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Wednesday, 6 February 2013
HAS ANYONE SEEN THIS BEFORE?
It's a "money plant" (Crassula Ovata)which I've had about the house since 2000. It's never had a flower before, and no one I know has ever seen a flower on one before...
I seem to recall from my botany studies (LOL) that Crassula ovata is a succulent evergreen, often used as a houseplant, and native to South Africa. The plant has thick branches and smooth, rounded leaves that grow in opposing pairs. The plant blooms irregularly, often in periods of stress. The plant when outdoors may bloom about the time of the Winter Solstice. Blooming may be promoted by letting the plant withstand the reduced light and early frosts without watering. Several weeks of dry cold treatment flowed by regular watering may produce blooms by the Solstice. It is not uncommon for plants in greenhouse conditions to bloom in the period of mid-December to mid-February, in response to shorter daylight and cool nighttime periods followed by warmer daytime periods. The flower buds are not prominent and form at the ends of the branches, so pruning at the wrong time will eliminate flowering.
The blooms are illustrated in the Wikipedia article on Crassula ovata, but don’t bother to read the text which mostly just repeats what I said here from my recollections of botany class in school....LOL.
Ha ha... Actually, that's a mystery to me, now you mention it Boorach. It's certainly never been dusted. Once or twice in the summer it is left outside, where (being Scotland) it gets rained on.
It must just be that it has such shiny leaves that the dust (and the spiders) slip off it!
It's about 6yrs old tris but came from a cutting that was ancient. From back in the midst of time when Labour were a socialist party ( hi niko ). The plant is about 3 feet tall and flowering over the top foot I'd say. You often see money plants in the windows of takeaway restaurants looking strong despite the lack of care and dismal light conditions etc.
I seem to recall from my botany studies (LOL) that Crassula ovata is a succulent evergreen, often used as a houseplant, and native to South Africa. The plant has thick branches and smooth, rounded leaves that grow in opposing pairs. The plant blooms irregularly, often in periods of stress. The plant when outdoors may bloom about the time of the Winter Solstice. Blooming may be promoted by letting the plant withstand the reduced light and early frosts without watering. Several weeks of dry cold treatment flowed by regular watering may produce blooms by the Solstice. It is not uncommon for plants in greenhouse conditions to bloom in the period of mid-December to mid-February, in response to shorter daylight and cool nighttime periods followed by warmer daytime periods. The flower buds are not prominent and form at the ends of the branches, so pruning at the wrong time will eliminate flowering.
ReplyDeleteThe blooms are illustrated in the Wikipedia article on Crassula ovata, but don’t bother to read the text which mostly just repeats what I said here from my recollections of botany class in school....LOL.
From the Liverpool Branch of the British Cactus and Succulent Society.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bcss-liverpool.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Growing_Crassula_ovata.htm
Seems like Crassula ovata mostly just blooms whenever it wants to.
I have one that blooms most years. It is warm (mostly) and gets lots of light and not much water.
ReplyDeleteSorry, can't believe you've had it about the house for some 13 years. Where's the dust...... the cobwebs?
ReplyDeleteMine has been in flower for a few months now but I can't remember if it has flowered before. I don't think it has.
ReplyDeleteHa ha Danny... It was almost as if you wrote the Wiki page!!
ReplyDeleteThanks. What excellent education you have in the USA!!!!
:)
backofanenvelope: Hello, and thanks for that. That's amazing. How long have you had it?
ReplyDeleteHa ha... Actually, that's a mystery to me, now you mention it Boorach. It's certainly never been dusted. Once or twice in the summer it is left outside, where (being Scotland) it gets rained on.
ReplyDeleteIt must just be that it has such shiny leaves that the dust (and the spiders) slip off it!
How old and how big is it, Monty?
ReplyDeleteAnd does it have lots of flowers, or only the one set like mine?
This is pretty massive, like a small tree!
tris
ReplyDeleteYou must know that old Gaelic 14th century saying
'when the money plant flowers the snp Referendum will be lost and the beloved Union will blossom forever'
It's about 6yrs old tris but came from a cutting that was ancient. From back in the midst of time when Labour were a socialist party ( hi niko ).
ReplyDeleteThe plant is about 3 feet tall and flowering over the top foot I'd say.
You often see money plants in the windows of takeaway restaurants looking strong despite the lack of care and dismal light conditions etc.
Monty says his is much bigger than yours tris............he would big head
ReplyDeleteLOL Niko:
ReplyDeleteI found your saying in Irish. I can't speak the language but maybe John will translate for us
Nuair a plandaí bláthanna airgead beidh an Reifrinn SNP a bhuaigh agus beidh an Aontais beloved thiachóga go deo' Agus beidh Lamont a lamentable
Ohhhhhh THAT far back Monty. Imagine a plant living that long.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that they only survive if they are more or less ignored. Thanks for that info. I've only got these three flowers!!
Trust him... Niko
ReplyDeleteI notice he never put up a photograph of it though...
:)
It's not how big it is niko it's what you do with it...apparently.
ReplyDeleteI took a pic of it today. Might put it up ;)
Eeeeek....
ReplyDelete