Easy to care for, decorative and frugal: this is how the money tree, one of the most popular indoor plants, presents itself. The plant, which can reach a considerable size with good care, belongs to the genus Crassula (thick leaf). As a fairly undemanding plant, the shrubby growing money tree, which is also known as the “penny tree” or “bacon oak”, is equally suitable for advanced hobby gardeners and beginners.
Table of Contents
Ideal location
Like many thick-leaf plants, the money tree comes from sunny Africa; A warm, bright place is therefore suitable for growing the plant. When kept in the apartment, the money tree feels particularly comfortable on a south-facing window; however, the plant should be protected from direct, blazing sunlight by a curtain. In summer the money tree can be planted outside without any problems. The money tree also feels good on the balcony. However, when the nights get cooler or rainy, the plant should be brought back indoors. So that the money tree can thrive, a water-permeable substrate should be chosen, for example cactus soil or a mixture of potting soil, sand and gravel. The water supply is moderate; however, complete drying of the substrate should be avoided.
The optimal location of the money tree at a glance:
- warm, bright place
- Protection against blazing heat, cold and rain
- water-permeable substrate, for example cactus soil
- Avoid economical watering, waterlogging and complete dryness
It works easily – pulling and multiplying the money tree
The propagation of the money tree is very simple and can also be carried out by beginners without any problems. There are two ways of doing this; On the one hand, the leaves of the plant, which are carefully removed, are suitable. Then the thick-fleshed offshoot is inserted directly into the potting soil, which should be permeable to air (e.g. cactus soil). The sheet is stored in a warm, bright place; here the first roots form quickly.
A second way to multiply the money tree is to sow button cuttings or offshoots. In spring, the cuttings can be carefully separated from the plant and then placed in a vase filled with water. Here too, roots develop quickly. The small root system should continue to develop for about two weeks before repotting can take place. The water level in the vase should be closely monitored during the season to prevent the cuttings from drying out. For potting, the flower pot is filled to a third with potting soil. Then the plant is inserted and the pot is filled with soil. The cuttings can also be propagated without pulling them out in the vase. To do this, the cut surfaces of the button cuttings are left to dry for three days, before these are planted in the cactus soil. The cuttings also thrive – like the young leaves – in a warm and bright place that is protected from direct sunlight. In the first few weeks, the young plant also needs some fertilizer. Special cactus fertilizer, which is particularly weakly dosed, is particularly suitable for this.
Pull and multiply at a glance:
- Grow leaves as offshoots in air-permeable soil
- Pulling out the button cuttings in a water-filled vase
- Alternative pulling directly into the soil after the cut surfaces have dried on
- Store in a warm, bright place
- Using a cactus fertilizer for the first few weeks
Care of the money tree – cutting and repotting
Repotting the money tree is best done every three years during spring. For this purpose, heavy flower pots are used, for example made of clay, which have a large diameter. Small and light vessels should be avoided as the heavy leaves are high up on the money tree; Due to the low weight of the plant containers, the plants tend to fall over. Sometimes it may be necessary to prune the money tree. For example, if the plant spends a long time in a place that is too warm and exposed to direct sunlight, the leaves lose their elasticity. Especially the long shoots, which are still relatively fresh, then hang over the edge of the pot. This process is also called “gelation”; this quickly breaks the shoots, which can lead to the loss of the plant.
If there has already been gelation, only consistent pruning of the plant will help. This is where all the instincts. that grow downward, removed. The goal should be to form a tribe; if there are several money trees next to each other, the plants with advanced yellowing should be removed. Then an attempt is made to form a uniform crown from the remaining trunks, whereby superfluous branches can be cut away. The remaining branches should be joined together to form a crown. It can be helpful to shape and bend the branch structures. Shoots that are growing in the wrong direction, on the other hand, should be tied to sticks to urge them in the right direction. After a while these branches have taken on the corrected direction of growth; the sticks can be removed again; wire should not be used for this as it can grow into the plant. After the cut, the money tree can be observed very vigorously. Even if the plant then looks very beautiful and sublime, the decision should be made in good time as to which shoots are to be cut off and which to remain. As a rule of thumb: 2/3 are cut off, the rest remain.
