The flower can withstand poor lighting and lack of watering. long time. For this reason, novice gardeners love this plant. In addition to easy care, it attracts with its appearance and ability to attract wealth into the home. But even the hardy fat woman sometimes develops all sorts of diseases.
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The lifespan of Crassula directly depends on growing conditions. If everything suits her, she will delight her owners for decades, without changing her color, but only increasing in size. There are specimens that live up to fifty years. However, owners often do not have the patience to care for it for more than 20-30 years. Moreover, the first flowering is observed only ten years after planting.
Sometimes a flower begins to have a problem with leaves falling off. The spectacle looks sad, so it is necessary to quickly figure out why Money Tree sheds leaves to stop this process. There may be several reasons:
To stop leaf falling, it is worth identifying the cause and eliminating it.
For example, if there is an excess of fertilizers, the money tree should be transplanted to another soil. Helps deal with pests special means. In case of excessive lighting, the flower is covered with newspapers. If the watering mode is incorrect, it is corrected according to the right side. The water must have room temperature. An aging fat woman is rejuvenated by circumcision.
Typically, a plant experiences a similar disease if it is watered too often. Not experienced flower growers It is believed that Crassula needs water immediately after the soil dries. However, in warm weather it requires watering once a week, and in winter - only once a month.
If the leaves become soft, the flower can be revived. The young fat plant is taken out of the pot, the roots are carefully cleaned with a knife, placed in a glass of water, and only then transplanted into new soil. It is not recommended to remove an adult tree from the pot. It is enough to remove the wet substrate, replacing it with dry soil. Watering stops completely.
The problem is also observed in the presence of pests. In this case, special preparations and treating the foliage with a sponge and soap will help.
In its natural habitat, the fat woman is accustomed to receiving food as a result of a desperate struggle for survival, so she is fed quite rarely. In spring and summer, the procedure is carried out once a month, and in autumn and winter - once every two months. Beginning flower growers prefer to buy cactus solution in florist shops for this purpose, using it in accordance with the instructions. Moreover, in cold weather the solution is made twice as weak so as not to harm the plant.
Crassula requires the following nutrients:
Typically used to feed plants universal fertilizer, however, calcium can also be added through a prepared composition from egg shells, or an infusion from it.
To do this, the shells are washed, dried, ground into a fine powder, and then added to the money tree pot. It is recommended to place such fertilizer at the bottom of the container for the fat plant when replanting for drainage. The shell layer will facilitate the flow of air to the root system and prevent waterlogging of the soil.
The infusion is prepared as follows: in liter jar Place ten shells, pour boiling water over them, leave for two weeks in a place where light does not penetrate. The resulting liquid is used to water Crassula.
The soil in the pot should be moist before the procedure. The next day, the tree is sprayed with warm water.
White coating on the leaves of the Crassula
If harmful mealybugs are found on a money tree, they are immediately destroyed by wiping the surface of the fat plant with a soap solution. A sponge or brush is used for this. Insecticides also help in the fight against scale insects. But they should be used if the soap solution does not have the desired effect.
Money tree pests
Crassula has no specific pests. On it you can see insects common to all indoor plants:
Withdraw spider mite pretty hard. Its presence is indicated by yellow spots on the foliage of the flower. If initial stage If you miss the disease, then later a web and the pests themselves appear between the leaves. They quickly adapt to insecticides, so it is advisable to alternate special preparations. The treatment should be combined with washing the plant with soapy water, infusion of garlic or tobacco. It is recommended to wipe all nearby surfaces with the solution to destroy insect eggs.
It is impossible to notice the scale insect at an early stage of its appearance. Crassula owners know about the damage when they see red, brown and yellow spots on the leaves. The pest is extremely dangerous, so the actions of flower growers must be prompt. It is necessary to smear the insects with kerosene, then manually remove them from the fat plant. Next, the wood is treated with a solution of soap or tobacco. Then it is washed with a swab dipped in clean water. Finally, the use of an insecticidal drug is required.
Mealybug causes flower growth to slow down, shoots to bend, and leaves to fall off. This pest is recognized by white deposits on the leaf axils. If the fight is not started on time, sooty fungi develop.
After treatment, the Crassula should be transplanted into another pot, or the existing container should be disinfected and the soil replaced. Care remains the same.
