not terrible for an unpretentious succulent. A healthy plant can easily tolerate the absence of watering for a month. Overflow is considered more dangerous for a flower. Frequent stagnation of water at the roots can provoke the development of rot.

In winter, watering is significantly reduced, especially if the plant is kept cool. You can water it about once a month, or even less. In this case, the water should be at room temperature. It is best to choose the evening time for watering.

You can understand that Crassula needs moisture by the state of its leaves. With a strong overdrying of the earthen coma, they become soft.

Humidity level

The level of humidity does not affect the development of the fat woman; it perceives both high and low well. Although the flower does not need spraying, it is recommended to periodically wipe its leaves from accumulating dust with a soft cloth. You can even wash the plant in the shower, wrapping the ground in a film so as not to get it wet.

Soil and pot selection

The correct choice of container for growing Crassula plays an important role. Too large pots promote the development of the root system deeper. This leads to stretching and thinning of the trunk of the Crassula.Low pots are considered optimal for her, the width of which should be commensurate with the diameter of the crown of the bush. They are filled with a mixture of turf and leafy soil with humus, drainage elements and sand (ratio 3: 1: 1: 1: 1). You can add some charcoal to the soil.

When the size of the bush reaches 15 cm, two of the smallest upper leaves are pinched off from it. So from one escape can get two. If only one leaf bud reappears in place of the plucked leaves, it is removed again. The procedure can be repeated periodically to create branches in the required places. This is usually done after at least 3-4 pairs of new leaves grow on the shoot that has begun to branch.

For the symmetrical development of the crown of the plant, it is recommended to turn it to the sun with different sides. The individual leaves formed on the ligneous trunk should not be removed - they disappear on their own.

Top dressing

Crassula can be fed once a month for healthy growth. This is done only in spring and summer, using universal liquid formulations for succulents or cacti. Fertilizers are applied after watering, into moist soil. In autumn and winter, you do not need to feed the plant - it is resting. Top dressing is also not applied if Crassula has recently been transplanted into fresh nutrient soil.

Healthy mature plants with large leaves can be fed less frequently. Excess fertilization can adversely affect the decorative qualities of the plant. Forms with variegated or unusually colored leaves are able to acquire an ordinary color, and the crown will change in size.

Transfer

Crassula begins to need a transplant as soon as her old pot outgrows. This is usually done every two years, in the spring. Such movements can contribute to the flowering of the plant.

For full development and obtaining a beautiful crown, it is recommended to plant only one Crassula in each container. The new pot can only slightly exceed the old one in volume. A drainage layer of expanded clay or shards (up to 1/3 of the volume of the pot) is laid on its bottom.

As the fat woman grows, it can become quite heavy, so it is better to purchase for her weighty containers that can support her weight. The bush is transferred into a pot along with an earthen lump, and then the resulting voids are filled with prepared soil. If the roots of the plant have become excessively long and do not fit in the container, you can shorten them slightly.

To accelerate plant growth, transplants can be carried out more often. Conversely, in order for the crassula to remain small and compact, it should be transplanted less often. But for the health of the fat woman, in this case, an annual replacement of the upper part of the soil in the pot will be required.

Pruning and shaping the crown

In order for crassula to turn into a miniature tree over time, the formation of its crown should be started while the plant is still young enough. Pruning specimens that are too mature will result in stumps that will diminish the beauty of the plant.

Crassula breeding methods

Seed method

This method is usually used for breeding species of Crassula. Seeds are sown in wide containers filled with light soil from leafy soil with half of the sand. Crops are covered with glass, ventilating them every day and wiping off the resulting condensation. The first shoots appear within two weeks. When the sprouts become stronger, they are dived into a large container, keeping a small distance of 1 cm. A little turf can already be added to this container.

The container with the unpicked crassulas is placed in a bright, but diffused light. When the fat women grow up, they are distributed in separate pots about 6 cm in diameter. For this phase of growth, a soil of equal parts of leafy soil, turf and sand is suitable. Until complete rooting, the seedlings are kept in a slightly cool (up to +18) place, and then moved to a permanent one.

