There are many plants that we can acquire today. All different and with their own charm. However, we cannot always afford to buy new plants to decorate the house. Fortunately, there are some that we can easily multiply ourselves and thus enjoy more green in our home. If these vegetables can also give us a bit of luck and increase the prosperity of our household, why not try it? In this article we will explain how to reproduce the famous money plant by cuttings.
We will first talk about what this vegetable is and the myth of abundance that accompanies it. Later we will comment on how to reproduce the money plant by cuttings and what care it requires. So if you want to try growing and reproducing this magnificent vegetable, stay tuned.
Contents
What is the Money Factory?
Before explaining how to reproduce the money plant by cuttings, we will first comment a little on what this vegetable is. Its scientific name is Whorled Plectranthusbut is commonly called money plant, dollar plant or Swedish ivy. belongs to the family Lamiaceaespecific to the class Magnoliopsid.
It is a kind of perennial plant native to the southwestern regions of the African continent. Today, it is found growing wild at forest edges and in temperate scrublands around the world. Its cultivation is usually carried out indoors, on terraces and balconies, since it is especially appreciated for its ornamental value.
Due to its beautiful appearance and ease of care, the money plant is one of the most popular plant species today. Moreover, it is distinguished not only by these characteristics, but also by legends and related beliefs. Most likely, we’ve all heard phrases like “if you get a money plant, you’ll have economic prosperity” or “with this plant at home, you’ll never run out of money” at some point. Of course, that doesn’t have to be true, but we can take care of it as we should, just in case, right?
They say the effect of attracting prosperity to the home of the money plant is directly related to feng shui. In order for this vegetable to perform its function, We need to place a money plant at the entrance to our house and another in the kitchen. In this way, we will be able to attract abundance and prosperity, in theory.
The description
Usually the money plant usually reaches a height of about fifty centimeters. Its roots are very fibrous and its branches quite succulent. This vegetable has a herbaceous habit and it is considered a glabrous plant, meaning that its stems and leaves contain trichomes or hairs. Although its common name is “Swedish ivy”, the money plant has absolutely nothing to do with climbing plants or ivy.
Related article:
A houseplant that attracts money?
As its foliage remains green all year round, it is a perennial plant. It does not lose its beautiful color even in the driest seasons. Its leaves are succulent, which means that have the ability to store nutrients and water What does the plant need to survive? As for the appearance of the leaves, they are toothed, oval and usually have dimensions of 5×5 centimeters.
It is also worth noting the beautiful flowers of the money plant. They are small in size and their color can vary between purple and blue. This vegetable blooms all year round, thus beautifying many homes around the world. Without a doubt, it is one of the best options for decorating our home.
How to Breed Money Plant
Now that we know a little more about this curious plant, we are going to tell you how to reproduce the money plant by cuttings. But what is it ? Cuttings are a branch, shoot or stem belonging to the plant and which is grafted onto another or introduced into the soil to multiply or reproduce the plant in question. Fortunately, this is a very simple task, especially when it comes to the money factory.
As you well know, it is strongly recommended to prune this vegetable, since the growth of its stems is usually very fast. We can perform this task from early spring until October. It’s best to start with the longest stems, which tend to hang down excessively when growing the potted money plant. This is an ideal opportunity to already cut a few cuttings and thus reproduce it.
For pruning, the easiest way to do this is to trim the edges of the plants down to ten centimeters, or what would be the termination of the branches. This technique is known as rejuvenation pruning. These cut pieces can be used to create cuttings. If we replant them, they will eventually generate roots and give us a new plant for each of the stems. An ideal cutting contains a few leaves and is just over two inches long.
Related article:
How to prune the money plant
Once we have acquired the cuttings, we will put them directly into the water. This will activate the root output. But be careful, if you are not careful you can have root rot problems. The ideal would therefore be to leave them in water for a maximum of one day and then plant them directly in a pot with substrate. You can also skip the water step, but you have to water the soil well.
When can the money plant be transplanted?
Now that we have an idea of how to reproduce the money plant by cuttings, we will elaborate more on their transplanting. Although it is true that we can skip the passage in the water, it is the most recommended way for the stems to start producing roots as soon as possible. For this task, The best we can do is to remove the leaves that are in the part of the cutting that we are going to introduce into the water. to prevent rotting.
When the first roots of the stems begin to emerge, it is time to proceed with the transplant. Of course, you have to use a good substrate and make sure that it is very moist for the first few days, so the cuttings will continue to produce new roots. What is also very important is not to add fertilizer at the beginning.
It should be noted that the money plant grows quite quickly when the conditions are good. For this reason, it will be essential to blunt from time to time the rods which protrude too much. By performing this task, we will achieve the activation of the development of the side branches, resulting in increased foliage of the money plant.
Where to place the money plant?
Depending on the light it receives, the money plant can grow one way or another. Curiously, the development of this vegetable is considerably faster if it is placed in a rather shady place. As you might expect being of African origin, the money plant needs sun, but it is best to receive it indirectly. Excess sun can cause scorch on the leaves, although this is usually superficial. So the best place to place our money plant is near bright windows.
care
While it is true that reproducing the money plant by cuttings is quite simple, it is also essential to provide it with good care, otherwise it will be of no use to us. But don’t worry, it’s not a very demanding vegetable. It is very easy to maintain and care for, as it is a truly durable and hardy plant. Next, we will list the basic silver plant care:
- Location: A shady spot with indirect sunlight.
- Temperature: The ideal temperature for the money plant is twenty degrees. It can withstand higher temperatures, but it is not recommended. In the coldest periods, it is better to protect it.
- Irrigation: As its leaves store a lot of water, it does not need very heavy watering. In summer it will be enough to water it once a week, while in winter it will be enough to water it every fortnight, more or less. Of course, we must always avoid waterlogging.
- Cut: A maintenance pruning is the best move for the male plant. It consists in eliminating the parts of the vegetable which are dry or in poor condition. It must also be pruned if you want it to acquire abundant foliage.
- Fertilizer: It is best to fertilize the money plant once every fortnight during the spring season. In autumn and winter, it will be enough to perform this task once a month. For this we can use a specific liquid fertilizer for indoor plants. It is normally diluted in irrigation water.
Related article:
How to Care for the Money Plant
With all this information, we just have to get to work and reproduce the money plant by cuttings. As you can see it is not a complicated task and we can do it even with the little ones in the house.