Fat woman
Content:
Fat woman, it is also customary to call it a money plant in other words. It is a hardy succulent that has gained particular popularity among gardeners who cannot spend too much time caring for the planting. With age, the trunk of the plant gradually becomes woody, covered with brown bark. As for the leaves, they are oval in shape, very fleshy and dense in structure, glossy. Their location is characterized as opposite. When grown in well-lit areas and in sunny locations, the leaves can gradually acquire a decorative reddish tint. The flowers of the plant are formed small, painted in white or pink shades. After flowering is completed, the tree produces fruits - they resemble leaflets in shape, inside of which the seed material is contained.
Rules for caring for a fat woman
In indoor conditions, the plant can reach a height of one meter. When grown as a bonsai plant in conditions that the gardener will carry out high-quality and competent pruning, the tree barely reaches thirty centimeters, it will be incredibly miniature and very decorative. There are also species and varieties that can acquire impressive sizes, especially with age, and in this case, you should also pay attention to the place where this plant will be located.
The question most often asked by gardeners is how to transplant a fat woman. The answer here is quite simple - crassulas are located in the same pot, they grow slowly, and therefore, in principle, too often they can not even be transplanted. The pot for the fat woman should be weighty so that it does not suddenly tip over under the weight of the plant. A transplant is usually prescribed for a warmer season - this is either spring or hot summer. It is best to plant a plant in a new soil mixture at the same depth at which the plant was located in its previous container.
A good and high-quality drainage layer is placed at the bottom of the container, which can consist of expanded clay or pebbles, broken bricks with the addition of eggshells - everything that is at hand or available to the gardener. You can also take broken shards, which consist of clay, as drainage - they will also perfectly remove excess liquid from the soil, which will have a good effect on the general condition of the plant, the root system will not suffer from decay at all. Also, ordinary river pebbles can be used as drainage - here the gardener can have a wide choice, and he can use it for his own purposes and for his own convenience.
If the plant does not have enough light, then this can lead to the fact that the stems become elongated and rather weak, while they cease to be attractive. Decay of the root system can develop due to the fact that the gardener overdid it with watering, and the plant was kept in unfavorable temperature conditions, ventilation was insufficient, which became an excellent microflora and microclimate for the reproduction of negative microorganisms. Also, the roots may begin to rot due to the fact that the drainage layer is insufficient. Plants that have already been affected are almost impossible to save, and in this situation you can simply re-root the cuttings and the shoots obtained from them, but the mother plant will most likely die, but only some of its parts can be saved. Thus, the plant will also receive an additional rejuvenation effect, which also plays a very important role in the development of plantings.The fat woman can also stretch its shoots too much due to the fact that the plant does not have enough lighting.
The leaves begin to lose their attractive appearance - they become wrinkled, especially if the gardener, on the contrary, saves on watering. Also, the leaves can change color, turn red, if you grow the fat woman under the influence of direct sunlight. To some, this color may seem very attractive, but in fact this is far from the case - a change in the color of the leaves, if this is not assumed by the varietal characteristics, may become a sign that the plant is experiencing discomfort, and it is urgent to change the conditions for caring for the fat woman.
The most harmful insect for the fat woman is considered to be aphids, mealybugs and thrips, scale insects. They all love to feast on juice, which is located in the leaves and stems, because of which the plant loses its positive qualities, and the external characteristics of the fat woman suffer greatly because of this. The bloom of the bastard falls in the spring, but the bush can bloom only if it is provided with the most favorable care. Otherwise, the plant will not even set the buds.
As for the care, the plant does not differ in this regard with any pretentiousness. Fat women can be grown even by those gardeners who do not have much experience in this matter. With age, the main trunk gradually branches, therefore, as a rule, the plant does not even need to be cut off, since even despite the branching, the bush still looks very interesting and attractive. In some varieties of bastard, it is recommended to pinch the stems, especially young stems, and do this in order to form stronger young shoots. The plant is pruned only with a pre-prepared tool - it must be well on the way and disinfected. It can be either a knife or a secateurs.
When bonsai-style stems are grown, the root system should be cut off when transplanting, and the same is done with the stems of the plant. Pruning allows the plant to develop a thick and very powerful main trunk, and the plant as a whole tolerates this procedure very well without any particular inconvenience. Shiny leaves should be periodically wiped with a damp sponge in order to remove dust and accumulated dirt. When the plant has become adult and tall, then for its development it is worth installing supports next to it so that the bush does not fall apart and break under its own weight.
