A guest from Africa on our windowsills is the Crassula. Overview of species, their names and photos, useful care tips

Crassula or Crassula (Crassulo) belongs to the genus of succulents, family Crassulaceae. More than 350 species of Crassula grow in Madagascar, southern Arabia and South Africa. Many of them are known as indoor flowers, while others can only be found in natural conditions or greenhouses.

Common indoor varieties of Crassula can be divided into tree-like, creeping and columnar types. Some of them bloom infrequently even in adulthood, while others delight with their flowering every year.

Decorative flowering Crassula

This variety of Crassula blooms annually.

Frequently encountered:

It has large, about 20 centimeters in diameter, umbrella-shaped inflorescences with red flowers. They form on the top of the fleshy stems. The plant grows up to 1 meter in height. The leaves are fleshy, thick, sickle-shaped, with blunt tips. The leaves grow together and wrap around the stem. They grow at right angles to the stem. Crassula blooms every year, in July and August.

It grows up to 10 centimeters in height. It blooms with dark red flowers, annually and for quite a long time.

It is similar to Schmidt's Crassula, but has different leaves. They are flattened above, rounded below, and the edges are ciliated.

This profusely blooming, tall flower grows up to 1 meter. It has pointed leaves, triangular-lanceolate in shape. Length about 10-15 centimeters. The flowers are red or white, collected in an umbrella. Flowering occurs in summer.

This low-growing species forms into a low, compact bush. The plant blooms with red flowers.

Popularly, these fat plants are called money trees. This group of flowers is distinguished by its beautiful appearance and ease of care.

The leaves are round, bluish in color. The lower part of the leaf is reddish. The edges are bordered with a red stripe.

They grow up to 1.5 meters in height. The length of the foliage reaches 7 centimeters, width – 4.5-5 centimeters. The flower is similar to Crassula Ovata, but is less common. The flower needs good lighting and moderate watering.

This tall tree-like flower has large, up to 7 centimeters, bluish leaves with a red border and dark dots. The plant reaches a height of 1.5 meters.

The varieties of Crassula arborescens include:

It is distinguished by large, wavy, curly leaves. From this species we can distinguish the Blue Bird variety.

This cultivator has flattened, narrow (up to 3 centimeters), silver-blue leaves with red ends. There are also varieties with snow-white stripes on the leaves and a red border on the edge.

The variegated form (C. Arborescens undulatifolia f. variegata) has similar characteristics.

The most popular tree-like Crassulas

It belongs to the shade-tolerant succulents. The flower can withstand temperatures down to 10 degrees and short, light frosts. This plant has quite a few varieties and varieties. They differ from each other in shape, size and color of foliage.

The bush grows up to a meter in height. The stem becomes woody and brown with age and branches abundantly. The leaves are glossy, thick, numerous, oval or wedge-shaped.

The leaves are covered with light specks. The length of the sheet is 5 centimeters, the width reaches 2.5 centimeters. Green above, light red below. Some varieties have a red border along the edge of the leaf. White and pink star-shaped small flowers appear in autumn and winter.

The surface of the leaves of one of the varieties of this Crassula may be covered with light dots. For these qualities it is called silver (C. Argentea).

It belongs to the variety of Crassula Ovata. The flower develops white aerial roots on its tree-like trunk and stems. Over time they darken. Flowering of the plant occurs in adulthood, it occurs quite rarely. Small flowers of white or pink color are collected in a panicle.

This unpretentious plant loves good lighting and moderate watering. The flowering of Crassula depends on the amount of light falling on the flower. With a lack of light, the decorative effect of the flower is lost.

Common varieties:

The variety's leaves are completely wrapped in a tube, the ends are expanded in the form of a funnel.

The leaves are turned outward from beginning to middle and fused. The foliage color of both varieties can be either green or variegated.

The size of the bushes and the growth pattern of the Gollum and Hobbit varieties are similar. Crassulas of these varieties have high decorative qualities.

Compact (Crosby's Compact)

This is a slow growing plant with elongated small foliage. The length of the sheet is 1.5 centimeters, width 1 centimeter. The color is dark green, the edges of the leaves have a red border. The young stem is green and fleshy, but with age it becomes woody.

C. ovate Minor

This is a rather capricious, slow-growing, compact form of Crassula. Indoor varieties, compared to the natural variety, have a smaller bush size. The leaves are reddish in color. The length reaches 1.5 centimeters, width – 1 centimeter.

This cultivator's leaves are decorated with white and yellow stripes and a red border.
To prevent the leaves from losing their decorative appearance, the flower needs intense lighting. When there is a lack of light, the leaves turn green.

It is not a very common form of this species. The leaves are large, the sides are slightly curved downwards, the tip is raised and pointed.

Famous variegated varieties of Crassula Oblikva:

It has asymmetrical yellow stripes on the foliage. The quantity is different on each shoot. Some plants have no discolored areas at all. These green shoots must be removed, otherwise the plant will lose its variegation over time. You also need to pinch out the buds growing between pairs of leaves. In their place, 3 buds appear, and the plant begins to branch intensively. Pinching is carried out over 3 paired leaves.

It has white stripes on the leaf and a red border around it. Clear location, no number of stripes on the sheet. Young green shoots must be removed, otherwise the plant will have decorative qualities.

Creeping, ground cover, lycophyte Crassula

These Crassulas have thin and lodging stems. Plants quickly grow in different directions.

