Native to South Africa, jade plants are thought to bring good luck, wealth, and prosperity to their owners, so they are often given as housewarming gifts. Consequently, one of their nicknames is the money plant. Because jade plants are typically grown indoors—outdoors they require a hot climate—they can be brought home or started at any time, either from a nursery or through propagation. Homeowners with pets should be careful about where they place a jade plant in their home. All parts of the plant are toxic to cats and dogs. Jade plants also need a lot of sun to develop to their fullest potential. So when growing a jade plant indoors, where you place it in your house matters to ensure sufficient light. If the proper conditions are met, you’ll have a stunning succulent that can be easily propagated, giving you plenty of extra plants to spread around your home or share with friends.
Light
Jade plants need a lot of sun. However, they should be protected from harsh direct sunlight, as it can scorch the leaves, especially of young plants. On the flip side, too little light can cause weak, leggy growth that leads the plant to topple over. So aim for at least six hours of bright, indirect sunlight per day. As far as where to place a jade plant in your home, a south-facing window is ideal. West-facing windows also should provide enough light.
Soil
When choosing a potting mix for your jade plant, a succulent-specific blend is your best bet. Ideally, the soil should have a neutral to slightly acidic pH level, and it should drain well to prevent excessive moisture from accumulating and leading to fungal growth. If you end up using an all-purpose potting mix instead, add some perlite to help with drainage. Additionally, you can house your jade plant in a terracotta or clay vessel to help wick extra moisture from the soil.
Water
During the spring and summer, jade plants should be watered often so that their soil is moist but not wet. (Just make sure their drainage is immaculate.) Reduce your watering to once monthly in the winter. Also, if you water from beneath by letting the plant sit in a saucer of water, pour off any excess water after a few minutes. Never let a jade plant sit in water.
Temperature and Humidity
Jade plants prefer average household temperatures ranging from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. At night and in the winter, jade plants can handle a cooler environment, down to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, though they should never be kept in temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit for any prolonged period of time.
Fertilizer
Many people underfeed their succulents during their growing season. For the most successful jade plant, feed it with a controlled-release fertilizer at the beginning of the season or weekly with a weak liquid solution. Use a balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer at one-quarter strength on mature plants and a fertilizer with less nitrogen on young plants.
Propagating Jade Plants
The jade plant is well-known for its ease of propagation. New plants can be propagated from a single leaf or cutting taken from a parent plant, giving you the opportunity to dramatically increase your collection with ease. The best time to propagate jade plants is during the summer when they’re most likely to receive ample sunlight and humidity. Here’s how: To propagate with cuttings: To propagate with leaves:
Potting and Repotting Jade Plants
Generally, a 4-inch or 6-inch pot with drainage holes works just fine for average-size jade plants. If you can, opt for a vessel made from unglazed clay, which will permit excess moisture to evaporate through its walls and ensure that your plant doesn’t become waterlogged. A jade plant will typically need repotting every two to three years for smaller plants and every four to five years for larger ones. If you notice your jade plant appears to be outgrowing its container—e.g., if roots are popping up out of the soil—follow these steps to repot it properly:
Common Pests
Like many other houseplants and succulents, jade plants must contend with a variety of pests. The most common pest is the mealybug, which can leave white patches on the plant, specifically where the leaves attach to the steams. Because jade plants (and succulents in general) are particularly sensitive to insecticides and oils, you should treat mealybugs by wiping them off with a cotton ball or tissue soaked with rubbing alcohol. Other pest issues can include an infestation of spider mites or scale, both of which can be treated the same way.
Common Problems With Jade Plants
While jade plants are fairly easy to care for and not terribly temperamental, you might find yourself running into a few issues that leave you wondering why your plant isn’t thriving the way it should.
Shriveled Leaves
Because jade plants store water in their leaves, wrinkly or shriveled leaves are a good indication that your plant isn’t getting enough water. They might be accompanied by drooping or a general “wilt” of the whole plant. But they should perk up quickly once watered.
Loss of Leaves
If your jade plant is losing leaves at a frequent rate, it might 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 might 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 telltale signs (such as rotting roots), and cut back on the frequency with which you water.