Thus, although the money tree is hardy and unpretentious, sometimes it is also subject to various diseases and exposure to pests. To prevent the plant from dying, you should start the fight against the ailments of the fat plant in time. If you monitor the condition of the flower and properly care for it, it can live for many decades.Video about how to properly care for a money tree and protect it from diseases and pests:
This one has leaves beautiful flower fall, and you cannot find the reason for this unpleasant phenomenon for you? There is no need to panic here, we will tell you how to solve this problem. Krasula, Crassula or another variant of the name money tree is still quite unpretentious in its care indoor plant. What is she missing then, you say? Yes, a similar problem of leaves falling off in Crassula occurs quite often. And in this case, as a rule, there can be two main reasons for this trouble. Let's talk about them, and at the same time find out what can be done to prevent this from happening in the future.
If the leaves of the Crassula fall off. Why does this happen and how to prevent it?
So, the first reason is quite simple, and applies to many indoor plants that are overly cared for - this is excessive watering, which leads to stagnation of water in the lower part of the pot in poor conditions. drainage system. Then your “money tree” was affected by fusarium rot. With this disease, the roots of the plant rot and at the same time, a pink-white coating forms on the root collar, and after that the leaves also suffer. In order for the plant to be saved, it must be replanted into new soil, and it is very important to free it from the previous, old soil and cut off already rotten roots (read about when and how to properly replant other plants). Further. To prevent such a misfortune from happening again, alternate watering with drying the earthen lump in the pot.
The second reason for leaf fall is the excess amount of mineral salts you add to or their amount in the fertilizing watering. In such a case, replanting the plant in fresh soil will again help you.
Prolonged heat can also cause the leaves to fall off in the fat plant, as well as in many other indoor plants. A plant, when it finds itself in conditions that are abnormal for it, strives for one thing - to produce offspring. This is especially evident in those who are sick. One of the techniques vegetative propagation- This is just propagation by leaves. Therefore, the fat woman sheds apparently healthy, yet green leaves, and after some time a small plant forms at the very base of the leaf.
If all the leaves have fallen off, then you can wait for side shoots to form or cut them off from the plant top part stem and root it already.
The fat woman at home loves to bask in the sun!
If the sun is a fairly frequent guest in your apartment and there is pure water, then maintaining and caring for the money tree will not be difficult for you.
The most suitable place for this plant is south-eastern or southern (in summer, be sure to shade it from the scorching sun!) windows. Windows on the eastern side will also work, but certainly not on the northern side, where there is a shortage of sunlight (Are there smudges on the windowsill from flowers? It’s okay, let’s talk about how to clean plastic window sill You can also read it on our website.)
Watering should be moderate, after the earthen ball in the pot has completely dried. If such drying out occurs only after two weeks, there is nothing to worry about, it means you need to water once every two weeks.
During winter, the fat plant needs to be kept cool to avoid stretching of its shoots and, again, the falling of leaves, which is so disliked by gardeners. In this case it will be necessary to carry out rare plants and make sure that the earthen clod does not dry out.
Crassula is not quite picky about the composition of the soil. The money tree feels quite good in a mixture consisting of turf, leaf, peat soil and coarse sand (the ratio here can be the following 1: 1: 0.5: 1). The horse system is superficial, so the plant should be planted in shallow but wide pots and replanted in the spring.
Useful soil additives when planting
What needs to be added to the soil when planting is crushed charcoal. It will help prevent root rot from overwatering. As well as acidification of the soil. Be sure to do this when landing good drainage. It must be at least two centimeters. For these purposes, it is easier and better to use expanded clay.
At the end of the article, watch the video advice on our topic “Money tree: how to care for and grow?”, perhaps it will help you understand once again what you should and should not do to prevent the leaves from falling. So, let's see.
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Many gardeners are engaged in growing money trees at home. Caring for the plant is not difficult, and besides, it will attract financial well-being, according to Feng Shui. But it happens that with proper care indoor flower begins to turn black and fade. Why the money tree sheds its leaves is the topic of our article.
You will certainly be able to restore a wilted and limp Crassula or Crassula (another name for the plant). But to do this, you need to correctly determine what caused this problem to appear.
In fact, there are plenty of reasons. The leaves of the money tree turn yellow and fall off due to mistakes made in the care of flower growers. Sometimes it’s all about diseases or pest invasions.
