For those interested in jade plant care, you’ll be pleased to know that jade plants have low care requirements, making them an ideal choice for those new to gardening.
Crassula ovate or the jade plant or the money or dollar plant is a succulent that originates from southern Africa and Mozambique and it’s a very popular indoor plant.
It’s known for its small white or pink flowers and is a plant that needs little water and does well in most indoor conditions.
This plant is an evergreen that has beautiful thick branches while its oval-shaped leaves are smooth, shiny, and thick. They grow in opposing pairs along its branches.
Jade plant leaves have a rich jade green color; even though some may be more yellow-green.
Interestingly, some varieties of this plant can be seen with a red tinge on the leaves’ edges when they receive a lot of sunlight.
When it gets the care it needs, expect it to grow white flowers in the late winter-they’re both a fragrant and attractive décor to any home or office space.
In addition to aesthetic benefits, this plant is good for the indoor air – it purifies it by eliminating a lot of volatile oils and toxic compounds released by adhesives, carpets, and walls.
However, in case you have pets, make sure this plant is out of their reach as it’s toxic to cats and dogs, according to the ASPCA!
This is a plant that lives long and it can be something you can pass on from generation to generation-indoors, and it can reach a height of up to 3 feet or more.
Interesting Facts:
These plants were once believed to bring good luck to the owners so they were a common housewarming gift.
One variety of the Jade plant has the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society.
This plant is known to have bonsai abilities as it will form it easy when you properly prune it. People who learn bonsai often start with this plant because it’s strong, adjustable, and good-looking.
How to Care for a Jade Plant
Light
Jade plants love full sun exposure, that is, 4 or more hours of sunlight on the daily. This is why they’re the ideal option for rooms that have south-facing windows.
However, if you have a plant with variegated leaves, they would like less light, more bright and indirect.
Move it away from windows at night in the wintertime to prevent cold-related damage.
In the summer months, the variegated ones shouldn’t be placed in direct window heat.
Temperature
A Jade plant will thrive if it’s placed in an area with average summer temperature between 65 and 70 degrees F.
On the other hand, in the colder months, a cool temperature to 50 degrees F is best.
Water & Humidity
When a Jade plant is in the growth phase, i.e. spring and summer, it will want more water. Do it deeply, but wait until the soil has dried well.
This could end up being weekly or monthly watering.
In the dormant period in the colder months, the plant doesn’t need the same amount of water.
Do it less often than in the growing months and wait for the soil to entirely dry before you do it.
One good watering schedule to follow for large and established Jades in the dormancy period is one to two waterings.
Soil
This plant will do well in a regular potting soil mix for cacti or succulents, even though adding some extra organic matter isn’t a bad idea at all.
It should contain 1 part organic matter, 1 part peat moss, and 3 parts coarse sand.
Feeding
To take good care of your Jade plant, feed it around once every 6 months with a balanced fertilizer soluble in water.
Do it when you’re watering the plant-never when the soil is dry (it may harm its roots!).
Repotting
Repotting should be done when it’s necessary or when the roots are visible on the bottom, i.e. they’re growing outside of the pot. Do it in warm season.
To repot this succulent properly, gently take out the plant and remove as much old soil as possible, as well as damaged or dead roots.
Fill a new, larger pot with fresh soil and spread out the roots well. Water it after a week, but only lightly to prevent root rot.
Propagation
This is one of the easy plants to propagate- you can do this through a single leaf sprouting.
Do it by placing it into a suitable soil and then cover the plate until it sprouts.
Best Jade Plant Varieties
Lemon & Lime
This is one of the most impressive variegations of the Jade plant- it’s a bushy succulent with elongated oval leaves with light green and yellow stripes.
The foliage can grow up to 2 inches in length and develop red edges when grown in full sun.
Skinny Fingers
The leaves of this succulent look like long and thin fingers. They grow up to 2 inches and have red tips.
Because of the short branches and multiple leaves, this variety has a shrub-like appearance.
It grows a medium size and if you’re ‘lucky’ enough, you’ll witness white or pink, star-shaped flowers in winter.
Golden Jade
Also known as Hummel’s Sunset, this variety is an award-winning one and has stunning yellow and green leaves.
The impressive foliage hues are the reason behind its Golden Jade name. It has fleshy tear-shaped leaves that are lime green and yellow and have red edges.
In the colder months, these colors intensify.
Other tips
Pruning your Jade is important to keep its growth under control and shape it beautifully.
Prune back up to 1/3 of the stems in spring. Prune the leggy and droopy stems or ones that have overgrown as well.
In this way, you enable healthy growth and dense foliage.
Similar to other succulents, a Jade plant can die if you overwater it (it’s always better for it to be a bit drier than too wet).
Never leave it in standing water and drain out any surplus water that the plant didn’t take in if you’re watering it from below.
Trouble Shooting- Common Jade Plant Care Issues
Problem: yellowing foliage
Cause: Overwatering or root rot.
Solution: Reduce the watering- if the decline continues, check the roots (if they’re rotted, propagate a new plant from its strongest leaves).
Problem: doesn’t flower
Cause: This is how they are-Jade plants flower, but rarely. The chances additionally decrease when it’s kept indoors.
Solution: Flowering usually happens in the mature plants- this is why you can expect flowers when the plant is between 5 and 8 years of age.
Problem: speckled foliage
Cause: Pests like spider mites or soft scale.
Solution: Treat the plant with rubbing alcohol- avoid soaps and oils!
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