This group of species includes:

This is a small, neat flower, about 20-25 centimeters high. The shrub has fleshy, tetrahedral, creeping shoots with slightly raised tops. The leaves are thin, small, fleshy, scaly, folded in 4 rows in the form of a tile. They adhere closely to each other and to the stem, and are similar in appearance to a moss, which is where the name comes from. The plant blooms with inconspicuous yellow flowers.

Maintenance is easy. A little shade when growing is not harmful. In bright light, the scales on the leaves become reddish. The flower has several varieties. They differ in the shape of the bush and leaves.

It has curved stems. The leaves, in comparison with the previous fat plant, are less pressed to the stem and are not located so often. In indoor conditions, silvery, variegated and yellow-leaved cultivars are found.

This is a creeping species. It is similar in structure to the False-mosquid. The leaves are dense, fleshy, round in diameter, awl-shaped. The length reaches 4 centimeters, the thickness is 0.4 centimeters.

A flower with lodging, branched stems and unusually colored foliage. Their length is 1.5 centimeters, width - 0.8 centimeters. The leaves are green in color, covered with a large number of dots. The top is red, the inside of the leaf is lilac-red, the edges have thin transparent cilia. Crassula blooms annually. The flowers are pink in color.

It is similar to the Spot Crassula, but is smaller in size. Blooms annually. The flowers are pale beige in color.

Columnar Crassula

This group has a non-standard structure, compact size and curvaceous shape. The foliage is opposite, thick and fused at the base, covering the stem.

This is a liana-shaped low plant with a few-branched rigid stem and diamond-shaped leaves growing in pairs. The length of the leaves reaches 2 centimeters.
Leaf pairs are arranged crosswise. The leaves are bluish-green, have a bluish coating, the edges are bordered by a red cartilaginous stripe. Dark spots are scattered on the leaves, and spiny growths grow on the edges.

The trunk length is 20 centimeters, the column diameter is 3 centimeters. Variegated forms have a green trunk, young foliage is covered with yellow stripes on the edges and in the center.

This is a fairly tall Crassula. It has straight fleshy or creeping branched shoots, 50-60 centimeters long. The foliage is smooth, thick, round in shape, with a pointed tip. Length 1-2.5 millimeters, width up to 2 millimeters. The color is bluish-green with a reddish bloom and violet-red stripes on the top of the leaf. The leaves grow in pairs.

This is a low succulent with branched, thin stems. Columnar rosettes with small, up to 0.5 centimeters, leaves grow on them. They are bluish-green, flattened, smooth, round in shape, with ciliated edges. The plant grows quickly and forms dense cushions.

This is a solitary, sometimes branching plant. Forms a rosette of curved leaves.

This is a low (up to 10 centimeters) bush with short, tetrahedral, very thick (1.5 centimeters) leaves. They are densely planted on the stems. The leaves are greenish-gray in color, densely dotted with silvery inclusions. This plant requires care and grows only in warm conditions and loose soil.

Money tree (crassula): video

All types of fatworts are beautiful in their own way and decorate any home. Plants, regardless of variety, add coziness and make rooms more comfortable.

There are all sorts of plants you can find in nature, and the more complex the living conditions, the more bizarre the shapes, the more unusual the colors, and the more interesting the flowers. Deserves special attention Crassula or Crassula, there are about 300 species, a huge number of varieties are hybrids. The attention of flower growers is primarily attracted by the amazing shape of the stems and leaves, but lovers of bright inflorescences will also find species that suit them among the variety.

Groups

Tree-like

- partially or completely woody plants that can be formed into a tree. They often grow very large and are often used for bonsai. The most popular plant from this group is oval, which can be found on almost every windowsill.

Creeping

- herbaceous plants that quickly spread throughout the space allocated to them. Among them there are many small ground covers that are well suited to accompany larger window sill residents, but there are also rather large representatives of this group. These include offspring.



Columnar

- erect plants with a non-branching or weakly branching stem. Mostly they are quite small. A classic representative of columnar - "Buddha Temple"

Photos and titles

Warty- a rosette plant with compact swollen bluish leaves. Its flowers are white or yellow-green, very small; during flowering, the rosettes stretch out and may lose their decorative effect, so it is better to break them off. Forms turf.

Group or assembled is a small herbaceous plant with reddish-green triangular leaves growing together in pairs. Its small columnar shoots in cross-section resemble a diamond. The flowering of this species is not particularly decorative; its main attraction is its “sociality”: group crassula grows in dense clumps.


Tree or "money tree"- a very popular indoor plant, the unusual shape of the stem, reminiscent of a trunk in both shape and color, traces of fallen leaves on the greenish-brown stem make it even more unique, thick shoots-trunks dotted with shiny, thick leaves of an ovoid or round shape extend from the stem. The leaf has a dark green color, its underside may have a reddish tint, the leaf color may have a bluish-green tint, but the underside remains reddish. It blooms with white, small flowers, but in our latitudes this does not happen often.

This plant was called the “money” tree because of its leaves, which are similar in shape and shine to coins.



Cooper- a miniature ground cover plant, its height is no more than 15 centimeters. The leaves have a sharp tip with a large fiber in the center, the edge of the leaf has sparse fibers. The color of the leaves is unusual, they are brownish-green with brown spots, they are located on the stem in a spiral. The top of each stem is crowned with an inflorescence of small, white or pink flowers. Flowering is long lasting. Photo of Cooper's Crassula:


Marnier- a herbaceous plant with leaves resembling angular green beads strung on a thread-stem. At first they are erect, then they lie down.


Mesembryanthemic-like, as the name suggests, resembles a living stone from the Mesembryanthemum family.



