Jade Plant Care Guide
About Jade Plants
Jade plants, also commonly referred to as the Crassula ovata, make for great decorative houseplants. These succulent-like trees are very easy to take care of due to their minimal watering and sunlight requirements. The Jade plant is a part of the Crassulaceae family that’s native to South Africa. Keep in mind that jade plants are toxic to your furry friends. This guide will walk you through the entire life cycle of a jade plant.
Types of Jade Plants
There are around 200 species of jade plants in the Crassulaceae family. Some of the most popular being the common jade plant and bluebird money plant. The most unique type of jade plant is the hottentota. Below are some of our picks for the best looking types:
Sansevieria trifasciata
Sansevieria cylindrica
Sunlight Requirements
Jade plants need at least 4-6 hours of bright light a day in order to thrive. If you are keeping your plant indoors, you may want to place your pot near a south facing window. If you are keeping it outdoors, place your plant in an area that receives sufficient amounts of sunlight each day.
Humidity Requirements
Since the jade plant is a succulent, it does not require high humidity. It may be beneficial to keep your jade plant away from any humidifiers or other plants that require frequent misting. They prefer to have 30-45% humidity. Too much moisture may cause black or brown spots on the leaves.
Temperature Requirements
Jade plants prefer to be at room temperatures between 65-75° F. If you are keeping your jade plant outside make sure to bring it back indoors when temperatures drop below 55° F. If you are keeping your jade plant indoors, never keep it right next to an air vent or open window for extended periods of time as they do not adapt well to drafts.
Watering Requirements
Being a succulent the jade plant is used to drier climates, meaning it does not have harsh watering requirements. The general rule of thumb is to wait until the soil completely dries out. Jade plants are very susceptible to root rot and other diseases caused by over watering so it's important to allow the roots to fully dry out. Signs of over watering are yellowing or squishy succulent leaves.
Best Soil For Jade Plants
Any succulent or cactus mix should work great for your jade plant. If you are the ambitious type and want to compose your own soil mix, use pumice, coarse sand, and perlite. Make sure that the pot you are using has large drainage holes and the soil is aerated. The jade plant prefers a slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0.
Variegated Jade Plant
Can I keep my jade plant plant indoors or outdoors?
Susceptible Diseases & Pests
Jade plants are susceptible to many pests and diseases, some of which include the following:
Scale
Sooty Mold
Powdery Mildew
Re-potting Jade Plants
It may be time to re-pot your jade plant when you see overcrowding or it's been around 1-2 years. When it is finally time to re-pot your jade plant follow these simple steps:
Grab a larger container: generally it's best to only go one size larger.
Mix your soil: grab your cactus mix and add around 2 inches of soil to the bottom of the new pot.
Remove the jade plant from its original container: secure your hands around the base of the plant and flip it upside down. Gently remove the plant out of the container.
Observe the roots: make sure the roots look healthy and aren’t root bound. If you do see bounded roots, loosen them gently with your fingers and shake out any loose dirt.
Re-pot the plant: place the naked jade plant in the new pot and place soil in the gaps. Make sure not to pack the soil.
Water the plant thoroughly: whenever making any major changes with plants to water deeply.
If you are re-potting your jade plant from propagation, follow the same steps listed above.
TOOLS REQUIRED
Cactus or succulent potting soil
Rooting hormone
4” pots
Pair of clean scissors or clippers.
Propagation
Considering the jade plant is a succulent, it may be difficult to propagate a jade plant. Under the proper conditions it is possible. One way to propagate a jade plant is by leaf cutting and the other is by stem cutting. Below is a step-by-step guide on propagating jade plants.
Propagating From Jade Stems
Grab a clean pair of shears or scissors and cut off 3-4 inches of stem off of your jade plant. It is very important to use sterilized scissors as this will protect your plant from developing unwanted diseases. If your plant does not have 3-4 inches worth of stem, it may be too early to propagate.
After making the cut, allow the cutting to dry out completely, this is called the curing process. Allowing the cutting to cure will prevent it from rotting. After the curing process is over, dip at the section where you cut in a rooting hormone, this will promote new root growth.
Grab your 4” container and loosely fill it with your succulent or cactus mix composed of perlite, pumice, and coarse sand. Make a 1 inch hole 2 inches deep and place the jade plant cutting in the hole.
Bring your jade plant to a safe location where it will be exposed to indirect sunlight and mist the plant until it has roots. Unlike most plants, it's important not to water your new cutting until it has developed roots. Wait until you see growth before watering the plant thoroughly.
Propagating From Jade Leaves
This is a much longer process for propagating jade plants but it is possible. Start off by carefully removing plant leaves with your hands. When breaking of leaves, make sure to get the whole entire leaf from the tip to the base near the stem.
Allow the leaf cuttings to go through the curing process by leaving them out until they are mostly dry. Be careful not to leave them for too long as this can lead to unwanted issues.
Place the leaf cuttings in the soil and wait for new growth to come. A gentle misting every few days could be beneficial to promote growth. It's important not to over water it as the cuttings will quickly rot. It can take 2-3 months before seeing any root growth.