Money Tree (Crassula, Crassula) can be not only Financial mascot Feng Shui, but also a real interior decoration - spectacular tree with a thick crown of large shiny leaves.
The money tree itself like everything living and growing, turns to the light. Shoots are drawn (especially in low light), develop unilaterally, focusing on lighter places.
The stems and leaves of this plant, despite the apparent thickness, do not differ in strength and easily break off under their own weight when they are long. Crown formation will help the plant it is better to carry your own weight and grow evenly.
In order for your Crassula to develop harmoniously and acquire a respectable, well-groomed appearance, you need to correctly apply two simple operations: pinching and trimming.
Crown formation by pinching
This method consists in the timely removal of the growth buds of the crassula in the right period and in a certain place.
First of all, we must note that all of the steps of forming the crown should be during the season of active growth: at the beginning of the growing season — in the spring or at its height — in the summer, in order for the money tree to grow the leaves from new, stimulated by pinching, buds.
It is best to prischipnut Crassula in the initial stages of growth, when developed from rooted cutting.
When on this young succulent, stretching upward, grew four pairs of leaves and between the leaf plates of the fourth pair, a new growth bud appeared, it should be pinched off, trying not to damage the already existing leaves. So the first branching of the trunk is formed.
Instead, the removed kidney plant will form two, sometimes three, new budsThat give rise to the first two (three) branches.
Occasionally in place of the remote appears only one kidney. In this case, it is also removed to ensure the availability is two germs.
Later on, with these growing shoots, they follow the same pattern: they pinch a growth bud that forms between the leaves of the fourth pair on each branch
As a result of this controlled branching, the shoots do not grow too long and retain sufficient strength.
The fat woman gets a beautiful shape - you only need to provide good lighting, sufficient, but not excessive watering and do not forget from time to time turn it, so that the increment goes evenly, without "overweighing" on the more lighted side.
In young plants on the formed trunk, even when it is woody, leaves can persist. With age, they disappear themselves.
Trimming shaping
How to cut a money tree at home?
This method is used for adults Fatty.
The cropping is carried out in the active growth phase - in the spring-summer period. Is it possible to trim the bastard winter or autumn? - Not.
When pruning carefully chosen the place where branching begins.
It is best to follow the "golden rule": count four pairs of leaves and trim the stem-stem right over the fourth pair, trying not to leave noticeable above it stump, as it will continue in the future.
Near the cut, new shoots will appear that will give rise to young branches. These shoots will need to pinch, achieving uniform branching and the formation of a beautiful crown of the money tree in the same way: pinch after the fourth pair of leaves.
Pruning stimulates growth, and in order for the bruise to form new shoots correctly and the leaves develop well, appropriate conditions must be ensured - bright light, moderate watering - and from time to time rotate container with succulent, achieving a uniform increase in green mass.
Bonsai
The height of aesthetic perfection in growing Krassula will be the formation of it. bonsai - a dwarf dwarf tree.
On the one hand, the positive effect of pruning for the plant itself and the ease with which new foci of growth are formed on it, facilitates the creation of bonsai. On the other hand, fragile, brittle stems and leaves complicate this task.
To bonsai was a success, first of all carefully choose the capacity for the future of the tree.
Container should not be too big and shallow - this is the main condition. Depending on the shape of the bonsai, it can be elongated or rounded. It must have drainage holes of sufficient size: stagnation of water to a bastard is harmful, like any succulent - a native of arid areas.
If a bonsai is grown from a rooted cutting, it is planted in a small and shallow pot, and then, as it develops, it is transplanted into a more extensive, but still shallow receptacle.
The main task of such small dishes is to suspend an too pronounced growth only upwards, because the deeper the main, pivotal root penetrates, the more actively the sprout rises.
To future tree-bonsai can not be withdrawn, also apply root trimming - Especially for taproot. In the case of too developed their roots are pruned by one third. After pruning, the root system must be dried in air for a day and only then placed in a container and covered with soil.
Crone crassula bonsai form pinching (when grown from cuttings) and trimming (in the case of an adult plant), following the basic rule - pinching or pruning immediately after four pairs of leaves.
Such a common practice among bonsai creators is how to grow a bizarre stem. with fixing it in a wire frame, it is used very rarely for Crassula. This is a risky undertaking, since the stem-trunk of the fatty meat is not strong enough.
Some amateurs still grow miniature money trees with slight trunk bends in the horizontal direction, very gradually tilting the tree and carefully winding it with wire until the stem-stem is woody.
Jade advantage in growing bonsai is also it fast growth - the result does not need to wait for decades, as when creating bonsai of ordinary trees - and breeding ease: in case of failure, you can take into account errors, root a new cutting and start all over again. When planting several cuttings in a small, long container, you can form a whole grove of bonsai trees.
Tolstyanka-crassula-money tree positively responds to pruning and pinching, and here the interests of the plant and man are the same: well-formed succulents retain strength and thick foliage, and florist decorate the interiors with low trees with many brilliant leaves and coins, which, moreover, as the ancient Chinese tradition, bring financial abundance to their owners.
A photo
Then you can see the photo of how to correctly form the crown and pinch the Money Tree: