The Jade Plant comes from South Africa’s Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and Mozambique. The Jade Plant is also part of the Crassulaceae family. It has thick, shiny, smooth jade-green leaves. It has a thick, woody stem that can be grayish brown and sometimes red with age. The Jade Plant’s flowers are usually pink and look like puffy stars with five petals. The flowers are seen in late winter, early spring, or from April to August. In the wild, the Jade Plant can grow to 6-10 feet tall. Many people believe that this plant brings good luck.
Read more about types of Jade, care, and gardening inspiration:
Key Takeaways
- The Jade Plant originates from South Africa and belongs to the Crassulaceae family, featuring thick, shiny leaves and pink star-like flowers.
- Care for the Jade Plant requires bright, indirect light and well-draining soil; avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.
- You can propagate the Jade Plant easily using stem or leaf cuttings, and it thrives on regular watering with balanced fertilizer during the growing season.
- Jade Plants symbolize good fortune in many cultures and are believed to attract prosperity when placed near entrances.
- This adaptable succulent is perfect for indoor spaces, making it a charming addition to any plant collection.
Table of contents
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Disclosure: This article was partly written with the assistance of AI and humanly edited.
Types of Jade
There are over 200 species in the Crassula genus, most of which are succulents, and several cultivars of the Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) that are as cute or beautiful as the classic Jade. The classic jade primarily has jade-green leaves, though some varieties exhibit color variations. The leaves can grow in a lot of different directions, too, and many Jades can have a ring of red at the edge of all their leaves when they get the right light. They’re all so different, and yet, they’re all so much the same. This is a glut of Jades! It is impossible to resist the charm of the Jade Plant.
Reference: wikipedia.org
Jade Plant Care
Because the Jade Plant is a succulent, like all succulents, treat it like a succulent. In its native habitat in Africa, it grows in the desert and is a very low-water-use plant that prefers full sun. When you move it indoors, it does well in bright light, but it has a lot of forgiveness and will tolerate relatively low light levels for extended periods. The trees actually get very large and can get up to 10′ tall. When you grow them indoors, remember that this is a very slow-growing plant.
For those without a green thumb, the jade plant can be a tremendous asset due to its hardiness and adaptability to various growing conditions. They like bright but indirect light. They adapt to the temperatures where they are located. Low humidity is preferred, but they will grow fine in very high humidity. Despite their potential large size and slow growth rate, many people grow jade plants in homes or commercial buildings.
Light is important for Jade Plants to grow strong and compact; Jades that do not get enough light will grow weak and leggy, but can survive. Jades like a lot of sunlight, but be careful not to put them in a spot that gets full sun in the middle of the day. They can get sunburned. Most houses have the perfect lighting for Jade. Most houses do not have the very best light, but they also do not have the very worst light. Jades work best in indirect light. But household or office lighting alone is insufficient for Jades, as they require some ‘real’ sunlight.
Jades can tolerate a wide range of temperatures but do not like extremes. If the temperature drops much below 40°F or rises much above 90°F, the plant might not survive. Jade plants tolerate a wide temperature range, with good growth from 65°F to 75°F during active seasons.
Resource: libguides.nybg.org/crassula
Resource: hort.extension.wisc.edu
Potting Soil
Drainage is key for Jade Plants, especially for beginners. Use a cactus/succulent mix or make your own by mixing equal parts of regular potting soil, sand, and perlite or vermiculite. The soil should dry out completely between waterings, but never be soggy.
Watering
As mentioned, Jade plants are very efficient in storing water. They can tolerate periods of neglect, but they do better when they are regularly watered. Water the plant thoroughly, so much so that water flows out of the drainage hole. Wait until the soil is completely dry before watering the jade plant again. Overwatering can cause problems for succulent plants, including Jade plants. This is because too much water can cause root rot, a common problem for all types of succulents. You can help your jade plant to grow and thrive properly by applying a balanced houseplant fertilizer every two months throughout the growing season in spring and summer. This applies only in the spring and summer, when the plant is growing. Half-strength or quarter-strength is usually enough for Jade, since it doesn’t need much. Make sure your Jade is well watered before you fertilize, though, or the roots can be injured.
Pruning and Shaping
Pruning and shaping are not necessary for Jade Plants, but pinching back the Jade makes it look more appealing and more compact. Pruning the jade plant is also a good way to create a more branching plant.
Pests/Diseases
Jade Plants are relatively resistant, but they can get pests like mealybugs or spider mites, as well as diseases like root rot. If they look bad, they can be treated with insecticidal soap. Just keep an eye on your Jade Plant; it’s better to treat pests and diseases as early as possible.
Propagation
The simplest way to propagate Jades is to take a healthy stem or leaf cutting from the parent plant, let it dry for a day or two, and then put it in well-draining soil. It should take a couple of weeks for the root to form, and then you have a new plant that you can treat exactly like the older parent plant.
Transplant
Repot jade plants every 2-3 years or when the roots have filled the pot. Use a new pot that is only slightly larger than the previous one to avoid overwatering the plant. In winter, cut back watering to about every 2 or 3 weeks to match the plant’s slower growth. Avoid exposing your Jade Plant to temperatures below 50°F during winter; instead, maintain it between 65°F and 75°F during the day (50-55°F at night) to keep it healthy, as temperatures below 50°F may harm the plant.
Resource: planttalk.colostate.edu
The Symbolism of the Jade Plant
The Jade Plant is commonly perceived as an emblem of good fortune, particularly in Asian cultures. Feng Shui practitioners recommend keeping a Jade Plant near doors. The plant is supposed to welcome prosperity because of its own condition, which is required for it to continue growing bountifully. The fortune associated with it is believed to stem from the care for the Jade Plant itself, just as much as any spiritual belief.
It’s Easy to Bring a Jade Plant Home
Whether you treat it with knowledge of its tradition or as an adorable succulent addition to your houseplant family, the Jade Plant is certainly an adaptable, likeable, and lovely plant. Why don’t you check and see if you can bring a little piece of fortune to that plant collection of yours with a Jade Plant or two?
