The money tree (Crassula ovata) is considered a lucky charm in many parts of the world, which is why many people like to give such a plant as a guest or birthday present. In general, the thick-leafed plant is a popular houseplant: easy to grow, easy to care for and growing in size over the years and with increasing age, the plant adorns bright living rooms and other rooms. Even children are very happy with the non-toxic plant, as they can learn and practice proper plant care with it.

The money tree is said to bring prosperity

Table of Contents

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  1. origin and distribution
  2. use
  3. appearance and growth
  4. leaves
  5. flowers and fruits
  6. toxicity
  7. Which location is suitable?
  8. substrate
  9. Plant money tree properly
  10. repot
  11. Water money tree
  12. Fertilize money tree properly
  13. Cut money tree properly
  14. grow money tree
  15. hibernate
  16. diseases and pests
  17. species and varieties

    18. origin and distribution

    The money tree (Crassula ovata), also known as penny tree, thick leaf, elephant tree or bacon oak, is one of around 300 different species of the thick leaf family (Crassulaceae). The succulent plant is originally at home in South Africa, where it thrives in the company of other succulents such as aloe or euphorbia on barren, rocky substrates.

    use

    The attractive shrub with its large, thick leaves has been cultivated as an uncomplicated houseplant for many decades. Since the plant, which comes from hot Africa, is not hardy here, it is not suitable for pure garden cultivation. However, you do something good for the money tree if you prepare it a comfortable spot on the balcony or terrace during the warm summer months and bring it back inside when the temperatures fall in autumn.

    appearance and growth

    Within a few years, Crassula ovata develops from a small, single-shoot mini plant into a tree up to 100 centimeters high with a thick trunk and strong branches. The species can be many decades old and very extensive: While the evergreen shrub can reach a height of up to 2.5 meters in its native habitat, it can grow significantly larger than one meter even in pot culture - and at least just as wide.

    The money tree increases in height and size, especially at a young age. On the other hand, if the plant is a bit older, the trunk and branches in particular increase in size. individual main shoots can reach a diameter of up to six centimeters. This growth in thickness is particularly important because otherwise the heavily branched shrub would no longer be able to support its numerous, very thick leaves. The bark is usually grey-green to brownish in color and peels off in brownish, horizontal stripes on older specimens.

    leaves

    The fleshy, dark green leaves of the money tree are oval in shape with a convex top and flat underside. They sit stalkless or with only very short stalks directly on the branches of the plant, which, very characteristic of thick-leaved plants, are green at the beginning of the shoot and only later turn brownish. The leaves are opposite and can grow up to three inches long and four inches wide. The edges of the leaves are often reddish, but not always. It is an evergreen plant.

    flowers and fruits

    Many people do not even know that a money tree develops a profuse bloom with numerous delicate flowers and is capable of doing so under certain conditions even when grown in pots. However, the pretty pink or white, star-shaped flowers are only formed from the age of around ten years, and a noticeable difference in temperature between the summer and winter months is also required.

    To stimulate this, simply place your money tree on the balcony or terrace during the summer months and bring it back inside when autumn begins. This change alone is often enough to get the flowering going. In its native South Africa, on the other hand, the flowering time of the money tree is in the South African winter between June and August - then it is comparatively cool there. For us, too, the possible flowering time is in the winter months.

    Once fertilized, Crassula ovata forms capsule fruits with numerous tiny seeds. In pot culture, however, there is usually no fruit formation, since the corresponding insects for pollination are missing in winter.

    toxicity

    The money tree is not poisonous to humans or animals and is therefore ideal for households with children or curious pets such as cats and dogs.

    Which location is suitable?

    The money tree, which originates from sunny and warm Africa, needs a bright and warm place in the home. A spot by an east or south-facing window is ideal, provided the plant behind it can be protected from direct sunlight - especially at midday. The money tree does not tolerate a full sun location very well either and reacts to this with leaves turning brown. In summer, it is best to place the pot with the plant outside, although you should also prefer a bright, semi-shady place. However, if it gets cold and/or rainy, the plant can be brought back inside. While it can get really hot in the summer, you can keep Crassula ovata significantly cooler over the winter at at least ten degrees Celsius.
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    substrate

    Plant the money tree in loose, well-drained and rather nutrient-poor potting soil, which you thin and loosen up with sand or gravel and expanded clay (€19.73). Cactus soil mixed with sand and perlite (€37.51) is also very suitable. When choosing the substrate, pay attention to the quality, which is reflected in the composition: low-quality soils are often heavily mixed with peat, while high-quality soils are based on compost soil.

    Place great importance on good water permeability and ensure adequate drainage in the pot. For this purpose, the bottom of the pot should have a large drainage hole and stand in a planter or on a saucer to catch excess watering. Cover the hole with potsherds to keep it from clogging up and making drainage ineffective.

    Plant money tree properly

    In addition to good drainage, the money tree needs a wide and heavy pot, for example made of clay or ceramic. The reason for this is that the plant often becomes very heavy, especially in the upper area because of the large, water-storing leaves, then gets overweight in a light and small planter and simply tips over together with the bucket. On the other hand, if you plant it in the widest possible pot with a wide bottom, you effectively prevent this danger.

    repot

    About every three to four years you should transplant Crassula ovata into a larger pot. This is definitely necessary when the old planter is completely rooted and the roots may even be growing out of the pot. If this is not the case, take the plant out of the container, remove the old soil, clean the pot and put the money tree back into fresh soil. Press the newly inserted plant firmly into the substrate so that it does not fall over immediately. Be careful not to damage the roots.

