How to feed your jade plant?
As any other creature needs nutrients…
It is essential to feed your jade plant…
In other words…
Fertilizing your jade plant is a must…
Sufficient nutrients will help them grow best…
First thing to understand is that fertilizer is not really plant food. Plants don’t need to be fed the way puppies, for instance, need to be fed. Plants make their own food from air, water, and light; fertilizer is a mix of minerals that the plants use in very small to microscopic amounts, to make the enzymes, hormones, proteins, and other substances that allow them to carry on their life processes, such as construction of chlorophyll molecules (among hundreds of other things.)
All plants absorb mineral salts through their roots. These minerals occur naturally in the soil, either from the components of the soil particles (such as clay,) or from the breakdown of organic elements.
Fertilizer needs to be added sometimes when the soil is either naturally deficient in one or more minerals, or the minerals have become depleted over time because the plants have used them.
Marlie Graves a Professional Interior Horticulturist
Let’s hear on James’ story…
I love my jade plant…
I’ve taken care of it for years now…
But I’m not experienced in fertilizing it…
This is because I’m unsure on how much nutrients it needs…
Before asking anyone…
… or looking it up on the internet…
… I decided to try it for the first time.
In my mind…
I see my jade plant like any other plant…
Surely it needs all the nutrients…
So I just grab any other fertilizer…
Pat them on the pot…
… and do it regularly.
Out of my concern…
The jade plant started becoming sloppy…
I thought to myself…
“What did I do wrong?”…
Nonetheless…
You can prevent that from happening!
Since then…
James had checked on the internet for further information…
He succeed on saving his jade plant…
… before it was too late.
This article is specifically written for future James…
Needing the assistance on how to feed your jade plant!
But first…
The Ideal Environment a Jade Plant Needs
Jade plants prefer the warm over cold…
They thrive in dry conditions in most houses…
That doesn’t mean that jade plants need the smallest amount of watering…
It is indeed important to water jade plants…
During the growing season of spring and summer…
… and during the dormant season of fall and winter…
What you need to remember is that…
The soil should be dry out fully…
… before you water them the next time.
This is important to note because jade plant is susceptible to rot…
On further note…
In outdoor scenario…
Jade plant is preferably grown in areas with mild and dry climate year round…
Usually, this is between zones 9 to 11 according to the USDA Hardiness Zone Map…
This doesn’t mean that jade plant cannot be grown in areas where winter happens…
… but they are susceptible to cold damage when kept outdoors during winter.
When the winter comes…
Or when it gets below 50 degrees Fahrenheit outside…
It is best to bring your jade plant indoors…
It’s time…
How to Feed Your Jade Plant?
Feeding your jade plant means giving them the nutrients needed…
This may took on the form of merely watering and fertilizing…
But not too much…
Because too much of those may cause damage to your jade plant…
The branches and stems will become soft and leggy…
… or eventually rot to die.
Read more below for further details!
What to Feed Your Jade Plant?
There three types of feeding you can choose for your jade plant…
Soil Mixture
Soil is the essential go to medium for any plants…
This is because soil contains all the minerals and nutrients a plant needs…
Such mixtures usually take the form of specially formulated soils for cacti and succulents…
You can also mix your own soil…
Using two parts sphagnum peat moss…
One part coarse perlite…
… and one part coarse sand.
This mixture is rich with organic matter…
… and is best for your jade plant.
The correct soil mixture will provide continuous feeding in between fertilization…
Because you don’t fertilize a jade plant too often…
Liquid Fertilizers
Another form of feeding is through liquid fertilizers!
They are the easiest to apply…
You just choose one from the nearest store…
Which is made specifically for cacti and succulent…
… and pour it on your jade plant as stated in the instructions.
Water is an essential part of this method…
Because you should remember to water the jade plant
Before and after you apply your liquid fertilizer to optimize absorption…
Never apply a liquid fertilizer to dry soil…
Because it may damage the root system of your jade plant…
Nitrogen Needs
Nitrogen is also essential…
This feeding is mostly needed when you see your jade plant dropping its leaves…
This may be one indicator for lack of nitrogen…
… or not enough sunlight.
If this happens,…
Use high-nitrogen soluble plant food…
Such as 10-20-10 formula…
… or organic fertilizers from fish emulsion.
How Often do You Feed Them?
During active growth seasons,…
… that is spring and summer…
… increase fertilization to once every two weeks.
Fertilize with half the amount of recommended fertilizer…
To avoid over-feeding…
Dilute them by mixing it with water…
However…
When jade plants get the amount of proper light…
Most plant owners stop fertilization from November through March…
To prevent soft leggy stems…
Whereas in dormant seasons…
Feed your jade plant once every three or four months…
I recommend feeding jade plants roughly once per season, or every three to four months. I also recommend waiting four months after repotting before feeding. This gives the roots time to harden and dig into their new soil. Jade plants benefit most from a feeding in early to midsummer, at the height of its growing season, so space your feedings accordingly. If you’re unsure whether a newly acquired plant has been recently fed, wait a few months before fertilizing.
Karen Russ a Horticulture Specialist at Clemeson Cooperative Extension
What Method to Choose?
The planting method determine root damage prevention…
It is best if you dampen the soil with water…
… and then watering it with a mix of water and liquid fertilizer.
The water will dilute the fertilizer…
… and help spread the fertilizer evenly.
Remember to not fertilize when soil is dry…
… since it may damage roots.
What Kind of Problems May be Encountered?
One main problem that may be encountered during fertilization…
Is when you found your jade plant started shrinking…
… and when it changes color to deflated, grayish, spotty look.
This may have been because the fertilizer mix was too strong…
But no worry…
Cause you can still save it…
Do this by flushing the soil by soaking it with plain water…
Then pouring out the runoff…
… and repeat.
Let your jade plant’s soil to almost dry out…
Before watering and feeding it again…
Also monitor your jade plant to see improvements…
Once they improve, use more diluted fertilizer at next feeding…
Time to recap…
Nutrients are essential for your plant…
You can give them just that…
… by feeding them with fertilizers.
These fertilizers may be in the form of soil…
… liquid or nitrogen.
Whatever they may be…
Refer to this article for guidance!
Conclusion
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If there’s anything missing from it…
Kindly comment in the section below…
… or contact me here!
Thank you!