Diseased money tree and is it a money tree?

 For the last 4 years, I have had what I always thought was a money tree: it
looks like a succulent, slow growing, an abundance of shiny succulent round
leaves about the size of five cent pieces. It seems to like the sun and
doesn't mind a bit of water; it has so far preferred more water than I
though it would and I've always been rewarded with a new crop of leaves.

At the end of the winter it had an aphid infestation which I was slow to
react to and then there was a shower of hail: the plant was looking rough
and I figured that it must be a combination of the two. I kept a closer eye
on the plant, making sure that I would keep it watered and treat any aphids
I saw.

There have been no more aphids, but the plant hasn't made any progress for
the last month which is very unusual and then yesterday I realised that the
plant was diseased and it looks quite serious now.

It's very ugly. It looks like it's developing knuckles all over it and in
many places these areas have developed holes where the underlying tissue
looks torn and rotting. Nothing is mushy, but it looks as though something
is attacking it from the inside.

I need to do something fast - any ideas?



By the way, when I do a search for Money Tree on the internet, the only
result I've had on a plant, was information on a tree which grows in
wetlands of South America. It didn't sound at all like the thing I have
here. Does anyone know the proper name for what we call a money tree over
here?


Cynthia.
Sydney.


For the last 4 years, I have had what I always thought was a money tree: it
looks like a succulent, slow growing, an abundance of shiny succulent round
leaves about the size of five cent pieces. It seems to like the sun and
doesn't mind a bit of water; it has so far preferred more water than I
though it would and I've always been rewarded with a new crop of leaves.

At the end of the winter it had an aphid infestation which I was slow to
react to and then there was a shower of hail: the plant was looking rough
and I figured that it must be a combination of the two. I kept a closer eye
on the plant, making sure that I would keep it watered and treat any aphids
I saw.

There have been no more aphids, but the plant hasn't made any progress for
the last month which is very unusual and then yesterday I realised that the
plant was diseased and it looks quite serious now.

It's very ugly. It looks like it's developing knuckles all over it and in
many places these areas have developed holes where the underlying tissue
looks torn and rotting. Nothing is mushy, but it looks as though something
is attacking it from the inside.

I need to do something fast - any ideas?



By the way, when I do a search for Money Tree on the internet, the only
result I've had on a plant, was information on a tree which grows in
wetlands of South America. It didn't sound at all like the thing I have
here. Does anyone know the proper name for what we call a money tree over
here?


Cynthia.
Sydney.

 g'day cynthia,

sounds like you have the common jade i think it is either chinese or
japanese jade.

i find them very robust and they pretty much survive on neglect, they
will go for dry other than wet, and like a good dose of sun where you
can.

i grow them all the time can't kill 'em with a broad axe, water them
when i think about it.

not sure about diseases but if you ahve any branches that are
unaffected even the tinyest tip end, i would suggest you take some
cuttings stick these into pots of regular potting mix water as they
dry out and they will sprout. once sprouted some slow release fert'
might help.

i think the theory is that you have a plant at the front and back
door, and you never supposed to be out of money ie.,. always enough
for a loaf of bread or bottle of milk whatever, don't reckon on
winning lotto all of a sudden chuckle.



On Wed, 25 Oct 2006 19:10:42 GMT, "Cynthia"

snipped
With peace and brightest of blessings,

len

--
"Be Content With What You Have And
May You Find Serenity and Tranquillity In
A World That You May Not Understand."

http://www.gardenlen.com

 

Haven't got a clue what is gutting your plant but could you mean a
Jade plant?  They have had a connection with supposedly
bringing/keeping money for the owners.

 I looked up Jade plants and it definitely looks like one. The leaves on mine
are smaller and rounder than those I've looked at, but I'll go with Jade
plants - thanks everyone!

In terms of it's disease, the only thing which I came across (which may have
affected it), is that they can actually get too much light and there was a
mention of stem rot as a result of this. It hasn't complained since I put it
there earlier this year, but perhaps the spring light (which it hasn't
experienced in this position) is a bit intense. I was out there at around
midday and realised that I was squinting very hard. The glare of the light
was almost too much for my eyes.

I cut off a few stems and they were fine on the inside, just this ugly mess
on the outside. It I didn't look closely at the areas which looked as though
holes were forming, so sorry for anyone who may have been interested - I was
just keen to get rid of the ugly alien bits and not look at them too
closely.

I've confidently cut the whole thing right back. I wasn't happy with it's
shape anyhow  ;-)  Although it gets so much light where it is, it's so far
grown to be fairly spidly, maybe I was giving it too much water? I've seen
big strong bushes of this stuff, I guess the conditions will determine the
weight and the shape.