Cuttings

This type of reproduction of Crassula is considered faster and easier than seed.This procedure can be carried out throughout the year, although in winter the seedlings will have to be additionally illuminated and made sure that they are not overcooled. For cuttings, healthy shoots with several pairs of leaves or single leaf blades are usually used. They are cut with a sharp instrument, and then the resulting cuts are processed with crushed coal. The resulting cuttings are dried in the air for several days, and then planted in a light substrate.

You can pre-hold the cuttings in water until roots form. Charcoal is pre-added to it. After the formation of roots, the seedlings are distributed in individual containers up to 7 cm in diameter. The composition of the soil for them is made the same as for seedlings, using sand, turf and leafy soil. Such seedlings are looked after as a full-fledged plant.

Diseases and pests

Frequent stagnation of moisture in the soil can lead to decay of the roots and trunk of the Crassula. In this case, the stems and leaves begin to wither and shrivel. The fat woman tolerates overdrying the substrate much better. The reason may be the transferred stress - for example, sudden hypothermia. So from strong drafts, too hot wintering or improper lighting, Crassula can also have problems with leaves. If healthy leaf blades have begun to fly around, you should identify the stress factor and try to remove it. If Crassula has thrown off all the leaves, you can try to re-root its top.

From an excess of moisture, fusarium can also develop - a root disease. It can be recognized by a pinkish coating on the trunk and leaves. With a small focus of the disease, Crassula can be saved by transplanting it into new soil. The old soil should be completely removed, and the rotten roots should be cut off.

A frequent pest of the succulent is the mealybug. It is removed from the foliage with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol or soap solution. After that, it is necessary to carry out several preventive treatments of the plant and soil at intervals of a week. For mild infestations, green soap or other non-chemical pest control methods can be used.

A fat woman left without watering for a long time in hot weather can be attacked by spider mites. They, like the scabbards that have appeared, are disposed of with the help of insecticides.

Useful properties of Crassula

Thanks to the substances secreted by foliage, Crassula is able to disinfect the air in the room in which it is located. The antiviral effect of its juice allows it to be used as a folk remedy. It is used to make lotions after wasp and bee stings, as well as dressings for various wounds and bruises. In case of arthritis, on the basis of crassula juice, rubbing is done, and also gargling solutions are prepared from it for inflammatory processes of the throat and gums. But it is necessary to ensure that such juice does not get inside - despite the abundance of useful properties, it contains fairly high concentrations of arsenic.

The fat woman is well known in folk signs. This plant is supposed to bring prosperity and good fortune to the home. Together with the coin-shaped leaves, this belief gave the plant another name: the money tree or the tree of happiness. Thanks to such a reputation, as well as undemanding care, the fat woman is often found in offices, shops and business centers.

Types of Crassula with photos and descriptions

A huge number of Crassula species almost defies description. But some of them are especially popular in floriculture. The species described below are of a tree species.

Crassula oval (Crassula ovata), or ovoid

One of the most famous varieties of Crassula in floriculture. Found in the southwestern regions of the African continent. The natural size of this plant can reach 3 m, but at home its maximum height is only 1.5 m. The trunk and shoots at first have a gray-green tint, but over time they turn wood and turn brown. Oval leaves have a glossy sheen. They are usually painted in shades of green or silver.Under the correct growing conditions, the edges of the foliage begin to take on a reddish tone. Young foliage has a sharpness at the ends, which smoothes out as it matures.

