We have had this houseplant for some years now . I always take off the old dried leaves, which do fall off too. Not sure if we need to re pot or cut anything down. Very much a novice where plants are concerned. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
It looks like an ancient Jade plant/Money tree/Crassula ovata. It does need some attention, doesn't it If you look at the nearest stem in the 2nd photo, on the curve of the stem you can see some tiny little bits sticking out. Those are trying to be roots. This is how it grows, the stems grow longer, curve down and plant themselves in the soil. You need to start again with yours. You need a pot full of gritty compost, wider than it is deep. If you are feeling brave you can take off those green tips, with a bit of stem and just lie them on the surface and cover lightly with a little more compost. If you look carefully there will be quite a few with tiny roots forming that you could use. If you are nervous then put a tiny pot or egg cup filled with same gritty compost under the curving stem and hold it down with a loop of wire or a small stone. Keep the soil just damp, never soggy and in a very short time you will see new roots forming. They are very tough. The cat has knocked bits off mine and they have lain on the windowsill in the sun for weeks sometimes, before I have got round to rescuing them and they still grow! Once you have new ones growing you can jettison that mess of stems in the pot. Keep the new ones in very good light and keep them on the dry side and they will be less leggy and much more attractive. You can cut off any stems that are too straggly or guide them round to a space where they can root. People even make their plants into mini 'bonsai' trees, one or two of mine are starting to look like that
Thank you Buttercupdays, so much excellent information. I have took off what i can see are new growth and roots and placed them just under the soil. It looks rather empty now but hopefully they will start to root again
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If you look at the nearest stem in the 2nd photo, on the curve of the stem you can see some tiny little bits sticking out. Those are trying to be roots. This is how it grows, the stems grow longer, curve down and plant themselves in the soil.
You need to start again with yours. You need a pot full of gritty compost, wider than it is deep. If you are feeling brave you can take off those green tips, with a bit of stem and just lie them on the surface and cover lightly with a little more compost. If you look carefully there will be quite a few with tiny roots forming that you could use.
If you are nervous then put a tiny pot or egg cup filled with same gritty compost under the curving stem and hold it down with a loop of wire or a small stone. Keep the soil just damp, never soggy and in a very short time you will see new roots forming.
They are very tough. The cat has knocked bits off mine and they have lain on the windowsill in the sun for weeks sometimes, before I have got round to rescuing them and they still grow!
Once you have new ones growing you can jettison that mess of stems in the pot. Keep the new ones in very good light and keep them on the dry side and they will be less leggy and much more attractive. You can cut off any stems that are too straggly or guide them round to a space where they can root. People even make their plants into mini 'bonsai' trees, one or two of mine are starting to look like that
I have took off what i can see are new growth and roots and placed them just under the soil.
It looks rather empty now but hopefully they will start to root again
I agree the leaves are to thin and flat to be a money plant, however the care and propagation instructions are basically the same for both