The pot with the fat woman can be taken out into the fresh air - into the garden, on the terrace, balcony or loggia, especially with the onset of warm and stable weather. In summer, the plant is also placed under a shelter from the rain, it should be protected from drafts and very strong gusts of wind, as well as from direct sunlight, which can be very harsh during the daytime and do not spare the plant. If the sun's rays reached the delicate leaves, then a burn may form on them.
At home, the fat woman reproduces perfectly in a vegetative way - by cuttings. You can root both stem and leaf cuttings, both types give excellent indicators not only in rooting, but also in the quality of planting material. Places of cuts should be carefully dried, and this must be done within a few days. Further, the cuttings take root, the soil mixture is prepared in advance, for this they take wet sand and peat, mix into a homogeneous mass. Rooting can take anywhere from two to eight weeks. If the gardener has patience and is interested in another method of propagation, then he can try to propagate it using seed materials, but this can take a very long time, and not all gardeners are willing to spend it on getting seedlings from seeds.One way or another, if this process is interesting, and the gardener wants to get a new experience, then he will definitely use this method.
Watering the fat woman should be plentiful enough, but here it is worth remembering that between watering the soil should gradually dry out, and this pause should be maintained at any time of the year. The frequency of watering directly depends on the conditions in which the fat woman is kept, whether the gardener was able to create an ideal microclimate for her. Also, watering depends on the temperature and humidity of the air, on how much sunlight the plant receives. If moisture suddenly accumulates in the soil, and moisture accumulates in the sump after each watering, then it should be drained so that the water does not stagnate. Otherwise, all this will lead to the fact that the root system of the plant begins to gradually rot, which will have a most negative effect on the general condition of the plant, and may also cause its death.
The plant perfectly tolerates short periods of drought, requires watering if the lower leaves become very soft and wrinkled, have lost their shape and elasticity. It is recommended to water young plants regularly, for this it is even possible to draw up an irrigation schedule in order to ensure that watering is carried out on time, and that, together with watering, the plant receives a sufficient amount of moisture, which is necessary for its favorable growth and development under the prevailing conditions.
As for the rules for choosing a substrate for planting a fat woman, the main one is that the substrate must be very well drained. To do this, you can use ready-made soil intended for cacti and succulents, which is sold in specialized stores and nurseries. Also, a certain amount of coarse river sand can be added to the same ready-made substrate - this will be an excellent additive for adding the drainage qualities of the soil. The soil should perfectly pass moisture and air, and saturate the root system of the bastard with these components, otherwise the plant will not be decorative enough, due to a lack of necessary substances, it will not be able to fully open up.
It is recommended to feed the plants with dressings that contain very little nitrogen. These dressings are just intended for cacti and succulents. During the period of active growth and development of fertilizers, it is worth taking only 50% of the indicated dosage, and use it monthly. It is recommended to apply top dressing only to moist soil, just after the soil has been watered abundantly. If you do not follow this rule, then in this case, the fertilizer directly in dry form will fall on the root system of the plant, and this will lead to the emergence of a burn focus, which will subsequently grow, the plant will begin to experience very great discomfort, as a result, this will lead to the fact that the plant will die.
The domestic fat woman is a plant that loves heat very much, and therefore the plant can tolerate even too high air temperatures, while the air humidity also rises in parallel. Ideally, if the temperature is between 18 and 24 degrees. In autumn and winter, do not leave the plant at temperatures below ten degrees, otherwise this will lead to the plant being exposed to temperatures that are too low for itself and weakening. Wintering, ideally, can take place at the most standard room temperature, while the plant does not respond at all to this, especially negatively. But still, maintaining a microclimate is a very important caring part, and you should definitely monitor this. Entirely and completely this lies on the shoulders of the gardener himself, and is his direct responsibility.
It is not necessary to spray the plant with a spray bottle. In autumn and winter, the air around the plant should generally remain dry in order for the plant to be in favorable conditions for itself.In a warm season, the plant should be sprayed from a spray bottle, for this they use warm settled water, melt or rain water is also suitable, which are also soft and have an excellent effect on the condition of the plant. But do not also forget that the plant should be located in a room where good air circulation is ensured. The water should evaporate before dark for the plant to feel comfortable and healthy. It is also important that, when spraying, moisture does not get on the flowers, otherwise this can lead to the fact that fungus or other diseases begin to develop on them.
The fat woman is not just a thermophilic, but also a photophilous plant. In order to grow it, ideally, a brightly lit room and a place where direct sunlight will fall in the morning, as well as in the evening will be suitable. In total, the sun should shine on the plant for at least three days during the day. In autumn and winter, when the sun gradually disappears behind the clouds, additional artificial lighting may be required; for this, ideally, fluorescent lamps or phytolamps, which can be purchased at a specialized store, are suitable.