The pimply brownish leaves are disguised as sandstone and grow in a manner uncharacteristic for rosettes. This plant blooms with tassels of light, inconspicuous flowers.

Dairy- a fairly large subshrub up to 60 centimeters tall. Quite large leaves are decorated along the edges with white dots, which is why the plant got its name. Blooms with thick white panicles.


Nila It is distinguished by medium-sized shoots reminiscent of fir cones - tightly seated leaves look like scales.


Oval (purslane) in appearance it resembles a miniature tree, its rounded stem is brown in color with a slight green tint, and its shoots and branches are of the same color. The leaves are thick, oval-shaped, dense green with silvery streaks. The flowers are small, white, star-shaped, collected in medium-sized inflorescences. Due to the shape of the leaf and trunk, it is classified as a “money tree”.

Bordered has a red coloring of adult leaves, young leaves are green at first, but acquire a characteristic color with age.

Under direct sunlight, this light-loving plant becomes brighter, but with a lack of light it turns pale and stretches out.



Round, aka rosette looks like aeonium— its leaves are collected in flower-like rosettes. They are fleshy, light green, with pointed reddish tips, and reach 2.5 centimeters in length. Plant branches abundantly and quickly occupies a large area.


Offspring- a herbaceous plant, medium-sized, with pointed leaves, decorated with teeth along the edges. The edge of the leaf is often variegated: red or light green. It quickly spreads across the territory provided to it - creeping stems easily take root, giving life to new shoots.

Their length reaches up to a meter, and the size of the leaves is up to 3.5 centimeters.

Blooms with cream panicles.

Moss-moss- a plant with first erect, then drooping shoots. Densely folded leaves clinging to the stem make the stems of the lycophyte crassula resemble green ribbed worms, which are covered with tiny white stars during the flowering season.


Perforated (perforated) has tiny triangular leaves covered with a bluish waxy coating. Its stems are erect, thin, and flowers are formed on their tops.


Skalnaya- a large plant, reaching up to 60 centimeters, similar in appearance to juveniles. Small ovoid leaves turn red in the sun. Blooms with pink fragrant umbrellas.

Spot- a highly decorative plant with painted fleshy rosettes of leaves. Photo of Crassula punctata:


tetrahedral has sharp subulate leaves about 4 centimeters long, rich green, thick and dense. This shrub is easy to form into a small, showy tree. Its stems are abundantly overgrown with brown aerial roots, designed to capture moisture from the air.

Woolly or furry- a tiny creeping subshrub, covered with thick fine hair from the root collar to the flowers - small white tassels. Its leaves are bluish, about 2 centimeters long and less than a centimeter wide, the plant’s height is about 15 centimeters.


Coral - unusual due to the shape of the leaves, they are sticks, tapering at the base and having a funnel-shaped depression at the top. Bizarre leaves “sit” on thick stems-twigs growing from the main “trunk”. The flowers are small and white.


Undulatifolia- a variety with bluish leaves, the edges of which are slightly wrinkled.


Minor, aka Compacta- dwarf oval form with smaller and densely seated ovate leaves.


Schmidt- groundcover fatty grass no more than 10 centimeters in height. At the base of the stem, thick, lanceolate leaves are much larger than those that grow closer to the top, on which there is a red panicle inflorescence. The leaves and stem are greenish pink. Plant is distinguished by its remarkable decorativeness and is widely used in landscape design.

Curly belongs to the tree-like species, it has a stem with a shape and color reminiscent of a miniature tree trunk, but it is distinguished from other crassulas of this type by a thin leaf blade, light green with slightly curved, as if curled, wavy edges with a reddish edge. She is blooming rarely, the flowers are small, white or pink.


The vastness and heterogeneity of Crassula species allows you to choose a plant for any purpose, be it creating a bonsai, lining a border, or unusually decorating a window sill.

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Crassula (Latin crassula), or Crassula, is a herbaceous representative of the genus of succulents of the Crassula family. There are up to 500 species, most of which grow in South Africa and Madagascar. Partially found on the Arabian Peninsula. The name comes from its thick and fleshy foliage. The plant is cultivated mainly at home. It is popularly called the money tree because it is believed to bring good luck in financial matters. The plant is valued for its spectacular appearance and ease of care. In addition to the standard variety, there are many varieties and hybrids.

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general description

In the wild and in culture, the large Crassula family is represented by various succulents: tree-like shrubs and trees, herbaceous, aquatic, creeping. There are miniature and giant plants. All are united by one characteristic feature - fleshy, leathery leaves of opposite distribution on the stem (crosswise).

Crassula does not grow too large at home, as there are a number of restrictions. Over time, a full-fledged mini-tree with a lignified trunk is formed. The leaves are simple, entire or ciliated, and come in different configurations - oval, lanceolate, diamond-shaped, rounded. Indoor Crassula blooms rarely, but very beautifully. The buds are collected in racemose-paniculate inflorescences of apical or lateral formation. There are different colors: white, red, blue, yellow.