    After repotting, the money tree is somewhat sensitive due to the planting shock and should therefore be treated with particular care for about two to three weeks and, above all, protected from direct sunlight. However, he will soon recover and then continue to grow healthily.
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    Water money tree

    Water the money tree moderately overall, as a small amount of water is sufficient for the thick-leaved plant even during the growth phase. Water so that the substrate is just superficially moistened. Too much water - as well as insufficient drainage in the pot - leads to over-wetting, which in turn causes the roots to rot.

    Remove excess water from the saucer or planter immediately so that the money tree is not permanently wet. During the rest period between November and February, however, just make sure that the substrate does not dry out completely. During these months, water only sporadically and very cautiously.

    Do not use cold tap water for watering, but well stale, room-warm tap water or collected rainwater. Since the money tree prefers a slightly acidic to neutral substrate, the irrigation water should not be too calcareous. Restraint is also required when it comes to humidity: In contrast to many other houseplants, which often come from the rainforest, the money tree should be placed in an environment that is as dry as possible.
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    Fertilize money tree properly

    The money tree is also pleasingly uncomplicated in terms of nutrient supply. Fertilization is only carried out during the growth phase between March and October, in which you supply the plant with a weakly dosed cactus fertilizer at intervals of four to six weeks. During the winter rest period between November and February, however, no fertilizer is used.

    Incidentally, the dosage depends heavily on the size of the money tree and the substrate chosen. Large plants need more nutrients than small ones, while specimens growing in humus-rich materials need to be fed more sparingly than money trees growing in mineral substrates.
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    Cut money tree properly

    As long as the money tree is in a sufficiently bright location and is cared for there according to its needs, pruning makes sense at best for educational purposes. A pruning ensures that the shrub grows more compactly and densely due to the increased number of branches. Otherwise, the plant usually develops lush, bushy growth all by itself.

    However, if the plant develops too many horny shoots - for example because the branches are too long and therefore very prone to overhanging and breaking - or develops a sparse growth due to lack of light, it is time for a pruning. The best way to do this is as follows:

    • cut off any shoots that hang down
    • carve out a distinct trunk with a coherent crown
    • to do this, remove all superfluous branches
    • shorten too long and weak shoots
    • always cut close to a ring
    • from these the money tree will sprout again, since it has no dormant buds
    • if branches are shortened, remove the last two leaves
    • at this point the branch branches out

    It is best to carry out such a cut during the sap dormancy in late winter. The bush will then push through again.

    Branches growing in the wrong direction can be corrected in their growth with the help of support rods. However, do not use wire for this purpose, as it will injure the soft branches and quickly grow in. Since the money tree is quite tolerant of pruning, it can be easily trained as a bonsai.
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    grow money tree

    The money tree probably owes its reputation as a lucky plant primarily to the fact that it can be propagated very easily using head and leaf cuttings and that almost all of the planted branches take root. The branches, which are preferably cut in the spring, can be rooted both in a glass of water and directly in a container with growing substrate. If the cutting is rooted in soil, you must keep it constantly slightly moist.

    For a leaf cutting, all you need is a leaf, which you place on a pot with moistened substrate and wait until new roots have developed from it. Here, too, the soil should be kept slightly moist.
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    hibernate

    In principle, you can cultivate the money tree all year round at a constant temperature in the living room. However, if you want to get the plant to bloom, you should take care of it outside during the summer and at about ten degrees Celsius in the winter, with little water and no fertilization. With a bit of luck, the shrub will then develop flowers.
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    diseases and pests

    The hardy money tree is rarely attacked by pathogens. If this is the case, there are usually maintenance errors behind it. Above all, excess moisture causes problems, as it causes roots and shoots to rot. In this case, with a bit of luck, you can save the money tree in question by repotting it in fresh and dry substrate. Be sure to cut back any soft and rotten roots vigorously.

    Pests are also rare. Mealybugs and spider mites attack the money tree primarily in the winter months when it is dry. You fight the plague by rinsing the plant in the shower and treating it with an insecticide if necessary. Aphids, on the other hand, appear primarily in the summer months and must be combated immediately, as they often result in fungal diseases.

    These signs indicate diseases in the money tree:

    • Money tree sheds leaves: Money tree is too dark and/or too damp, high temperatures in winter can also be the cause
    • yellow leaves: location too dark, waterlogging, lack of nutrients, infestation with spider mites
    • brown leaf spots: sunburn
    • soft shoots and leaves: over-fertilization, but also too high humidity or damp root balls

    tips

    Red leaves, on the other hand, are not a sign of illness, but completely normal for some varieties and species. The leaf color comes from intense sunlight.

    species and varieties

    The popular houseplant is available in numerous variants, some of which come with unusual leaf growth or a particularly interesting color scheme. For example, these popular varieties are particularly unusual for indoor culture:

    • 'Hobbit': also known as Spoon Tree, light green, spoon-shaped leaves
    • 'Gollum': Leaves turn red when exposed to sunlight
    • 'Variegata': striking green-yellow variegated leaves,
    • 'Tricolor': tricolor leaves with yellow-green interior and reddish edge

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Vegetable garden