Jade Plant
Crassula ovata · also called Money plant, Friendship tree
A little succulent tree for your sunniest windowsill
- Light
- Bright indirect, Full sun: Wants a sunny window, at least 4 hours of light a day
- Water
- Every 2-4 weeks, only when the soil is fully dry
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Pet safety
- Toxic to cats and dogs
- Size
- Small
- Height
- 1-3 ft indoors over many years
- Growth
- Slow
- Humidity
- Dry air is fine
- Temperature
- 55-80°F
- Good rooms
- Kitchen, Living room, Office
Think of a jade plant as a tiny tree. It grows a thick trunk and short branches covered in plump, oval leaves that store water. With time the trunk gets woody and the whole plant looks like a small, old tree in a pot. Some leaves pick up red edges in strong sun. Mature plants in bright light can make clusters of small pink or white flowers in winter, though many indoor jades never bloom.
It suits people with a sunny window and a habit of forgetting about their plants. Since it stores water in its leaves and stems, a jade often goes two or three weeks without a drink in summer and longer in winter. It grows slowly, so it stays a good size for a windowsill or desk for years. It is also one of the easiest plants to share. A single leaf can grow a new plant. A sunny kitchen sill is a classic home for one.
There are two real downsides. The first is water. More jade plants die from being watered too often than from anything else. The stems turn soft and the leaves drop. The second is pets. The ASPCA lists jade as toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, and chewing it can cause vomiting and wobbly walking. It also needs real sun, so a dim room is not a match.
Jade Plant care
Light
Give it the sunniest spot you have, such as a south or west window. Four or more hours of direct sun keeps it compact and may bring red leaf edges. In weak light it stretches, with long bare stems and leaves spaced far apart. Move it into stronger sun slowly to avoid scorched spots.
Watering
Water deeply, then wait until the soil is dry all the way down. In summer that is often every two or three weeks. In winter, once a month or less. Wrinkled leaves mean it is thirsty. Soft, yellow, or falling leaves usually mean too much water.
Soil and pot
Use a cactus and succulent mix, or regular potting mix with about half perlite or coarse sand. A clay pot with a drainage hole helps the soil dry faster. Choose a heavy, wide pot, since a top-heavy jade tips over easily.
Humidity and temperature
Normal home air is fine, and dry air does not bother it. Skip misting. Good airflow helps keep pests and rot away. In winter it handles a cool room well, and a cool spell can help it bloom. Just keep it off a freezing window pane.
Feeding
Think of jade food as a light snack. A cactus or succulent fertilizer at quarter strength, given about three times between late spring and late summer, covers it. Jades fed too much grow soft, stretched stems that bend under the weight of the leaves. Never pour fertilizer onto bone-dry soil, since the salts hit the roots hard. Water first, then feed. Nothing from fall through winter.
Repotting
Repot every two to four years in spring, or when it starts to tip over in its pot. Go up only a little in size. Let it sit dry for a few days after, then water lightly, so any broken roots can heal first.
Propagation
This is easy. Snap off a healthy leaf or a short stem, let the end dry for a few days until it seals over, then set it on dry cactus mix. Water lightly once roots appear in a few weeks. Stem cuttings grow into a plant faster than single leaves.
Common problems
Why are the leaves falling off?
Overwatering is the most common cause, but a sudden cold draft can do it too. Check the soil and the stem. If the stem is soft, cut away the rot and root the healthy top.
Why are the leaves wrinkled?
The plant has used up stored water. Give it a deep drink and the leaves should plump up within a few days. If the soil is still wet and the leaves are wrinkled, check the roots for rot.
Why is it leggy and leaning?
It needs more sun. Move it to a brighter window and prune long stems to help it branch.
What are the white fluffy spots?
Those are usually mealybugs. Dab them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol and check again every few days.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get my jade plant to flower?
Give it bright sun, a cool fall with nights in the 50s, and less water in late fall. Older plants bloom more often than young ones.
Can a jade plant live outside?
In summer, yes, in a sunny spot. Ease it into sun over a week or two and bring it in before frost.
How big does a jade get?
Indoors most stay 1 to 3 feet tall after many years. You can prune it to keep any size you like. Thick trunks come with age and lots of light.
Not sure this plant fits your home?
Take a plant quizSources: www.aspca.org, www.aspca.org, plants.ces.ncsu.edu