Kinds

The Crassula genus is quite numerous. The most common types are:

Type name	Description	Photo
Oval Crassula, or Crassula Ovate (crassula ovate)	Also called ovoid. The most common variety comes from southwest Africa. In the wild it grows up to 3 m in height, at home - no more than 1.5 m. The leaves are oval, leathery and smooth, green or silver in color. Capable of forming multiple lateral branches and growing quickly. The buds are collected in lateral or apical inflorescences of white or pink color. Adapted to shade, which is important for growing in city apartments
Tree-like	Outwardly similar to the oval appearance: a bare, lignified long stem with a crown of small egg-shaped leaves 3–7 cm long. The color is light gray with a blue sheen and a red border. The flowers are pale pink and white, form panicles, but bloom rarely. Does not tolerate shade, prefers good lighting
Purslane or silver	Similar in appearance to Crassula oval and tree-like, but more compact and with a more elongated leaf shape
Crassula Schmidt	Presented in the form of a bush with lanceolate green leaves evenly distributed on the shoots. The foliage configuration is more elongated and narrow with sharp ends. A silvery coating is noticeable on top, dark burgundy below. Blooms with bright red small flowers. Often found in garden decoration in many European countries. Grown as annuals
Crassula the Hobbit and Gollum	Two similar hybrids, the result of American selection. Obtained by crossing oval and milky Crassula with the original one. The leaves are turned outward, fused from the base to the middle in Hobbit, rolled into a tube and expanding upward in Gollum
Sunset	A three-color succulent with white or yellow stripes visible on a general green background, with a red border along the edges
Minor	Crassula with a compact crown of an oval configuration. Leaves with a red tint are about 1.5 cm long and no more than 1 cm wide. Suitable for decorating mini-gardens
Moss-moss	Neat shrubs up to 25 cm high. The leaves are tetrahedral and fleshy. Shoots are creeping with curved tops. The plant is unpretentious in care and growth conditions. Tolerates shade well; in the light the leaf scales turn red
Spot	A plant with high decorative properties. It stands out for its dense branching of lodging shoots. Original in foliage color: multiple red dots on a green background, with a more saturated tone below. Whitish cilia are visible along the edges of the plates
Perforated	An original looking succulent with diamond-shaped leaves, arranged in pairs. The stems are tightly clasped. Thanks to the cross overlay of leaves, the effect of through the stems is created. The color is bluish-green with a red border. There are varieties with variegated colors - white and yellow stripes
Skalnaya	Creeping representatives, capable of stretching up to 50 m in length. Endowed with thin stems with small thick leaves. The edges of the plate are outlined in red, and there are reddish inclusions inside. The leaves form pairs fused at the base. Blooms with small scarlet buds
tetrahedral	Subshrubs with narrow shoots and many aerial roots. The stems tend to bend and creep along the ground. They are unpretentious, but quickly lose their decorative appearance. Requires annual propagation by cuttings
Milky	A massive hanging plant up to 30 cm high. The foliage is grey-green and rounded in shape with pointed tips. Plate size - 4x2 cm
Crassula Buddha	Presented in the form of pyramidal columns consisting of tightly touching triangular leaves. Upon reaching a height of 15 cm, the column can collapse on one side under its own load. Blooms with flowers at the tops (red hue)



Home care

Most varieties of Crassula tolerate direct exposure to sunlight, so southern window sills are quite acceptable. However, the best places are windows facing east or southwest. Lack of lighting negatively affects decorative indicators: shoots grow rapidly, and leaves fall off. In the summer, it is recommended to take flower pots out onto the balcony or terrace.

Due to its southern roots, the plant develops without problems in the heat. In winter it can be located near heating devices. Lowering the air temperature to +10...+15ºC and jumps in humidity also do not cause any harm. Caring for Crassula does not require much effort. It is enough to water, wipe the foliage and fertilize on time:

• In summer, the plant is moistened when the top soil layer dries out, in winter - 2–3 cm deep. Crassula is more afraid of dampness than drought. Even with a long absence of moisture, there will be no damage to development.
• In the spring-summer season, once a month special liquid fertilizers are applied for succulent representatives and cacti. In winter there is no need to recharge.
• Crown formation is started when the plant is still young. In an adult, after pruning shoots and removing leaves, unsightly stumps form. Select a small pot, otherwise the roots will grow deeper and the stem will tend upward. This leads to a strong stretching of the upper part - to the detriment of decorativeness. The soil mixture is prepared in the following composition: humus, turf and leaf soil, sand and brick chips. The ratio is 1:3:1:1. When a height of 10–15 cm is reached, the top is pinched to stimulate branching. This way they form a beautiful rounded crown.
• Transplantation is not scary for Crassula. The need for it arises as the root system grows. It is not necessary to do this every year, but once every 2 years is advisable. Then the flower will bloom even in indoor conditions. The best time for transplantation is spring. A new container of larger volume is selected, a fresh substrate is filled in, after laying expanded clay drainage at the bottom. They are replanted using the transshipment method - they grab a clod of earth along with the roots. If you want to preserve the compact shape of Crassula, it is better not to resort to this procedure. It is enough to change the top layer of soil annually.

Succulents are adapted to the dry microclimate of city apartments, so spraying is not required. You can periodically wipe the leaves with a damp cloth. It is allowed to wash them under running water, after covering the soil with film. In winter, the flower needs rest in the cool. The optimal temperature regime is +8...+10 ºC. Lack of rest leads to excessive stretching, thinning and weakening of the trunk.

When replanting, the root collar cannot be buried; it is left on the surface. Otherwise, the plant will die. The shoots are cut directly above the dormant bud, which promotes active crown formation and a beautiful appearance.

In the collections of amateur flower growers there are other varieties and hybrids of Crassula. They all differ slightly in care. Representatives with a waxy coating on the foliage are more protected from sunlight. These include hybrid mixed Crassulas, which require more intense lighting than lycophytes or purslanes. The latter grow better in partial shade.



