Bringer of luck and prosperity according to Feng Shui, the Crassula ovata, or jade tree, is an easy-to-grow succulent plant. It does not require pruning, but only regular watering and exposure to full sun.

Native to Africa, Crassula ovata is also known as the  jade tree . It is a  succulent , belonging to the family  Crassualaceae  and the genus  Crassula , which in all likelihood you have already noticed. In fact, it is on the market in most nurseries and, in some cases, even in the garden department of some supermarkets.

Easy to grow  both in full soil and in pots and, in the right conditions, it could surprise you with the beauty of its flowering. And it doesn’t end there. If you were to grow this succulent in pots, place it to the  right of the main entrance and the house , facing north. According to  Feng Shui , in fact, this is the most suitable position for the plant to bring luck and prosperity to the house and those who live in it.

Plant characteristics.

Crassula  ovata  has the appearance of a shrub with a light brown, highly branched stem. The  leaves  are oval in shape, very fleshy and light green, sometimes edged in red. Another characteristic of the leaves of Crassula ovata is that they contain a large amount of water and for this reason they are always very turgid. Even its  stems  have a fleshy consistency and branch giving life to  rounded hair.

Exhibition

The Crassula ovata loves light and heat: for this reason it appreciates a  position in full sun , even better if it is placed close to a wall, so that the temperatures remain high even at night. Instead, pay attention to low temperatures, as this succulent cannot withstand temperatures below -7 ° C.

Bloom

The  flowering  of Crassula ovata is concentrated  between April and June . Its  flowers  are soft 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 of  green topsoil and sand . In full soil, this succulent grows well in sandy or gravelly soils, which ensure good  water drainage . Regarding fertilization, however, during the period of vegetative activity, therefore, from May to November, it is necessary to give the plant a  specific product for succulent plants  with balanced amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and important microelements for guarantee the development of the plant.

Irrigation

Crassula ovata should be watered regularly, as long as the soil is dry on the surface. The ideal is to always use water at room temperature and, preferably, recovered from precipitation, then  rainwater.

Pruning

This plant is easy to grow (we said it), so it requires no  pruning.  It is enough to remove the branches and leaves that dry out.

Diseases and pests

Not particularly prone to  diseases and pests , when growing  Crassulla ovata  it is necessary to pay attention to irrigation and its exposure.  Too much  water can rot the stem, too little water can cause the leaves to lose color. Drafts or low temperatures can cause leaves  to drop  and cause the plant to wilt. Last but not least:  beware of mealybugs  which must be removed with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol and water.