The fat girl is credited with the property of attracting money to the house. In the people it is called - the money tree. And her leaves are like coins. Therefore, there are many people who want to grow such a plant at home. Caring for it is simple. One of the standard procedures is cropping.

Why and when can you cut a fat girl

Pruning of a fat woman or crassula is performed for several purposes:

1. The formation of a beautiful crown, including a bonsai style.
2. Removing old, damaged branches.
3. Stimulating the development of young shoots.
4. Prevention of the development of diseases and pests.

Also learn how to properly plant and grow a shoot of a money tree.

If you do not prune the branches, the plant will look sloppy, too long and heavy branches can cause the trunk to fall, break themselves. A thickened crown can cause the development of diseases and pest attacks.

Only adult specimens are trimmed. Young people do not need this procedure, their branches only need to be pinched. The recommended term for performing sanitary pruning is the beginning of spring, before the period of active vegetation. Corrective pruning and pinching in order to form a crown is carried out in summer.

How to correctly form the crown of a money tree at home

In order not to harm the plant, its pruning must be done according to a certain technology. To do this, you need a sharp pruner or scissors. Before starting work and after the tool must be disinfected.

Did you know? To protect against animals in the leaves of the Crassula, growing in the wild, contains a large amount of arsenic. Eating it causes acute poisoning or death.

Pruning

Trimming can be done in several ways:

1. The formation of a tree with one central trunk. In young specimens, branched shoots and lower leaves are removed. In adults, all shoots are cut off and fertilizers are applied. In the fall, pinching the shoots is done.
2. The formation of a tree with one central trunk and dangling apical branches. Produce traditional pruning, which allows you to strengthen the trunk. Subsequently, all shoots are removed, leaving only well-branched apical branches.
3. The formation of a compact tree. Leaves are removed from the trunk. In the future, the plant is rarely watered.
4. The formation of a sprawling plant. Pinch the tops of the branches.

Video: pruning fat girls

Topping

Pinching is necessary to slow the growth of the flower in height and to stimulate the formation of lateral shoots. So the plant will form a lush crown and a thick stem.

This procedure is performed as follows:

1. Inspect the plant and find the first growth point over four pairs of leaves. It is located at the top of the main trunk and looks like a small kidney. Young leaves grow from it.
2. Pinch off the kidney with nail scissors or fingers.

Subsequently, 2–3 new growth points are formed at the site of the removed kidney. In adult plants, in which side shoots have already grown, you need to pinch them too. The fingers break off the tops. At the same time, at least 4 pairs of leaves should remain on the branch. This procedure allows you to give the crown a rounded shape.

You will also be interested to read how to cure a money tree.

Cropping Features

The formation of the crown and tree in the bonsai style begin to produce from a young age. Adult specimens, which have grown greatly, are cut to give the plant a well-groomed appearance. In any period, the fat woman responds well to this procedure and is quickly restored.

Adult plants

When trimming adult specimens, it is important not to allow the branches that need to be cut to be lignified. Otherwise, after they are cut, ugly stumps will remain.

Pruning should be done at right angles to the plant. This will prevent the formation of pits and scars. The basic rule is to leave 4 pairs of leaves on each of the shoots. When the plant trunk reaches a height of 25-30 cm, cut off the apical shoot. This will give an incentive to the development of side shoots. In the future, cut off excess shoots.

Important! Sections should not be treated with garden varieties. This can trigger the development of rot. They must independently heal and tighten.

To form the crown of the required shape, first you need to inspect the plant and outline which branches need to be removed. The cut should be made above the “sleeping” kidney by 1.5–2 cm. All excess branches and large leaves are cut off until the crown shape becomes as it should.

Strong pruning should be done gradually for 2-3 times. The formation of the crown will need to be done regularly, cutting branches 2–2.5 cm below the place where the leaves are supposed to grow. Pinch new shoots.

In the future, annually in adult specimens they remove too long, heavy, old, weak and damaged branches that have changed color and incorrectly growing leaves.

Cropped branches can not be thrown away, but used as cuttings for new plants.

Bonsai trimming

Since the crassula grows slowly, it is great for forming a bonsai tree from it. However, this process is not easy. It needs to spend several years.

Important! It will not be possible to achieve a strong bend of the fat woman; it has a not too strong stalk.