This type of Crassula has a fast growth rate and branches well. During the flowering period, umbrella-shaped inflorescences with small white or pinkish flowers are formed on it. In pot conditions, it almost does not bloom. The oval fat woman prefers shady places, so in the apartment it should not be placed on strongly lit window sills. In breeding, the species is used to obtain interesting and unpretentious hybrids. Among them:

• Variegata - a form with white stripes on green leaves. In young plants, the trunk may also be striped.
• Minor - a miniature oval crassula, ideal for creating small gardens. The most popular variety is Crosbis Compact with glossy reddish leaves with a pointed tip. Their length reaches 1.5 cm, while their width is about 1 cm. Under ideal conditions, the trunk can also begin to turn red. But from the frequent application of organic fertilizers, these varietal features may disappear.
• Sunset - a tricolor variety, notable for green foliage with yellowish-white stripes and a red border.
• Hummels Sunset - with cool winter content and bright lighting, the leaves begin to acquire a deep pink color. At the same time, the trunk and young shoots become cherry or crimson. In summer, the color of the foliage changes again, golden tones begin to prevail in it.
• Solana (Lemon and Lime) - the variety is notable for striped light yellow foliage with a green border around the edge, but it loses this color if it is not maintained correctly.
• The hobbit and Gollum - American varieties, named after the heroes of the popular fantasy cycle. They are slowly growing. They resemble each other with inverted leaves, grown together from the center to the base (Hobbit) or expanding to the tips in the form of a funnel (Gollum). Such crassulas develop well without formation and themselves form an interesting bush shape.

Crassula arborescens

Outwardly, the appearance is not too different from the ovoid crassula, but at the same time it is not the shadow that loves, but the sun. In nature, it grows into a real tree up to 5 m tall. With a lack of light, the foliage acquires a uniform green color. Crassula arborescens has a bare trunk and twigs. The leaves are colored greenish-gray, have a blue tint and a reddish border and dots. Inflorescences are white or pink panicles, almost never appear at home. Common varieties include:

• Crassula curly - large foliage has wavy curves.
• Crassula undulatifolia - narrow bluish leaves with red tips. May be variegated.

Crassula portulacea, or silvery

The species is compact in size, does not grow too quickly. At home, the size of this type of crassula is about 35 cm.The leaves are oval. White or pale red flowers may appear during the winter months.

Among the creeping Crassulas, the most common are:

Crassula lycopodioides or mossy (Crassula muscosa)

Low shrub, not exceeding 25 cm in size. Creeping stems, tetrahedral. With its leaves, this species resembles a lyre. Crassula lycopodioides (or muscosa) prefers partial shade, and in the sun its foliage becomes reddish.

Crassula pseudolycopodioides

It has more curved stems. Some forms of Crassula pseudolycopodioides are more unusual - silvery, yellowish or variegated in color.

Crassula lactea, or milky

Ampel view. The length of the stems of Crassula lacteal reaches 30 cm. Large, rounded leaves with a sharpness at the ends are painted gray-green. They are about 4 cm long and 3 cm wide.

Crassula point (Crassula picturata)

A spectacular look with leaves of an unusual color.Crassula picturata has low-lying stems with dark green foliage adorned with reddish dots. From the inside of the sheet, their color seems to be purple. In addition, along the edge of each sheet there is a row of light translucent villi-cilia.

Along with this bastard, the creeping species also includes the tetrahedral Crassula (a half-shrub with weak shoots and short leaves) and Cooper's Crassula (shade-tolerant species, distinguished by green foliage with reddish spots. In an adult form, it can lose its decorative effect and needs rejuvenation).

Among the columnar crassulas, the most famous are:

Crassula perforata, or perforated

A short bush with stems covered with foliage. In shape, each leaf resembles a rhombus. Foliage Crassula perforata has a light green color with a gray bloom, and at the ends - a red border.

Crassula Buddha's Temple

A hybrid form, the shoot of which is in the form of a column. It is formed by triangular green leaves, tightly pressed against each other and as if strung on a stalk. Growing up to 15 cm, such a vertical column often falls on its side. Inflorescences appear at the tops of the shoots and consist of red flowers.

These are not the only types of fat women successfully cultivated at home. In addition, in flower shops there may be plants designated as Crassula Mix. In this case, the name does not mean a species or variety, but that the specimen was taken from a mixed batch of plants.