Reproduction

Crassula propagates by seeds, cuttings and leaves. Flower growers often use the vegetative method, due to its simplicity and better results. Seeds are sown in wide containers, distributed evenly over the surface of the soil and sprinkled with sand on top. The soil mixture is as follows: leaf soil and sand in a ratio of 1:2. The seeds are covered with glass to create a greenhouse effect.

The ground is ventilated daily, accumulated condensation is removed and moistened with a sprayer. After the first shoots appear, they are planted at a distance of 1 cm from each other. Keep the seedlings in a warm and bright room. With the appearance of the first strong leaves, they are planted in separate modules in turf-sand soil. At first, the temperature is maintained at +15...+18ºC until they take root completely. Then they are transferred to a permanent place.

Both stem shoots and leaves are suitable for rooting by cuttings. A strong shoot is cut off, treated with crushed coal and withered for 1–2 days. After this, they are planted in loose and fertile soil. You can germinate in a glass of water by adding a growth accelerator. As soon as new roots appear, the cuttings are transplanted into a separate pot with a diameter of 5–8 cm. The recommended soil composition is turf and leaf soil, compost, sand. Care for it as if it were an adult plant.

The sheet is deepened into the ground and fixed in a vertical position. It is pre-dried in air for 2-3 days. Until it takes root, spray the soil regularly. When growth begins, it is transplanted.

Crassulas rarely flower at home, but it is possible to achieve the desired result. The plant must be left dormant for the winter, without fertilizing or moisturizing. At this time, a reduced temperature regime and good lighting are necessary.

Diseases and pests

The succulent easily tolerates a lack of moisture, lighting and fertilizing. Overmoistening has a detrimental effect on it. In the absence of good drainage, water stagnation occurs, which entails the development of fusarium rot. This is the most common Crassula disease, which affects the root system and gradually moves higher. It is characterized by the appearance of a white coating on the foliage component. A diseased plant is difficult to save. At the initial stage, replanting into fresh substrate and trimming damaged parts can help. Prevention is achieved by following an irrigation regime with periodic drying of the soil layer.

If increased leaf fall is observed, the reasons are sought in the following:

• waterlogging;
• elevated temperature;
• excess fertilizer.

The plant is saved by transplanting into another pot and replacing the soil composition. If it overheats, it is transferred to a cool place. Damaged parts are cut off. As a last resort, they resort to rooting the stem remaining after the leaves fall. Cut off the bare top and plant it as an independent plant.

Of the insects, scale insects, mealybugs, and spider mites are especially dangerous. Scale insects are removed manually or the leaves are wiped with medical alcohol. Treatment with Actellik eliminates scale insects. The presence of mites is recognized by the formation of cobwebs on the crown. Remove with the same Actellik or Fitoverm.

Beneficial features

Crassula is able to cleanse the microclimate of harmful substances and saturate the air with oxygen. The leaves of the plant are used in folk medicine due to their medicinal properties.

Freshly squeezed juice helps with the following diseases: arthritis, radiculitis, tonsillitis, sore throat. Can relieve herpes on the lips, small cuts and wounds.

Several effective recipes for various diseases:

Indications	Recipe
Pyelonephritis	The leaves are crushed and poured with boiling water, left for a while. Take 1 tbsp. l. before eating
Ulcer of the stomach and duodenum	Chew one Crassula leaf daily
Neuralgia, varicose veins, muscle pain	Prepare an alcohol tincture from the leaves. Rub regularly into affected areas
Cut, bruises, arthritis, gout, osteochondrosis	The leaves are twisted through a meat grinder and applied as compresses to problem areas.
Calluses	The leaves are cut and the exposed pulp is applied to the callus.
Haemorrhoids	The juice of the leaves is mixed with olive oil or petroleum jelly. A tampon is impregnated with the resulting composition and applied to the hemorrhoids.

Crassula juice is used to treat various skin pathologies: eczema, psoriasis, lichen, urticaria. For sore throat, rinsing with juice diluted with water helps.

Crassula (Crassula) is a succulent plant belonging to the Crassula family. This unpretentious indoor flower is also very well known to many gardeners under the name Crassula.

Botanical description of Crassula

All representatives belonging to the genus Crassula are very diverse in external characteristics. A significant number of species are indoor perennials with monocarpic shoots of different heights. The foliage is opposite, in some species collected in a kind of basal rosette, simple, entire, often ciliated. The leaves at the base are free or fused.

Flowers are small in size, white, whitish, yellowish, red or bluish in color, collected in terminal or lateral, paniculate-umbellate or racemose inflorescences. There are varieties with single axillary flowers. Caring for the plant and propagating Crassula is very easy.

Planting and caring for Crassula (video)

Popular types, varieties and hybrids of Crassula

The genus Crassula includes more than two hundred species, many of which are very popular in home floriculture. Due to the external similarity of the leaves to coins, plants of this genus are often called “money tree”. In addition to the popular marginalis, there are many worthy, highly decorative and relatively unpretentious varieties, forms and cultivars.

Crassula perforata (perforata)

C.perforate is a low-growing variety with diamond-shaped leaves arranged in pairs. The stem part is poorly branched and rigid. The leaf color is light green, with a characteristic bluish coating. There is a reddish border on the edges of the leaves. The height of the above-ground part does not exceed a quarter of a meter. Variegated forms have yellowish stripes on the foliage.

C.lyсorodioides, or C.musсosa, is a compact plant with a shrub-type aerial part, no more than a quarter of a meter high, with fleshy, tetrahedral, creeping shoots and a slightly rising apical part. The leaves are small, scale-like, tiled in several rows.