The plant is perfect for completely inexperienced gardeners, as well as for novice bonsaists. A plant in an older age, which gradually grows, looks like a real, full-fledged tree. Varieties with variegated leaves will become a real decoration for any interior, and therefore the fat woman is so fond of flower growers in different parts of our country, and even in the world. So, this is an absolutely amazing, unpretentious plant that can live for a long time without any problems in indoor conditions and demonstrate excellent growth and development results. Also, this plant can simply be presented as a gift, it is believed that the species are not only beautiful, but also some of them can purify the air, which contains a fairly large amount of very harmful impurities. Thus, the bastard is a great option for any grower. There are many types, we will now talk about them in more detail.
Types of fat women and their description
Ovoid fat woman Is an evergreen plant that has a very powerful trunk. Most often, this species is used to grow a bonsai-style plant. The stem at the planting is rather thick and massive, covered with dark brown bark. Shoots can branch very strongly, which sometimes leads to thickening of the crown, so it is recommended to pinch some shoots from time to time. The leaves are in the form of drops, they are colored green, shiny and glossy, they look very juicy. Over time, the leaves turn a burgundy hue, especially at the edges, which makes this plant even more decorative and attractive. With age, plants of this species can reach a height of almost three meters, but at the same time they need more than a dozen years in order to achieve this, and the gardener, accordingly, should be patient. The flowers of the ovoid bastard are small, painted white, and have the shape of stars. They can be collected in very large inflorescences, and the inflorescences themselves are located on the tops of the stems.
One of the varieties of oval fatty is considered a fatty woman called sunset - this subspecies, whose leaves are painted in an even brighter shade. The main tone of the leaves is deep, dark green, which gradually turns into a gradient of orange or pink, and the edges of the leaves themselves are painted in such colors. Over time, this variety is gradually transformed into a very large tree, which really amazes with its massiveness and vastness.
This type of fat woman also includes two more types - fat woman The hobbit and a fat woman Gollum... They are distinguished by very thick and fleshy leaves, which can be located singly, and can also be collected in whorls. Most of all, they will resemble fingers in shape, they look really unusual, which attracts a large number of flower growers. The upper edges of the leaves are slightly flattened, and may also have a slight depression. Most often, the leaves are painted either in burgundy or in reddish shades, it looks quite interesting and attractive.
The fat woman is lyciform (mossy is its second name) is a succulent shrub, which also belongs to the category of evergreens. He looks very peculiar. The fact is that at the first glance at this plant it is rather difficult to immediately say that it belongs to the genus of fat women. The bush has very thin and curved shoots, which branch very strongly, forming a green cobweb. The shoots are covered with light green leaves with a bluish tint, which most of all both in shape and color resemble more needles. As the plant grows older, the shoots begin to gradually woody, covered with brownish bark. The flowers grow very small in size, they are painted in a greenish-yellow hue. These are single flowers, but there are also flowers that are collected in small inflorescences, they look attractive, but some growers say that the flowers do not have such decorative value as the common plant as a whole.
Fat woman purslane - this species is very reminiscent of the egg-shaped fat woman, which we have already described a little earlier. With age, the bush forms into a very intelligent tree, which has a compact, neat crown. The crown consists of abundant branching branches, painted in dark green. On the branches there are the same dark green leaves, which are in the form of drops, and they also give off a beautiful glossy shine, which also looks very beautiful and catches the eye of flower growers. This bush reaches a height of almost two meters, the flowers on it are formed in white, varieties with pink flowers are also found. They are small, but since the flowering of the variety is abundant and long, the flowers also have a special decorative value. This type is especially popular with flower growers in our country, especially in central Russia.
The fat woman pierced (in other words - a fat woman Nile) Is a very attractive and unusually beautiful species, which is distinguished by straight and completely unbranched stems. The stems are covered with triangular green or reddish pairs of sessile leaves, which creates a very attractive appearance. The plant is very small in height, usually reaching about 45 centimeters. Flowers are formed in large numbers, they are painted in a pale yellow hue. The main part of the plant is still made up of decorative leaves, and it is due to them that the plant is so attractive and interesting. The species itself is completely unpretentious, it can be grown by both experienced gardeners and those who do not know at all how to manage various indoor crops, and therefore they want to understand this mechanism by training on a plant that is completely unpretentious, and can forgive some mistakes of the florist himself ...
