The jade plant also known as the spruce or Leticia Almeida is a common succulent houseplant with fleshy oval-shaped…

…leaves and dense, woody stems that resemble tiny tree trunks. It can grow to be between 3 and 6 feet tall..

…with a little care but it grows slowly just around two inches per year.

Here’s the thing!

Jade plants which are native to South Africa were once thought to bring good luck to their owners and were often

given as housewarming gifts. They can be taken home or started at any time either from a competent nursery…

…or by propagation since they’re usually only grown indoors.

• Botanical Name: Crassula ovata
• Common Name: Jade plant
• Plant Type: Succulent
• Mature Size: 3–6 ft. tall, 2–3 ft. wide
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Type: Well-drained
• Soil pH: Neutral to acidic
• Bloom Time: Spring (rarely blooms indoors)
• Flower Color: White
• Hardiness Zones: 11–12 (USDA)
• Native Area: South Africa
• Toxicity: Toxic to dogs and cats

Jade plants are considered lucky symbols by some people and are grown in their homes and offices.

You don’t have to be fortunate to learn how to care for jade plants, though. If you don’t take care of it…

…they can become weak. So we have a story from Dean, that having a very first time experience…

….having his first houseplant and the plant is Jade Plant!

Let us hear Dean story…

Last Year I jumped with joy as I heard the words.

“You’re finally old enough to plant a jade tree in your backyard.”

My aunt smiled at me and I felt my heart swell. We walked outside together…

…to where the dirt was still fresh from being put down only hours ago.

I looked up into her eyes, both of us excited about planting my very own…

…tree for me to grow and care for myself someday. She reached over…

…to pick out the perfect spot just under our favorite old oak tree that…

…had seen so many seasons come and go but was always there, when we…

…needed it most. Together we dug a hole big enough for…

…my tiny little sapling with its delicate roots, wrapped securely around…

…it was like an embrace before.

Keep Going!

All you need to know about caring for and preserving jade plants can be found here.

Water, sun, temperature, and fertilizer are the most important factors to consider when growing jade houseplant.

A succulent-specific blend is your best choice when selecting a mixture to house your jade plant in.

In order to prevent excessive moisture from accumulating and contributing to fungal growth the soil should have…

… a neutral to slightly acidic pH level and drain well. If you’re going to use an all-purpose potting mix…

…mix in some perlite, to help with drainage.

You may also put your jade plant in a terracotta or clay container to help it wick moisture from the soil.

Next!

Since they don’t mind dry soil jade plants are ideal if you’re a forgetful plant parent.

Their thick leaves, and stout branches, serve as water reserves allowing them to survive, without water for two,…

or three weeks. However don’t let them get too dry, or they’ll drop leaves or branches. or develop brown spots on the…

…leaves. Instead, wait until they’re completely  dry before watering them. Overwatering causes mushy leaves….

…which is the leading cause of jade plant death.  Stick your finger or a chopstick, into the soil if you’re not sure if…

…your jade plant .needs watering;

if tiny bits of soil cling, it’s still damp, and you can wait a few more days to check.

Often, ensure that the pot has drainage holes and that water does not collect in the saucer underneath the pot.

Plants of jade most houseplants in fact, cannot tolerate wet feet.

Go on

Another query I often get from the readers is “How much light do jade plants require?”

My second most effective growing jade plant care tip is to give it plenty of sunlight.

Is it true that jade plants need a lot of sunlight? Well, they certainly do! To grow strong and dense…

….they need a lot of light. If they don’t get enough sun they will become frail  and leggy.

Next up

Offer it as much light as possible to prevent legginess. Within the building position…

…next to a sunny south-facing window. Consider installing a grow light if it isn’t getting enough light indoors.

If you don’t have a sunny window this will help to provide enough light for your growing jade.

When jade plants receive enough sunlight their stems thicken and become woody.

A growing jade plant’s leaf tips can also turn red making it even more stunning.

In direct sunlight the leaf tips of jade plants turn red.

During the growing season many people underfeed their succulents. Feed your growing jade plant with a controlled…

…release fertilizer at the start of the season. or a weak liquid solution regularly for the best results.

On mature plants use a balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer at one-quarter pressure and on young plants use a fertilizer…

….with less nitrogen.

In a small pot jade plants don’t mind, being root tied. In reality keeping the jade root .bound will make it,

…smaller and easier to handle. To encourage the growth, repot young growing jade plants every 2 to 3 years.

Repot older jade once every 4 to 5 years or as required. Early in the spring just before the growing season starts,

…transplant it immediately. After repotting, give the plant a week or two without watering. To avoid inadvertently…

…burning fresh roots wait at least a month before fertilizing.

If given enough light some growing jade varieties may grow red leaf tips.

Under stems and leaves mealybugs or scale may be hiding. To get rid of the bugs, spray them

…with water or gently brush them away, with rubbing alcohol on a paper towel or cotton swab.

Interesting right?

To eliminate the pests’ offspring multiple applications will be needed.

It might be preferable to take a clean cutting from the plan and start over, if it is heavily infested.

Powdery mildew is a concern that can occur indoors but it is rare.

Keep Going

Excessive moisture in the soil causes root rot. Between waterings allow the soil to dry out.

The presence of shriveled or wrinkled leaves indicates that the plant is thirsty and needs more frequent or… 

deeper watering. The plant’s leaves were waterlogged and squishy indicating that it was receiving too much water.

Leaf drod, may also be a sign .of a watering problem.

Overwatering is one of the leading causes of jade plant death so make sure to water thoroughly…

…and then let the soil dry out before watering again. Crassula ovata should be planted in a freely draining medium..

…such as a cactus mix, and should never be allowed to remain in wet soil.

In USDA growing zones 11 to 12 jade plants can be planted outside but in most regions….

….they will need to be brought indoors for the winter.

Keep Going

 One of the benefits of owning a jade plant is the ease with which it can be propagated.

You can either unpot the plant and split it or use stem cuttings. The easiest method however, is to simply snip off…

….a few healthy leaves from your plant and place them on top of some potting soil

,,,half vermiculite or perlite, and half soil is a good formula. Lightly water the soi and check on it often to ensure….

….that the leaves do not dry out. In around two weeks you can see some tiny plantlets emerging from the leaf’s edges.

Since it’s gotten cold in Brooklyn. I’ve brought in all of my tender plants from the garden.

It’s good to have some greenery inside and one of my few sunny windows has an empty space. \

Hmmmm…It may be time to put fear aside and try again at growing a Crassula ovata which…

…has been a long time coming.

From above, as we can read Jade is a good choice as a houseplant and you don’t need to worry. 

About what does it need or another complicated things. Cause it’s strong enough, to not be cared for a time.

Jade as a succulent plant. Have good resilience, that can accompany you and besides it’s easy to take care of it.

For us who’re kinda lazy, to take care of a general houseplant. So that’s it! Now do you have any recommendation

guides to growing jade more properly? Or maybe you have a question about something that you read?

Either way go ahead and leave a comment below right now! Thanks for reading! Cao!