Crassula ovata
The Money tree or Friendship Tree is considered an auspicious tree in many parts of the world. The Money tree is an ideal plant for beginners as they are very tolerant of all sort of conditions, and beginners mistakes are forgiven by the Crassula. In their Native Mozambique and Tropical South can grow to 3 meters tall with trunks up to 20 cm thick.
Styles: The Money tree can be grown as a medium to large Bonsai bonsai in most upright styles.
Position: In the UK and most of temperate Europe it needs to be grown as an indoor bonsai as it is not at all frost hardy. It requires bright window a south-facing window is ideal. Temperatures below 10°C can be problematic for Crassula.
Watering: The Crassula don’t need much watering, in fact, if overwatered the plant swells out, and the leaves become heavy and chunky. During the winter months, you usually do not need to water them unless your room in unusually dry.
Feeding: Crassula are able to fix their own carbon, so can go long without feeding. When feeding them use an organic feed. Feed them during the growing season between April and October.
Repotting: Repot, every second or third year, when nighttime temperatures are above 10°C. Remember that the soil needs to be dry out before you repot. After repotting do not water for a couple of weeks. Use a free-draining growing medium mix. Use loam, mulched bark and grit in equal parts by volume. You can also use Akadama and pumice, in equal parts by volume. You can reduce the root ball by about a third do not bare root.
Pruning: This is a continuously growing species so you will need to prune throughout the year. Remove heaver branches only during the slower growth periods. On more mature bonsai you may have to pinch or prune news leaf tips every couple of weeks, to keep branches small. If you need longer limbs, then it is best to let the apex grow, but remove all the leaves from the base of the shoot leaving only 3 or 4 leaves at the tip of the branch.
Wiring: Shaping is best carried out with the ‘clip and grow’ method.