You need to revive the fat plant after you clearly determine why it suddenly began to fade. To do this, you need to take a closer look at the most common causes of yellowing and falling leaves of Crassula.
Watering errors
Why the leaves of the Crassula wither and fall off is difficult to determine immediately. Very often, the main cause is improper substrate moisture. Some gardeners believe that it is not worth irrigating the soil composition of Crassula too often, since arid Africa is considered its homeland, and the plant itself is a succulent.
At the same time, if you neglect it at all or do it very rarely, the leaves of the flower will begin to dry out and fly down. But it is not recommended to overfill the pot: in this case, the water does not have time to be absorbed by the roots, and even the presence of drainage will not always help remove excess liquid in a timely manner.
Such errors in care lead to active rotting of the root system and wilting of the plant.
To prevent the death of this green specimen, irrigate the soil in the pot according to a certain pattern. It is recommended to water it after the soil layer has noticeably dried out in the flowerpot. In this case, moistening should take place slowly and gradually: in this way, the water will be absorbed into the water, and a puddle will not appear on the pan.
Incorrect lighting
When the leaves of a fat plant fall off, you urgently need to reconsider the conditions that you have provided for your flower. Soft foliage may turn yellow and wilt if the indoor microclimate is not the most favorable. Lighting is of great importance for this plant.
You should not place it on a south window and generally leave it in direct sunlight, especially in hot weather. summer days. In this case, burns cannot be avoided. If you want to grow your money tree exclusively in the southern part of the house, try to shade it in the summer. But the northern side of the house is not the most the best choice, since you will have to add additional light to the plant.
Sudden changes in temperature
Crassula may become limp and begin to shed its leaves if the temperature in the room has changed sharply. For example, you moved a plant from warm room to the balcony or, conversely, there are drafts in the room, etc. All this will not have the most favorable effect on the health of the home flower.
If he stood on a frosty windowsill, shriveled up and simply began to disappear, it is unlikely to be resuscitated. In this case, take cuttings from the stem and start rooting them so that the money tree does not completely disappear from your flower collection.
When leaves on the trunk of a plant break off and fall off due to sudden temperature changes, do not rush to throw it away: it is possible that the lost shoots will be replaced by young shoots. In any case, it is necessary to try to bring the flower back to life. But in the future, try to avoid such failures in temperature conditions.
Presence of diseases and pests
The plant is aging
When bottom sheets dry out and fall off, this sometimes indicates natural aging. No matter how competently the flower is cared for, sooner or later the green specimen still throws off the old foliage to replace it with young shoots. In this case, you need to remove the dead parts of the plant and wait for its further growth.
Video “How to properly care for a fat woman”
Video about how to grow a money tree, care features.
How to save the situation
Treatment of a money tree should begin with adjusting watering. Let the earthen clod dry, and then resume irrigating the substrate, but try to follow the basic recommendations so as not to harm the flower again. In winter, remember to reduce the frequency of watering. Another key moment: Keep the plant away from heaters and radiators to prevent the leaves from drying out prematurely.
The tree, which is called the money tree, in science has an intricate name - Crassula oval, it is also called Crassula. This plant can easily be considered one of the hardiest indoor flowers. It has fleshy leaves and a thick stem that stores water, which helps the plant survive when it is forgotten to water. Crassula symbolizes wealth and joy of life, and what other proof is needed to have such a miracle flower at home? But there come periods when the tree sheds its leaves. Why is this happening?
How to help the plant? Let's figure this out together. So, money tree: leaves wither and fall off - what to do?
The plant is native to arid Africa.
Crassula has several names: “Monkey Tree”, “Zhiryanka”, “Crassula”, but the most common name is the one we will discuss - “Money Tree”. The Latin name "Crassus" means "fleshy", "thick". The plant's homeland is Africa and Australia.
It is perennial and evergreen in the form of a tree with a thick trunk that becomes woody over time, with many fleshy leaves resembling coins. At home it reaches 1.5 m, and in nature it is found up to 3 m in height.
You should not buy a money tree that has already been grown by someone. This will not bring the desired effect and benefit. You need to grow a tree yourself from a cutting, take care of it, love it. Work on the crown of the flower should begin with a small sprout. The tree grows, pleasing the eye and touching the soul, and we carefully remove the side shoots. Once the trunk reaches the desired height, we leave several branches and continue the formation of the crown.