Fatty Schmidt - unlike all the species that we have described before, this type of fat woman belongs to the decorative and flowering ones, and it is for the decorativeness of the flowers that this species is so valued. This species is considered one of the smallest, in height it can reach only twenty centimeters. Branched stems, but only at the very base of the plant, are light brown in color, while these stems contrast perfectly with the dark green leaves. The leaves themselves are very thick and fleshy, differing in an oblong triangular shape.When the flowering period begins, at this time, at the very tips of the stems, small inflorescences are formed that look like umbrellas. They contain very bright
, pink flowers in the form of bells, which do not exceed five millimeters in diameter, due to which the inflorescence looks interesting and a little loose. There are also varieties in this variety that have white flowers. The flowering itself is not just abundant, but also long-lasting and, of course, it is precisely due to flowering that the plant gains such popularity and decorativeness.
Rocky fat woman - she very much resembles a fat woman pierced in many ways. This is the same short plant with straight, upright stems, which are covered with leaves. The leaves are painted in green or pinkish-yellow shades, fit very tightly to each other, due to which it all looks very interesting and attractive. The leaves resemble triangles in shape, but there are also rounded leaves that have very smooth and interesting, delicate outlines. In addition, a bluish waxy coating can be seen on the leaves. The plant is very small in height, barely reaching half a meter. During the flowering period, the plant gives flowers, which are collected in umbrella inflorescences. Small white flowers gather in them, and, in principle, even despite their small dimensions, they also look very decorative, especially if we consider the entire planting and evaluate its characteristics.
Fat woman sickle Is another succulent shrub that retains its freshness throughout the year. With age, the plant develops a very short and, at the same time, massive and thick stem. The main feature of this species is that large leaves are formed on it, painted in a bluish-green hue. They can also be painted gray. Leaves are sessile, located mainly in pairs. The plant belongs to both the decorative deciduous category and the category of decorative flowering plantings, and it is considered one of the most versatile in this case. During the flowering period, a massive inflorescence is formed, which includes very pleasant flowers, painted in pink or salmon shades. Also, a rather pleasant aroma emanates from the inflorescences, which does not cause headaches or discomfort, but can bring some harm to allergy sufferers, so you should be very careful and attentive here. The height of the plant can vary from half a meter to 120 centimeters, much depends on the type of plant, as well as on the grooming activities that are provided by the gardener themselves.
Fat woman carpet - This is a dwarf evergreen bush, it is only six centimeters high. It reaches this height only during the flowering period, but the rest of the time it can be even smaller. Gradually, the plant transforms and becomes like a dense decorative grassy rug. The leaves of the plant are very juicy, painted in a light green tint, and have the shape of triangles. The length of the leaves is no more than four to six millimeters. The leaves adhere very tightly to each other, literally clinging to the whole plant. If this type of fat woman grows in scorching direct sunlight, then the leaves may acquire a slightly pinkish color. During the flowering period, vertical peduncles are formed at the tops of the stems, there are no leaves on them. It is also worth noting that the flowering period usually occurs either at the end of summer or at the very beginning of autumn. The inflorescences are slightly branched, with small white flowers on them. They are very attractive and decorative, although the plant itself is so miniature, dwarf.
Crassula dotted is a very showy shrub with decorative leaves. Erect, strong shoots with branches are formed on it.The leaves are thick, dense and juicy, heart-shaped or lanceolate, most often, if you feel them, you can feel a slight pubescence. The leaves are arranged oppositely, in pairs. The leaf plates are painted in a light green color, they are velvety, have small specks of a dark color on their surface. You can also see the border around the edge. When the leaves are exposed to the sun for a long time, they can take on a pinkish tint. Inflorescences are small in size, located at the very tops, in warm weather they just appear in large numbers, they consist of small flowers that are painted in white or pink shades.
Fat Helms Is a succulent herbaceous perennial that has rounded stems. The stem is about one millimeter thick, but the length of one stem can be up to 130 centimeters. The leaves are dense and very juicy, needle-like, resemble in their shape and location a coniferous planting. The length of one leaf is about 2.5 centimeters. When the plant enters the flowering period, small and inconspicuous white flowers are formed on it, they have four petals. But in general, experienced florists say that flowers do not give absolutely any attractiveness and decorativeness, and the main appearance consists precisely in the leaves and stems.