But a pruning of the money tree is not only useful for reasons of comparison. The plant can also be cut for decorative reasons, whereby it can assume different shapes. When cutting, certain aspects should be considered:
- The pruning makes the money tree more compact and the entire plant becomes stronger.
- More branches form, the plant appears denser.
- The time after flowering is suitable for cutting, otherwise roots will be cut away.
- The money tree only blooms when it stands outside over the summer and brings it into the house in colder weather, as the temperature change causes the flowers to be driven out.
Pouring properly
The money tree is watered rather moderately overall. A small amount of water during the growth phase is sufficient. The substrate should just be moistened. Overwetting must be avoided at all costs, as too much moisture can lead to root rot. In addition, it should be ensured that the upper layers of soil always dry well between watering. Basically enough water is added until the substrate no longer absorbs moisture. Any residue that has run into the coaster will be removed after a few minutes. When the plant is dormant in the months between November and February, it is only necessary to ensure that the root ball does not dry out completely. The water supply takes place sporadically during this time.
Fertilizing the money tree
The money tree is quite undemanding; Fertilization is needed especially in the first few weeks of the plant’s life.
- Targeted fertilization with a weak cactus fertilizer (liquid, in the form of granules or sticks) is usually sufficient.
- The concentration of the fertilizer also depends on the soil.
- If the soil contains a lot of organic components (humus), half the dosage recommended by the manufacturer can be chosen.
- In the case of mineral soils, the concentration can be chosen to be higher.
- In addition, the adult plant can be fertilized in certain periods.
- Especially during the main growing season between March and October, fertilization in low concentrations is recommended, although this only needs to be done once a month.
- During the dormant phase of the plant – from November to February – the money tree does not need any additional fertilization.
Wintering made easy.
The wintering of the money tree plays an important role in the formation of flowers. The plant can bloom in spring or winter if care is taken to ensure a cold-blooded location. If the money tree is in the garden, it can be left there until temperatures level off at around 5 ° C. The plant should be covered, as soaked soil can lead to root rot. The money tree must be protected from frost, as the leaves freeze at 1 ° C. Due to the different day and night temperatures, flower formation is stimulated. The money tree can also be overwintered in the house. A location should be chosen where temperatures between 5 and 19 ° C prevail. During the resting phase, the plant is only watered carefully.
Pests – fight effectively
If the money tree loses leaves, pest infestation can also be the cause in addition to permanently moist soil. If yellow, sticky secretions can also be seen on the leaves at the same time, a pest infestation can be assumed with great certainty. Shield aphids or mealybugs in particular attack the fleshy leaves of the money trees. Weakened plants are particularly affected by the pests. To combat the shield aphids, special plant sticks are used, which are inserted into the earth. These are mostly fertilizer combinations at the same time. If the plant is watered, the active ingredients are absorbed and the lice die. Dead material can then be removed with a cloth, a cotton swab or the shower head.
First aid for diseases of the money tree
The plant becomes ailing when more leaves are shed. In this case, it should first be checked whether the plant has been overtaken. Even unfavorable lighting conditions can cause the leaves facing away from the light to be shed, for example if the location is too warm in winter. Artificial light can help here. If the shoots become soft, repotting the plant can be considered. Before doing this, any rotten parts of the root that may have been caused by over-wetting, for example, have to be removed. If the plant consists of completely soft parts, the money tree can no longer be saved.
The money tree – a symbol of prosperity and happiness
The money tree has a good reputation; there are some myths and legends about the popular houseplant. According to the Chinese doctrine of Feng Shui, the plant is clearly one of the lucky plants that ensure lasting prosperity and happiness for the owners. This myth is easy to explain: you can easily grow a new plant from every single leaf of the money tree. In the same way, the money should increase among the owners of the plant.
Conclusion
The money tree is well suited as a houseplant for both the living room and the office, as the plant is non-toxic and quite undemanding. Even beginners can easily manage and multiply the money tree, which requires little water and is very resistant. If necessary, the evergreen plant can also be made to bloom and thus offers a nice contrast to the evergreen leaves.