Our money tree is unpretentious plant, it does not like a lot of care. As experienced gardeners say: “Leave the plant alone.” But it’s still worth knowing and following the basic rules of caring for it.
The most common trouble that can happen to our tree is the falling of leaves. Let's try to understand the reasons why the money tree sheds its leaves and find out what to do in such a situation.
Let's look at the reasons that lead to the money tree shedding its leaves:
- Excessive watering - the leaves then fall green. This is the most common cause of money tree defoliation. Crassula is a succulent plant, and it is capable of accumulating moisture in the leaves, so its excess will only be harmful.
- Infrequent watering - the leaves turn yellow, wither, and curl. This means that you should not expose the plant to drought: it is important to maintain the correct watering regime.
- Scorching sun. When exposed to direct sunlight, the leaves heat up and become covered brown spots, fall. The money tree is a light-loving plant, but it is simply contraindicated for it to be exposed to direct sun for a long time.
- Irrigation water is at the wrong temperature. It is important to remember that the water must be settled. Cold water from the tap poses a great danger to your pet.
- Oversaturation of the soil with mineral fertilizers.
- Abrupt climate changes. You should not expose the flower to various stresses, for example, moving it from a warm sunny place to a cool corner or to a draft.
- The propagation period of the money tree is carried out through the leaves. The fat woman tries to throw off absolutely healthy leaves in order to send out young shoots. In this case, there is no need to worry.
- Aging of the Crassula. This is a natural process when an older money tree sheds its leaves.
Read also:
- Crassula (money tree): beneficial medicinal properties
How to save a plant?
In order for the plant to delight you with its lush and luxurious crown, when caring for it you need to take into account the following nuances:
- Moderate watering. Before thoroughly watering the soil in summer period, the soil should dry out a little. A money tree and a pan of water are incompatible concepts. In winter, the soil should be slightly damp to prevent the leaves from drying out.
- You need to feed the fat plant in moist soil. This affects the absorption of nutrients. Use fertilizers intended for cacti and succulents.
- Transplanting a money tree into new soil must be carried out strictly according to the rules: we free the roots from the old soil, cut off the already rotten ones.
- Soil must be purchased with the obligatory addition of brick chips, crushed coal, and sand to increase resistance to root rotting. It is necessary to ensure good drainage - expanded clay is best suited, which should be laid out in a layer of approximately 2-3 cm.
- The money tree should be sprayed with settled warm water.
- It is important to provide the money tree good lighting, especially in winter. The best place to install the fat plant is the south-eastern window sills. The sun will warm the tree in the morning, but will not “fry” it all day. In summer, you can take the money talisman out into the fresh air.
- To prevent the leaves from falling and the tree from withering, it is necessary to observe temperature regime: from +18 to +24 C. In winter, it is better for the fat plant to be in a cool place; you should not arrange the flower near heating devices.
So, we already know what kind of miracle talisman this is. We got acquainted with the rules for caring for him, determined the factors influencing his growth and development. Now let's look at the main function of the money tree - increasing capital and caring for the well-being of the family.
Florists give the following tips on attracting wealth and good luck to your home with the help of a money tree:
- when planting a flower, place a coin in the soil;
- place three coins of different denominations in the tray under the pot;
- hang coins on ribbons on a tree;
- talk to your favorite flower: say kind, affectionate words, compliments, ask for help for your financial well-being.
There is a strong belief that The fat woman is sensitive to the family microclimate, financial condition and the spiritual attitude of the person who raised her.
In contrast to this opinion flower lovers claim that there are few such unpretentious indoor plants as Crassula.
She puts up with many mistakes of inept flower growers, cheerfully turning green with its bright elastic leaves. However, when growing a money tree (crassula), you sometimes encounter problems and diseases.
Diseases with photos and home care
In this article we will look at the main diseases, diseases of the Crassula flower (money tree) and their treatment. Let's answer the questions: why does the fat plant get sick and how to cure a houseplant money tree?
Slow growth
Why does the crassula (money tree) not grow (stands in one place) or grows poorly and what to do?
Since the money tree (crassula, crassula) - This is a semi-desert plant, for good growth it requires natural habitat conditions:
- bright but not excessive lighting;
- adequate drainage;
- watering during the growth period;
- drying of the soil and coolness during a period of relative dormancy.