Fat woman Milford Is another groundcover evergreen succulent. Very thick grassy rugs are formed on it, which most of all by their external characteristics resemble a plant such as saxifrage. The stems of the plant are thick, creeping, branching very strongly, which makes the cover very dense. The leaves of the plant are sessile, they are painted in a light green hue, burgundy or pink leaves can also be found, which at the same time have a light blue waxy bloom. The leaves are rectangular in shape, in summer very strong and erect thick peduncles are formed on the plant, on which inflorescences are formed in the form of umbrellas. Each umbrella includes white and pink, small and very delicate flowers that look incredibly attractive. In addition, this species is also distinguished by its unpretentiousness, it can be grown even by that grower who has no experience in this activity at all. The plant forgives some mistakes in agricultural technology and care, due to which it is so appreciated.
Felted woman - This plant can be either a dwarf biennial or a perennial that produces attractive leafy shiny rosettes. The leaf is rounded, their diameter varies from three to ten centimeters. When the plant enters the flowering period, it forms a thick and erect stem, the height of which ranges from ten to sixty centimeters. The plant at this time looks more like a children's interesting pyramid toy. Each rosette can only bloom once, after which it dies. But this plant leaves behind abundant offspring, so in principle you can not worry about the loss of this planting - the children can be further seated, used to decorate their site.
Dairy fat woman Is another succulent perennial. Very attractive and massive stems are formed on it, their height reaches forty centimeters. The leaves are colored in a light green shade, it can also be bluish leaves. If the plant is directly under the sun's rays for a long time, then the leaves can change their color - they become bronze or acquire a slight pink tint. The plant has one feature, which is that a large number of white dots can be located on the leaves along the edges. This type of fat woman blooms very profusely, its peduncles are very strong, appear at the very tops of the shoots and bear inflorescences.The inflorescences look like umbrellas, which are composed of white or pink flowers. In general, the whole composition looks incredibly interesting and attractive, and the plant itself, at the same time, needs the most basic caring procedures. So an experienced gardener and a person who is completely ignorant of floriculture, but is still very interested in this process, will cope with this type of fat woman.
Fat woman Marnier - This is a very attractive decorative deciduous species of bastard, which has very powerful and branched stems. The plant is very versatile, since it can be used both as a spectacular ground cover and as an ampelous specimen, which perfectly takes root in hanging baskets and pots. The leaves are painted in light green or bluish shades, they are quite dense, thick and juicy, densely sticking to the stems. If the plant is exposed to the sun for a long time, then this leads to the fact that the leaves gradually become colored in a bright burgundy shade, as well as in a pinkish shade. In summer, short peduncles appear at the very tops of the shoots, which give small pinkish flowers.
Crassula «Morgan beauty " - this is a very compact bush, its height ranges from ten to thirty centimeters. The stems are low, rather powerful, they have wide and succulent leaves that have a triangular shape. The leaf blades themselves are colored green, they are also covered with a very thick waxy silvery coating, which makes the plant even more attractive and interesting. The flowers are bright pink, sometimes raspberry colors are found. Collected in fairly large inflorescences that perfectly complement the foliage, contrasting with it and doing it very effectively.
Crassula Undulatifolia – succulent very tall, has abundant branching shoots. With age, the shoots gradually woody, the bark is colored in a light brown tint. The leaves can be bluish, and sometimes there are also light green leaves, which are distinguished by their entire edge. With age, this species can be very stretched and reach a height of two meters, but the development of this species is very slow, so the gardener should be patient. The flowers grow white or pink in color, they are collected in apical umbrellas, in the overall composition it all looks really very interesting and cute.
The fat woman is holosteel - stems are erect, brown in color. The stems are covered with juicy leaves, painted in a light green color. The leaves themselves are thick and very dense. The leaf plates can eventually acquire a dark burgundy color, which also makes this species very different from all other types of jerky. At the same time, the flowers have absolutely no decorative value - they are small, inconspicuous, can be greenish or creamy, always remain half-closed, do not bloom to the end. No aroma emanates from them, and the view as a whole is appreciated due to the attractiveness of the foliage.
Crassula pyramidal - this is one of the most spectacular representatives of fat women. It has thick stems, which gradually branch out over the entire width, and from this a dense and very lush crown is formed. The leaves are up to eight centimeters long, they are shiny, glossy. The inflorescences are at the very top, tightly adjacent to the stems. The inflorescences contain salmon, white or pink flowers that look very interesting and attractive.
Crassula columnar - This is a low-growing bush that has very thick and juicy stems, slightly rounded. During the flowering period, bright orange, reddish inflorescences form on the tops of the stems. The flowers themselves are unusual, tubular. The species is unpretentious, great for growing it even in not the most favorable climatic conditions.