Crassula ovata, nicknamed the money plant, is an easy-care perennial succulent that you can grow indoors even if you don’t have a green thumb. It not only decorates your home, but also attracts good luck. In fact, according to Feng Shui, the jade tree can attract abundance and prosperity into your home. Find out how to make your jade tree bloom and bring good luck to your home.
Native to South Africa, crassula ovata is a succulent plant in the Crassulaceae family. Its evergreen foliage is ideal for decorating your home and attracting money and luck. However, crassula blooms are not always visible.
How to make the jade tree bloom?
Crassula ovata flowers
Getting the jade plant to bloom is no easy feat. Most importantly, it takes time. In fact, many crassulas are long-lived and only bloom when fully grown. Crassulas bloom in late winter or early spring. Crassulas bloom with small, star-shaped white, pink, or red flowers. That said, to stimulate flowering and achieve beautiful blooms, you’ll need to provide your plant with a dry, bright, and sunny environment.
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– Respect the dormant period: In winter, your homegrown jade must enter a dormant period, just as it would outdoors. This dormant period is important for your crassula ovata to produce buds. During this time, reduce watering and stop any fertilizer applications. Also, keep your plant in a cool room, making sure to provide it with light exposure for at least 4 hours per day. Cool nights, bright days, and a lack of water encourage your plant to form buds that will then produce flowers.
– Avoid humid climates: If your home is very humid, your jade tree will not produce buds. It must be placed in a dry and bright location. This is why it is often difficult to get it to bloom at home. Especially since it requires both partial shade and direct sunlight. In addition, since the jade tree is native to South Africa, it needs warmth. Keep your plant at a temperature around 12°C to encourage buds to appear, especially during the flowering period.
– Wait for the plant to mature: Be aware that even if you provide your plant with all the conditions necessary for flowering, it will only flower if it is sufficiently mature. Furthermore, some crassulas only flower at the age of 9 or 10.
How to maintain the jade tree?
jade tree
After flowering, it is advisable to prune your jade tree. Take the opportunity to remove old or weakened branches. Furthermore, crassula ovata is a succulent plant that requires a limited water supply because succulents have fleshy leaves that can store water. They can therefore survive in arid climates and soils without wilting. This characteristic of crassula allows for limited watering, especially in winter. In fact, during this cold season, monthly watering is sufficient.
During flowering, water your plant once or twice a week, provided the soil is dry. Too much water could cause its roots to rot. Outside of flowering periods, you can reduce watering. You can get by with one or two waterings every two weeks, with non-calcareous water, such as rain, remembering to let the soil dry between waterings. It is also important to remove stagnant water from the saucer or planter to prevent rotting of your crassula’s root system. Repot your plant as soon as it begins to feel cramped. Use potting soil mixed with sand for repotting. The latter is effective in promoting soil drainage. Note that you can also use a special substrate for succulents or make your own. To do this, mix perlite, sand, and compost.
Also read: Flowers you should never keep in your house. They only attract bad luck and trouble.
To fertilize your plant, consider adding cactus fertilizer only once a month, in fall and spring. Additionally, Crassula ovata can grow without fertilizer because it thrives in poor soil. Also, remember to protect your plant from frost and mealybugs. These are the only pests Crassula ovata fears. Note that you can propagate your plant using leaf or stem cuttings.
Knowing the proper growing conditions for Crassula Ovata will not only help it bloom, but also keep it in good condition, attracting money and luck into your home, according to Chinese Feng Shui.