To form a bonsai, you will need to trim about 75% of the young plant.

To carry out such trimming, the following manipulations are performed:

1. The container is selected according to the size of the plant.
2. Cut the copper wire.
3. The ends of the wire are threaded into the drainage holes.
4. The mesh is laid at the bottom, attaching it with wire.
   

5. Plant a flower in the soil of fine gravel and sand in equal proportions or purchased for succulents and cacti.
6. Cut shoots that have grown longer than 10 cm, leaving 4 pairs of leaves on them.
7. The trunk is curved using wire and clothespins. The shoot is fixed in a position in which it should grow. The form is attached gradually, slightly bending the wire.

We recommend finding out which land is suitable for the money tree.

The addiction of the stem and branches to be in a certain position occurs within 3-4 weeks. After that, the wire can be removed. The dents left after it will soon disappear. When forming a bonsai, it is necessary to cover the flower from direct sunlight, regularly moisten the soil, preventing its overdrying or bay.

Video: Money Tree Bonsai

For bonsai, Crassula ovata and Crassula arborescens are best suited.

Further care

Caring for a fat woman is simple, includes standard procedures in the form of regular watering, top dressing, transplants. Also, the rossula should be placed in favorable conditions for it. Best flower grows in good light. It must be put on the southern windowsill and pritenit from direct sunlight.

Read also how to water a money tree.

In spring and summer, the optimum temperature is + 18 ... + 23 ° С. During the rest period, the temperature must be significantly reduced - up to + 13 ° С.

For Crassulla, fresh air is important. Therefore, the room where it grows, it is necessary to ventilate more often, protecting it from drafts. It is advisable to place the fat girl in a room where you can maintain air humidity above 50%.

The optimum amount of moisture is 2 times a week, at a temperature of + 18 ... + 23 ° C - 1 time per week. Water the plant when the topsoil dries up. It does not like spraying. You only need to periodically wipe the sheets with a damp cloth.

Important! Humidification is carried out with settled, filtered, rain or melt water, warmed up to room temperature. From spring to autumn, it is recommended to feed a fat girl 2 times a month, in winter - 1 time a month. Fertilizers designed for succulents and cacti are suitable for this indoor crop. The dosage should be calculated based on the one indicated in the instructions. Since the flower is characterized by a slow growth rate, the transplant is done once every 3-4 years.

Possible difficulties

Crassula can be called a hardy plant. It is rarely affected by disease and resistant to pests. However, if the owner does not comply with the recommended conditions and ignores the care tips, the plant begins to hurt. Here are the most common difficulties that can arise when growing a rosula:

Description of the problem	Causes	Remedies
Leaves turn red or purple	Contact with direct sunlight. Lack of fresh air. Lack or improper feeding.	Shade a flower or move to another place. Ventilate the room more often, excluding exposure to drafts. Fertilize for succulents and cacti during the growing season.
Leaves are yellowed and fall	High temperature indoors.	Lower the temperature. Move the plant to fresh air.
Leaves fall	Natural process. Waterlogging. Watering with cold water. Inadequate hydration.	Set the watering mode. Produce them only with warm water.
Stunt	A small pot. Prolonged lack of transfers. Pest damage. Lack of top dressing.	Transplant the plant into a new pot and soil. Apply fertilizer. If pests are detected, treat.
Leaf softening	Waterlogging.	Reduce the frequency and volume of hydration.
Yellow and brown spots	Direct sunlight	Shade the plant. Rearrange in a place that does not fall in direct sunlight.
Root rot	Waterlogging. Lack of drainage.	Water moderately. When planting at the bottom of the pot, be sure to place a drain.
The presence of pests	Dry air. Lack of top dressing. Hot temperatures. Planting in contaminated soil. Growth next to a diseased plant.	Rubbing with soapy water. Treatment with insecticides (Fitovermom, Aktellikom).

Did you know? Many plants from the group of succulents are able to disguise themselves as the environment - stones, sand, soil, animals. For example, a faucaria has spiked leaves that look like an open mouth with teeth.

So, pruning is part of a set of mandatory measures to care for the money tree. It allows you to form a beautiful shape, achieve a well-groomed appearance of the plant, get an interesting bonsai tree.