Crassula arborescens

C.arborescens is a relatively large variety with almost rounded foliage of a very characteristic bluish color with a red edge. The height of the above-ground part of an indoor tree can be one and a half meters. The variety is one of the most decorative, but is demanding in care and needs good natural light.

Photo gallery

C.lastea Ait. - shrub and semi-shrub plant, with a height of the above-ground part slightly more than half a meter. The shoots are creeping type, with thick, obovate, fused at the base, bare leaves. The leaf blade is green in color, with whitish dots at the edge. The inflorescences are paniculate, represented by numerous white flowers.

Crassula purslane

C.portulacea is an unusual variety with, which are formed on the trunk and branches. Flowering is extremely rare, paniculate inflorescences, represented by small, whitish or pinkish flowers.

C.ovata is a bushy plant with a height of the above-ground part of no more than a meter and highly branching woody stems. The foliage is oval-shaped, fleshy, with a green upper leaf blade and a reddish tint on the lower part.

Crassula Sunset

C.ovata cv. Hummmel's Sunset is a popular cultivar that has foliage that is decorated with stripes of white or yellow coloring. The leaves have a pronounced red border.

Crassula the Hobbit

C.Hobbit – hybrid form, obtained by American breeders almost half a century ago. It is characterized by the original shape of the foliage, which is turned outward and grows together from the base to the very middle. This highly ornamental plant is very suitable for creating bonsai.

C.ovate Minor is a compact variety with reddish, very attractive foliage. The species is slow growing, therefore, it is optimally suited for decorating mini-kindergartens.

Crassula punctata

C.risturata - highly decorative variety, having lodging, abundantly branching shoots and foliage with an original appearance. On the general green background of the leaf blade there is a huge number of red or lilac-red dots, and the marginal part is decorated with thin and transparent cilia.

C.Buddha's Temple - aboveground shoots of the cultivar are represented by a so-called column of tightly pressed, as if strung on the stem bases, triangular-shaped leaves and dark green coloring. The height of the above-ground part does not exceed 10-15 cm. Flowering is represented by apical inflorescences collected from red flowers.

Crassula mix

This group includes several hybrid forms and cultivars, which have an original appearance and are undemanding in care. Most often, the group is represented by the popular highly decorative varieties “Minor”, ​​“Hobbit” and “Obliqua”.

S. cv. Spring Time is a hybrid form characterized by a compact above-ground part and belongs to highly succulent plants. An adult plant is prone to lodging. The foliage is very juicy, bright green in color. During the flowering process, attractive light lilac flowers are formed.

Crassula Marnier

C. marnieriana is a variety characterized by a straight, slightly branched stem base and oppositely located, sessile, heart-shaped foliage of a bluish color. Numerous flowers, whitish, located in the apical part of the plant.

Crassula crescent

C.falcata Wendl is one of the most spectacular representatives, having quite large, scarlet-red colored, umbrella-shaped inflorescences that bloom at the top of a fleshy and tall stem. The foliage is very thick, with a characteristic crescent shape with blunt ends. Flowering occurs every year.

This variety is distinguished by its relatively small leaves, which sit densely on relatively numerous stems. The grown shoots very effectively hang over the edges of the flower pot, therefore the species is very often grown in hanging pots.

Caring for Crassula at home

Growing many varieties of Crassula at home is not at all difficult, and it is this circumstance that largely explains the high popularity of the culture among domestic and foreign amateur gardeners.

Lighting, temperature and humidity

All varieties require sufficiently bright natural light, even during the winter dormancy stage. The stems and foliage of the plant do not require special shading from direct sunlight. South and south-east windows are perfect. Lack of light causes thinning of the stems and shredding of the foliage.

The optimal temperature regime for Crassula in spring and summer is approximately 20-25°C, and in winter – 10-15°C. Air humidity is not particularly important, so the decorative perennial easily tolerates dry but fresh air. The foliage is periodically wiped with a damp soft cloth, which will maintain an attractive and well-groomed appearance.

How Crassula reproduces (video)

Soil and planting pot for Crassula

The soil in the flower pot must be special, suitable for growing succulents. The culture has a shallow root system, so the planting pot should not be too high.

A nutritious soil substrate based on four parts of turf soil, one part of humus soil, one part of leaf soil and one part of sand with the addition of pieces of coal and brick chips is ideal for planting and growing. There should be sufficient drainage at the bottom of the flower pot.

Rules for watering a money tree

The perennial is watered rarely in autumn and winter, and much more often in spring and summer, but after checking the soil moisture in the flower pot at a depth of two fingers. We must remember that excess moisture often causes fungal diseases. Water for irrigation should be well settled, at room temperature, without high chlorine content.

When and how to replant Crassula correctly

To properly transplant a fat plant, you need to comply with a number of specific requirements. Young plants are replanted annually, and adult specimens - approximately every two or three years. Transplantation should be carried out in the spring, by transferring the root system with an earthen ball into a new flower pot.

During the replanting process, it is recommended to inspect the root system very carefully.. If the roots become excessively elongated, they should be trimmed and the cut areas should be sprinkled with crushed coal. After planting, the plant is carefully watered with settled water at room temperature. To keep the plant compact, replanting should be done extremely rarely. Partial replacement of the top layer of soil in a flower pot gives a good result.

Crown formation

If it is necessary to obtain the thickest possible stem part and dense crown, regular pruning and pinching of the tips of the shoots is performed. Regular pruning with sharp and clean pruning shears causes the aerial part to form correctly.

