So that you can enjoy your money tree for a long time, it needs the right care. We show what is important when fertilizing, cutting and the like of the money tree.
You can go wrong with the maintenance of the Money tree (Crassula ovata) not. Nevertheless, you should know what is important when cultivating this plant, which is usually kept as a houseplant. In this article, we will tell you everything about the correct watering, cutting and fertilizing of the thick-leaf plant so that your money tree can flourish splendidly.
The thick, fleshy leaves of the money tree already reveal its family membership: It comes from the genus of thick leaves (Crassula) and thus from the thick-leaf family (Crassulaceae). This plant originally comes from South Africa and is therefore used to maritime, warm weather. In maintenance, the money tree is considered to be of medium difficulty; So it is not completely indestructible, but it is better to know about the right care. The plant will usually forgive you for one or the other care mistake. Like most succulents, which includes the
Crassula ovata counts, it is particularly insensitive to the wrong temperature and drought. The money tree is also seldom afflicted by diseases and pests.Water the money tree properly
As a succulent plant, the money tree is used to longer dry periods and can therefore store water in the thick leaves. That tells us a lot about the correct watering of the plant. Times without water will forgive you Crassula ovata rather than too much moisture. Therefore, you should only give small amounts of water during the growing season in summer. Do not pour until the top layer of the substrate has dried. If the plant is oozed, this can lead to root rot. The plant no longer receives oxygen and the roots rot. You should definitely avoid that. Therefore, always remove excess water from the coaster. During the rest period in winter, from November to February, the water requirement of the money tree is even lower. Make sure that the root ball does not dry out completely and only water sporadically during this time. Rainwater is ideal as irrigation water for the money tree. If this is not available to you, the tap water should not be too hard to water.
Watering money tree summary:
- Water moderately during the main growing season
- Let the top substrate layer dry
- Make the substrate slightly moist, do not wet it
- Remove excess water from the planter
- Water only sporadically from November to February
- Use rainwater or tap water with little lime
Properly cut money tree
A regular shape cut is not necessary for the money tree. Even so, there are many reasons why it might be time to grab the scissors and prune your tree. A cut is useful, for example, if the plant does not grow evenly and needs to be brought into shape. Compact and strong growth can also be achieved by pruning. Of course, you should also prune the tree if it is infected with diseases or pests. The best time to prune the money tree is in the spring, before the tree sprouts again, or immediately after flowering.
Cutting the money tree summary:
- Cut off all shoots that grow downwards or support them upwards
- For a thicker trunk, cut off all of the lower shoots and leaves
- A strong pruning stimulates the formation of new shoots
- Don't leave stumps
Everything you can about that Cutting the money tree need to know, see our article specifically about the cut.
Fertilize money tree properly
Although the money tree does not have a particularly high need for nutrients, you should not completely neglect fertilization. Especially with fast-growing succulents, to which the tree is one, fertilization is advisable no more than every four weeks - but only in the main growth phase. A special succulent and cactus fertilizer is suitable for this because it has a higher concentration of potassium. This in turn plays a crucial role in water storage. If you want to save yourself some work, we can offer you a fertilizer with organic long-term effects - like ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer - recommend. With this longer-acting fertilizer, only one fertilization in spring is sufficient to optimally supply the plant with nutrients throughout the year.
In the resting phase from November to February, the money tree is not fertilized at all. In any case, you should avoid over-fertilizing, as this harms the money tree more than it benefits it. For example, burns to the roots are the result of too much fertilizer.
Summary of fertilizing money tree:
- Fertilize only moderately
- Apply a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect once in spring
- Only fertilize in the main growing season
- Stop fertilizing completely between November and February
There is much more to know about the money tree than tips on how to care for it. Read more about this exciting plant in our special article on Money tree.
