Perhaps the most widespread thick leaf is the Crassula ovata, also known as the money tree, penny tree or jade tree. However, the large family of thick-leaved plants includes many more plants such as the aeonium and the brood leaf.
How do you care for a thick leaf?
Thick-leaf plants require bright, warm locations, well-drained soil and moderate watering and fertilization. Waterlogging should be avoided, as should frost. They are not hardy, but easy to care for and can maintain temperatures of around 12 °C during winter rest.
Planting a thick leaf
The thick leaf prefers very well-drained soil. This can be special succulent soil (€12.00 on Amazon) or a mixture of soil and sand or granules. The plant pot should also have a sufficiently large drainage hole, because the thick leaf is very sensitive to waterlogging.
Give your thick leaf a place that is as bright and warm as possible, preferably in the sun. The only thing that is not recommended is the blazing midday sun. The thick leaf is welcome to move into the garden or onto the balcony in a warm and dry summer. However, it should be brought back indoors in a timely manner as it is not hardy. The money tree (lat. Crassula ovata) is also suitable for growing a bonsai.
Water and fertilize the thick leaf
Belonging to the succulents, the thick leaf has the ability to store a lot of water in the leaves. Accordingly, it tolerates dry periods quite well, as well as relatively dry heating air. Your thick leaf does not need a lot of water, it should only be watered moderately. It's also better to use fertilizer sparingly.
The thick leaf in winter
Like many succulents, the thick leaf likes to be dormant in the winter. At around 12 °C to 15 °C the plant recovers and recharges its batteries for the next growing season. The thick leaf does not tolerate frost at all, so it should be brought back into the house in good time in the fall if it has spent the summer outside. Until next spring you can stop fertilizing and only water your thick leaf a little.
The most important things in brief:
- easy care
- not hardy
- very fond of warmth
- needs a lot of light
- water little to moderately
- Avoid waterlogging at all costs
- fertilize little
- Crassula ovata suitable as bonsai
- Winter rest at temperatures of around 12 °C
Tip
Crassula ovata, like all other thick-leaved plants, is a water-storing succulent and is a very decorative, exotic-looking and easy-care houseplant.