Top dressing

The perennial should be fed with a solution based on a universal fertilizer, or using a special fertilizer for cactus and succulents for this purpose. Feeding is carried out from April to September, approximately once or twice a month. In autumn and winter, fertilizing is done once a month., fertilizers at half concentration.

Methods for propagating Crassula

Ease of propagation is one of the advantages of this type of decorative perennial. Most often, indoor flowers are propagated by cuttings, but the seed method is also used. You can take cuttings from a plant regardless of the time of year., but it is most convenient in spring or summer. The prepared cuttings are dried for a couple of days, after which they are planted in planting containers filled with permeable and light soil substrate. Rooting in water with the addition of activated carbon is also allowed.

Seed propagation involves sowing into seedling containers filled with a mixture based on part sand and a couple parts leaf soil. Crops should be covered with film. Before mass shoots appear, the crops are regularly sprayed with settled water at room temperature and ventilated daily. Mass shoots appear after a couple of weeks, after which they peak.

Why do Crassula leaves fall off?

Falling leaves is the most common problem when growing Crassula in indoor floriculture. There may be several reasons for this phenomenon, including improper irrigation measures. Succulents are able to store moisture which makes them undemanding to watering.

Excessive moisture causes foliage to fall. However, too long interruptions in watering are also unacceptable. Stagnation of moisture often provokes rotting of the root system. Also, massive leaf fall is observed when the temperature in the room is not observed and the plant is damaged by diseases or pests.

Plant pests and diseases

When grown correctly, the crop is rarely affected by diseases and pests, and all problems are the result of errors in care. The appearance of a light coating on the leaves is the result of high humidity and very cold air, which causes the development of powdery mildew or mealybug infestation.

How to form a Crassula crown (video)

The appearance of small growths may be the result of overwatering or scale insects. Loss of foliage elasticity, as well as changes in coloration, most often indicate an overabundance of fertilizers, and when affected by root rot, the foliage becomes lethargic. Thus, in order to preserve the decorative appearance of the crassula for many years, you should fully comply with the growing technology at all stages of the perennial growing season.

The Crassula genus includes more than 300 species of succulent plants from the Crassula family, growing naturally in regions with tropical and subtropical climates. More than 150 species are native to South Africa.

The variety of forms of representatives of the genus is amazing - from tiny moss-like annual plants to tree-like large succulents 3 m high, such as Crassula ovata. Some of them are so different from each other that it is difficult to assume their relationship.

Below you can get acquainted with some popular types of culture.

Types of Crassula, description and photo

Crassula ovata or oval (Crassula ovata). The most popular tree-like succulent, commonly known as the “Money Tree” or “Happiness Plant”.

It is a large, well-branched and compact tree or shrub, reaching a height of 3 meters in nature.

The branches are thick and short, the leaves are fleshy, smooth, ovate or rounded, dark green in color, often with a red tint along the edges.

Breeders have developed a wide variety of varietal forms and cultivars of Crassula ovata.

Crassula the Hobbit

The most famous in floriculture: Crassula "Hobbit" with leaves of an unusual shape, similar to tubes, a variegated green-yellow hybrid of "Vfriegata" and "Hummel's Sunset" with leaves painted in shades of green, yellow, orange and red, miniature lemon-red " Crosbys Compact" and Crassula "Minor" with glossy green, fleshy leaves with reddish edges.

The better the lighting, the brighter the leaf pattern of variegated forms becomes.

Pyramid Crassula (Crassula pyramidalis) and her unusual cultivar “Buddha Temple”. This species grows quite slowly. The roots are thin, short, collected in a bunch. Grows straight up, branching at different heights. The leaves are very hard, flat, small, uniform in size and triangular in shape. They closely overlap each other, creating a perfect four-sided column with a diameter of 12 mm.

In full sun, the upper leaves can take on a beautiful reddish hue. The flowers are small, sweet, fragrant, appearing at the top of the shoot. Unfortunately, the plant dies after flowering, but at home Crassula of this species rarely blooms.

Crassula perforata and her amazing variety “Jade Necklace”.

A small shrub with small shoots consisting of gray-green leaves, as if strung on a thread. Variegated form with pink-yellow leaves.

Crassula Morgan Beauty- a magnificent hybrid of Crassula falcata and Crassula mesembrianthemopsis. This is the case when the decorativeness of the foliage competes with the spectacular and lush flowering. The compact plant grows to only 15 cm.

The leaves are large, fleshy, flat, silver-green or bluish-gray.

The tiny bright pink or coral flowers are borne in large, dense clusters that rise above the foliage in midsummer. The flowers open one after another, so the colorful flower show lasts almost a month.

Crassula "Dorothy" is an amazing dwarf and slow-growing hybrid that comes in the form of thick, round rosettes that shrink easily. White flowers appear in autumn, and each of the many rosettes develops a flower stalk, so the flowering is profuse.

Crassula umbella "Wine Cup"– an amazing variety of Crassula. Its height is 15 cm, on straight short stems there are leaves fused into a rounded cap with raised edges around the stem, therefore the name of the species is translated as “wine cup”. The flowers are small, yellowish-green, collected in inflorescences, appear in winter.

Crassula umbella "Wine Cup"- a stunning variety of Crassula. Its height is 15 cm, on straight short stems there are leaves fused into a rounded cap with raised edges around the stem, therefore the name of the species is translated as “Umbrella”, and the variety as “Wine Cup”.

The flowers are small, yellowish-green, collected in inflorescences, appear in winter.