If these conditions are met You won’t have to complain about the slow growth of the money tree.
Make it attractive appearance Can regular pinching of shoots, which stimulates growth points and helps quickly grow the crown.
ATTENTION! In order for the Crassula to grow quickly, it is necessary to find the optimal lighting mode, the so-called “golden mean”. The money tree needs bright light but the plant should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
Leaves are falling off
Money tree sheds leaves: why?
Since Crassula (money tree) reproduces using leaves, their shedding - this indicates a leaf disease or is an alarming signal that the plant has found itself in unfavorable conditions and urgently wants to leave offspring.
Why does the crassula flower (money tree) lose its leaves (crassula sheds) or why does the crassula lose its leaves?
Reasons(why leaves fall) such an unpleasant phenomenon or disease can be:
- excessive watering and insufficient lighting, especially during the winter dormancy period;
- prolonged repeated drying out of the earthen coma;
- watering cold water from the tap;
- too frequent fertilizing.
What to do, how to care for it at home and how to save it if the leaves of the fat plant fall off?
Having analyzed the reasons, you need to try observe the watering regime in accordance with the season, water with warm, settled water, minimize the use of fertilizers.
ATTENTION! In winter, watering Crassula is reduced to 1-2 times a month; the lower the air temperature, the less frequent it is. It is advisable to reduce the temperature in the room to 15⁰, because at this time the weather in the homeland of the money tree is cold and dry.
The trunk is rotten
Why does the money tree have a soft, thin trunk?
Succulents, which include Crassula (money tree), accustomed to storing water for future use in desert conditions, They absolutely cannot tolerate excessive soil moisture. The roots begin to rot, followed by the trunk of the plant. If, after drying the soil, the plant does not return to its proper form, then everything is very serious - he urgently needs to be transplanted.
How to save and what to do if the trunk rots, the roots rot and the money tree (crassula) dies?
Before transplanting, you need to wash off the soil from the roots and carefully inspect them. If everything is not so bad, and only the roots are rotten, they are cut off to healthy areas and powdered wood ash and planted in a new substrate.
It is almost impossible to revive a rotten trunk.
Crassula stem cuttings take root very easily, and the new plants you grow from them will help you correct mistakes.
Find out why it appears root rot in Aloe, the sedum Morgana succulent.
In the photo below root system(roots) Crassula (money tree):
The leaves are turning yellow
Why do the leaves of the Crassula (money tree) turn yellow?
Most probable cause yellowing of the leaves of the Crassula - lack of light.
Find out why Azalea leaves turn yellow.
What to do if the leaves of the money tree turn yellow?
If the windows of the room face north or northeast and the toast is turning yellow, you should think about artificial lighting.
During the warmest time of year, the most best place for the fat woman it will be garden or loggia with protection from direct sunlight.
Soft limp leaves
The money tree is withering and its leaves are falling! Let's look at why this happens.
Why do the leaves of the money tree wrinkle, become soft and thin, and become lethargic, and what should you do if the money tree withers?
Loss of leaf elasticity in Crassula indicates a problem with watering.
The plant is either suffering from drought, or the roots are suffocating from waterlogging.
What to do if the money tree has soft leaves?
It is necessary to check whether the substrate drainage is sufficient and adjust the watering.
Another reason could be excessive solar insolation, especially if the plant has recently been replanted. Roots damaged during transplantation cannot cope with the money tree’s need for watering, and the leaves wither and wrinkle.
Black spots appeared on the leaves
Why do the leaves of the money tree turn black?
Dry, round black spots on Crassula leaves appear as a result of sunburn.
Shading the plant from direct sunlight will solve this problem, but the affected leaves will fall off over time.
Black and brown soft spots on leaves they say that Crassula affected by a fungal infection.
Leaves with signs of disease should be removed, the plant should be treated with a drug to combat fungal infections, and if necessary, the treatment can be repeated several times. There is no need to be afraid of removing a large number of leaves, This creates new growth points, the crown of the plant will be thicker and more luxuriant. 
ATTENTION! It is worth reviewing the conditions for keeping the money tree, since the fungus develops only in rooms with high humidity. Ventilating the room and mulching the surface layer of the earth can help cope with this problem.
