A secondary bringer of fortune and prosperity in Feng Shui, Crassula ovata, or jade tree, is an easy-to-grow succulent. It requires no pruning, just regular watering and full sun exposure.
Gaia Cortese • August 16, 2022
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NATURE
PLANTS AND GARDENING
Native to Africa, Crassula ovata is also known as the jade tree . It is a succulent, belonging to the Crassualaceae family and the genus Crassula , which you have probably already noticed. In fact, it can be found on the market in most nurseries and, in some cases, also in the gardening section of some supermarkets.
Easy to grow both in the ground and in pots, and in the right conditions, it could amaze you with the beauty of its flowering. And it doesn’t stop there. If you were to grow this succulent in a pot, place it to the right of the main entrance of the house , facing north. According to Feng Shui , this is actually the most appropriate position for the plant to bring luck and prosperity to the home and those who live there.
How to grow crassula ovata
- Characteristics of the plant
2.Exhibition - Flowers
- Soil and fertilizer
- Watering
- Size
- Diseases and parasites
Plant characteristics
Crassula ovata has the appearance of a shrub with a light brown, highly branched stem. The leaves are oval, very fleshy, and light green in color, sometimes edged with red. Another characteristic of Crassula ovata leaves is that they contain a large amount of water, and for this reason, they are always very turgid. Its stems are also fleshy and branch out, creating a rounded crown.
Exposure
Crassula ovata likes light and warmth: that’s why it appreciates full sun exposure , even better if placed near a wall, so that temperatures remain high even at night. However, be careful with low temperatures, as this succulent cannot tolerate temperatures below -7 °C.
Bloom
Crassula ovata blooms between April and June . Its flowers are pale pink or white, with a characteristic star shape and all grouped in clusters at the top of the plant’s branches.
Soil and fertilizer
The best soil for Crassula ovata is a mixture of equal parts potting soil for green plants and sand . In open ground, this succulent grows well in sandy or gravelly soils, which ensure good water drainage . As for fertilization, however, during the period of vegetative activity, therefore from May to November, it is necessary to administer to the plant a specific product for succulent plants with balanced amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and important microelements to guarantee the development of the plant.
Watering
Crassula ovata should be watered regularly, whenever the soil surface is dry. Ideally, always use water at room temperature and preferably collected from rainfall, i.e., rainwater.
Size
This plant is easy to grow (as we mentioned), so it doesn’t require pruning. Simply remove any branches and leaves that dry out.
Diseases and parasites
Little prone to diseases and pests , when growing Crassula ovata , care must be taken with watering and its exposure. Too much water can cause the stem to rot, too little water can cause the leaves to lose their color. Drafts or low temperatures, on the other hand, can cause the leaves to fall and the plant to shrivel. Last but not least: watch out for scale insects , which should be removed with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol and water.