Collection: Jade Plant

Crassulaovata (Jade Plant)

With Jade Plant’s gnarly woody stems and plump oval-shaped leaves, jade plants have a miniature, tree-like appearance that makes them very appealing as a houseplant. Their long life makes them ideal for bonsai, but they are also otherwise passed down from generation to generation. With just a bit of care, it can grow to be between 3 and 6 feet tall, but it does so slowly, growing about 2 inches a year.
Native to South Africa, jade plants were once thought to bring good luck to their owners, so are often given as housewarming gifts. Because they're typically only grown indoors, they can be brought home or started at any time, either from a professional nursery or through propagation.

Jade plant care

The most important factors to consider when growing jade houseplants are water, light, temperature, and fertilizer.
Jade plants adapt well to the warm, dry conditions found in most homes. It’s important to keep the plant watered during the growing season (spring, summer) and drier during the dormant season (fall, winter). However, even during the growing season, the soil should be allowed to dry out fully between watering, as jade is very susceptible to rot.

◾ Light

Another important aspect of the care and maintenance of jade plants is how much sun they receive. They need full sun in order to grow properly. If they do not have full sun, they may become stunted and leggy.
Jade plants need at least 4 hours of direct sunlight each day. Young plants should be kept in bright, indirect sunlight; large, well-established jade plants can handle more direct sunlight.

◾ Jade plant watering

One of the most important things and key factors that determine the success of your jade plant is watering. Make sure that the plants are watered properly and never let it dry out completely but don’t keep the soil soggy wet. The idea is to let the potting mix dry in between watering cycles. Watering your jade plant too often can cause root rot. If your jade plant is losing leaves or has leaf spots, this is most commonly caused by too little water.
The Jade plant goes dormant in fall and winter and stops growing for a few months and would need very little water. Water it carefully and allow the soil to dry out fully between watering. Large, well-established jade plants need to be watered further.

◾ Soil & Fertilisation

Pot your Jade plants in a loose well-draining potting mix. Also ensure that the potting mix has a good amount of organic matter. When choosing a readymade soil mix to house your jade plant, a succulent-specific blend is the best bet. Ideally, the soil should be either neutral to slightly acidic and drain well in order to prevent excessive moisture from accumulating and leading to fungal growth.
Jade plants love light, and young plants especially should be exposed to bright light.

Propagating Jade plant

Choose a wide and sturdy pot with a moderate depth, as jade plants have a tendency to grow top-heavy and fall over.
Take at least a 4-5 inch cutting and remove the lowermost leaves and pot it in a well-draining potting mix, making sure to submerge at least 2-3 leaf nodes under the soil. Use a smaller pot to control the availability of moisture and place the planter and plant in a brightly lit pot, out of direct sun.
After planting a jade plant, don’t water it right away. Waiting anywhere from several days to a week before watering lets the roots settle and recover from any damage.

Common Problems With Jade Plants

While jade plants are fairly easy to care for and not terribly temperamental, you may find yourself running into a few issues that leave you wondering why your plant isn't thriving the way it should. Some of the most common issues with jade plants include:

➡ Shrivelled Leaves

Because jade plants store water in their leaves, wrinkly or shrivelled leaves are a good indication that your plant isn't getting enough water. They may be accompanied by drooping or a general "wilt" of the whole plant but should perk up quickly once watered.

➡ Loss of Leaves

If your jade plant is losing leaves at a frequent rate, it may be a sign that it's not getting enough light. Move the plant somewhere where it gets bright, indirect light for at least six hours a day and observe whether the problem improves. If most of the leaves falling are old leaves, or the dropping is accompanied by leggy growth, your plant may be too warm and need to be located somewhere with a slightly cooler (but not cold) temperature.

➡ All-Over Yellowing

One or two yellow leaves on your jade plant isn't the end of the world but if you notice your plant is yellowing all over, that is a sign of a more serious issue. Generally, an all-over yellowing of a jade plant is indicative of overwatering. Check for other tell-tale signs (like rotting roots) and cut back on the frequency with which you water.