Due to its low maintenance, it is a very popular choice for indoor floriculture and can be used as a scenic addition to succulent arrangements, as well as being great for art.

Caring for Crassula at home

Soil type

A well-drained and light soil type is of great importance for the plant. It is important to note that it should not contain peat, as it retains a large amount of moisture.

In nature, fat plants prefer arid and rocky places; therefore, when growing this flower, soil mixtures intended for succulents are used.

Watering

Caring for Crassula at home includes following the watering regime. All representatives of the genus belong to drought-resistant plants. After watering, the soil must be completely dry before it can be moistened again. In winter, watering is reduced to once every 7-10 days.

During the hot summer period, it is enough to water once every three days. If you notice that the leaves turn yellow and fall off, it is most likely that there is an excess of moisture in the flowerpot. If a succulent does not receive enough moisture, its leaves will wrinkle.

Remember that the flower can easily tolerate drying out of the soil, but an excess of water when watering and high air humidity will be detrimental to it.

Sunlight and temperature

The culture loves bright lighting (4-5 hours a day), but without direct sunlight. These succulents cannot tolerate extreme heat. Loss of foliage and burns are a consequence of negative exposure to direct sunlight over a long period of time.

The optimal summer daytime temperature is 23-25 ​​°C, and the nighttime temperature is up to 10 °C. This difference between day and night temperatures is beneficial for the succulent because it resembles its natural conditions.

During the winter rest period, the plant needs a cooler temperature in the range of 12-16 °C during the day; the fat plant can withstand a temperature drop of up to 7 °C, but this is its extreme limit.

The culture responds gratefully to exposure to fresh air, so if possible, take the flower pot to the balcony or terrace in warm weather. A lot of light, a lack of water and fairly cool conditions promote flowering.

Top dressing

During the growing season, fertilizing with mineral fertilizers for succulents is carried out according to the manufacturer's instructions.

In winter, there is no need to apply fertilizers, since during this period the plant is dormant.

Transfer

Since almost all types of crops grow quite slowly, replanting is carried out once every 2-3 years in a wide pot, since the roots of the crop are superficial.

With age, the root system of large tree-like crassulas weakens, and the crown becomes heavier from fleshy foliage, so a stable container is necessary for a money tree. At the bottom of the pot it is necessary to pour a drainage layer of expanded clay.

Crassula bonsai

Crassulas, especially tree-like varieties, are ideal for growing in the bonsai style, as the succulent shoots can withstand careful shaping. It is best to start with planted young plants obtained from rooted cuttings.

So that all the energy goes into forming the trunk, we plant it in a small, small but heavy pot. Several cuttings tucked together can, over time, create a beautiful grouping like a tiny forest.

Now the important task is to form the crown of the tree with miniature leaves, which is achieved by constantly pruning and pinching a new growth point, each time forcing the plant to branch out more.

As soon as you see the beginning of the growth of a new bud, immediately remove it carefully so as not to damage the sensitive stems. Two kidneys should appear in place of the removed kidney.

When a mature tree is formed, any branches growing directly upward or downward are removed. The removed stems should have at least 4-5 leaves.

To maintain the plant at approximately the same size, it is necessary to trim the overgrown roots at the time of replanting. This will help develop a thick main trunk. We take a pot of the same size.

Trimming

Pruning is an important aspect in caring for Crassula at home. The procedure is mainly relevant for Crassula ovata and species with creeping or hanging shoots. Ideally, it should be carried out in the spring.

The procedure helps strengthen and rejuvenate the succulent, as well as stimulate new growth of the main stem and root system. For the Money Tree, pruning strengthens the side branches, helping them hold heavy leaves and form a compact, lush crown.

Reproduction

Crassula is easily propagated by leaf and stem cuttings. To root them, use a mixture based on soil for succulents and coarse sand in a ratio of 1:3. Pour a layer of sand on top of the soil mixture, about 5 cm. The procedure can be carried out in spring and summer.

To obtain cuttings, we cut off young shoots 5-6 cm long. We remove the lower leaves and dry the cuttings in a dark place for 1-2 days, then bury them in slightly moist soil. Seedlings quickly take root at a temperature of 23-25 ​​̊C in diffused sunlight.

Cuttings also quickly form roots in water, after which they are transplanted directly into pots.

For propagation by leaf cuttings, take healthy, developed leaves. They are buried in moist soil mixture. After a few weeks, new leaves and roots of young fat plants develop along the edges of the leaves in contact with the ground.

When they reach a few centimeters in height, they can be separated from the parent leaf and treated as individual plants.

Problems in growing

In a shady place, the plant's shoots become elongated and weaken. Poor succulent growth can also be caused by excess nutrients. Excessive watering and too low a temperature will quickly lead to the development of trunk and root rot and leaf loss. The fat plant also reacts to a lack of moisture and high temperature by falling leaves. Brown, wrinkled spots on the leaves indicate insufficient watering.

The most common fungal disease of Crassula is powdery mildew. A white coating appears on the leaves and young shoots, the leaves begin to fall off, and the young leaves become deformed.

The development of the disease is promoted by high humidity, water getting on the leaves, along with poor air circulation. In this case, the plant must be treated with a fungicidal preparation.

The money tree may become affected by pests such as mealybugs, aphids or spider mites.

Pests can be easily removed by wiping the affected parts with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol or a soap solution to kill scale insects and aphids. The process must be repeated every day until complete recovery.

The plant is very sensitive to insecticides, so be careful when using these products.