The leaves are turning red
Why and why do the leaves of the money tree turn red or are they already turning red?
The main reason for the redness of the leaves of the Crassula is too bright sunlight. The Crassula does not tolerate direct sunlight, although its African origin would seem to indicate the opposite. A red tint may appear on the leaves after a “change of residence”, moving the plant from a shaded windowsill to a brightly lit one. 
This problem can be solved very simply - It is enough to slightly shade the window with a light curtain, and the leaves will turn bright green again. If, in addition to redness, the leaves are also slightly wilted, it means that the change in location has led to sunburn, and the money tree needs to be fertilized with complex fertilizer and sprayed with a biostimulant. You can use Epin, the universal “ living water» for affected plants.
CAREFULLY! Using Epin, overdose should not be allowed, The count is literally in drops, this drug is so active. To treat an adult plant, 1-2 drops dissolved in a glass of water are enough.
When the underside of the leaves turns red you need to pay attention to the watering regime, perhaps the plant simply does not have enough moisture, the earthen lump is dry.
Pest control and photos
Pests don’t really like to settle on Crassula, but from time to time it suffers from their invasion.
Why does a white coating appear on the Crassula plant (white spots or dots on the leaves): what is it?
Sometimes in the axils of the leaves of the money tree you can see a white coating, similar to cotton balls.
This is a signal that it has settled on the plant. mealybug. In order to get rid of it, you need:
- wash off the pest with warm water from the shower;
- wash the fatty with a small brush with thick foam laundry soap, then rinse the plant with clean water;
- treat with infusion of garlic or tobacco, decoction of cyclamen tubers. Such treatments are carried out 3-4 times a month.
The scale insect affects not only Crassula, but also many other plants, for example: Hoya, Poinsettia succulent, Cereus cactus.
If you don’t fight the mealybug, it will feed on the sap of young shoots, which will lead to weakening of the plant, slowing down its growth, loss of leaves, appearance on Crassula colonies of sooty fungi. White plaque on the plant, you need to rub it between your fingers in order to distinguish mealybug damage from fungal damage.
A musty smell indicates a fungal infection.
Much harder to get rid of spider mite. Its presence can be noticed by small yellowish spots on the leaves and threads of cobwebs.
The reason for the appearance of this pest– warm and dry air, so by spraying the plants regularly, you can avoid the appearance of mites on the fat plant. On early stages lesions can be treated with garlic or tobacco infusion, soap suds.
Such measures are not always effective; most often, neighboring plants are also affected by the mite.
In this case, it will only help insecticide treatment. They need to treat not only the plants, but also the surface on which they stand, as well as flower pots to destroy clutches of spider mite eggs.
Shchitovka can be noticed only at a late stage of the lesion, when at the base of the petioles of the money tree and back side leaves along the veins red-brown plaques (spots) appeared, that is, the pest can be seen with the naked eye.
The following measures are being taken urgently:
- Scale insects are removed by scraping them from the surface of leaves and shoots;
- the fatty mushroom is wiped with tobacco or soap solution, washed with warm water;
- treat the plant with a systemic insecticide.
In case of severe scale infestation, when all the leaves are covered with sweet sticky secretions, it is very difficult to cope with.
REFERENCE. Soap solution for spraying It is prepared in the following proportion - 10 g of potassium, green or laundry soap per half liter of water. Before soap treatment The soil in the pot must be covered with film.
What to do: the money tree falls from gravity?
This problem is only possible if the pot with Crassula was not turned towards the light, its crown became one-sided and the tree lost stability.
How to strengthen the trunk of a crassula?
To solve the problem an adult plant is transplanted into a pot several times bigger size, slightly reducing the load on one side by pinching.
It is advisable to replant in the spring, but if the situation does not tolerate delay, you can use transshipment method, that is, carefully remove the plant along with the earthen lump, place it in a larger pot, and carefully fill the gaps between the soil and the walls of the pot with substrate.
Form young plant can still be adjusted turning it around its axis. The plant reaches for window glass, the only source of light, the main trunk is bent.
Timely attention to the shape of the money tree will allow you to get a slender plant with uniform growth and a neat crown.
Having created optimal conditions for the development of the Crassula, you can be sure that problems and diseases will not interfere with growing a beautiful, strong plant, signaling to its owners about the well-being of the house in which it lives.