Essential Care Tips for Your Jade Tree Plant

Jade plants, or Crassula ovata, are more than just eye catching succulents; they’re hardy, low maintenance, and can thrive for decades with the right care. With their thick glossy leaves and tree like, woody stems, Jade plants make the perfect addition to any plant collection. They’re an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced plant enthusiasts, requiring minimal watering and adapting to various indoor conditions. Whether you’re looking to start your Jade Plant journey or want to keep your existing one thriving, we’ll cover everything you need to know to keep your Jade Plant thriving for years.

Jade Plant growing in a terra cotta pot
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Jade Plant Care

The Jade Plant is in the Crassula family, sometimes called the orpine family, but if you want to get fancy, the Crassulaceae family which is made up of 300 different species of succulents. The name Crassula means thick, which refers to the look and feel of the leaves. And ovata means egg shapes. The Jade Plant is native to South Africa, where it makes up the majority of the vegetation in the Easter Cape. In this area, it’s sandy, bright and sparely rains. Just knowing these few things about the Jade Plant should tell you a lot about its care as an indoor plant.

Lighting Requirements

The Jade Plant requires a lot of bright light. It’s best right under a grow light or by a south or west facing window. Avoid direct sunlight, especially for younger plants, to prevent leaf damage and sunburn. During the growing season, you can even grow the Jade Plant outside and watch how much faster it grows! You’ll know the plant is getting enough light when the edges of the leaves start to turn slightly red. If your Jade Plant isn’t receiving enough light, you’ll notice slow growth, leaf drop, misshapen leaves, or even root rot. A Jade plant thrives under the right light conditions, including bright or filtered sunlight.

Watering Jade Plants

All succulent plants store water in their leaves and stems. They come from climates where it's dry and doesn’t rain often. Jade plants should be watered on a monthly to bi-monthly schedule. If your Jade Plant is outside, in bright light and fast-draining soil, consider watering it on a monthly basis. However, if your Jade Plant is indoors, with not as bright light, consider watering it on a bi-monthly basis.

One way to tell if your Jade Plant needs water is that the leaves and stems will start to shrivel up. Make sure you wait for your plant to tell you it’s thirsty before you water it.

Temperature and Humidity

Jade plants prefer average household temperatures ranging from 65°F to 75°F.

At night and in the winter, Jade plants can handle a cooler environment, down to 55°F. Anything lower, bring your Jade Plant inside. Especially during any signs of frost.

A baby Jade plant in a white planter
Photo by Susan Wilkinson on Unsplash

Jade plants prefer consistent humidity of 30-50%. Unlike aroids and many other common houseplants, Jade Plants aren’t sensitive to lower humidity levels. A jade plant thrives in temperatures ranging from 60°F to 77°F and consistent humidity levels between 30-50%.

Propagating Jade Plants

Jade plants are well-known for their ease of propagation and can be quite fun to experiment. Propagations can be taken by stem or leaf cutting. Young plants require specific care during propagation, including proper light and humidity conditions.

Stem Cutting

Stem cutting is for a mature Jade plant with thick woody stems.

• Cut a healthy stem at least 2-3 inches long with several leaves.

• Lay the cutting out in bright indirect light for a few hours to callous over, helping prevent the cutting from rotting.

• Plant the stem in a cactus potting soil, ideally a blend that includes sand and perlite for proper drainage, and wait for new growth and roots to form. Don’t water the cutting until it's fully grown roots, however, you can place it in high humidity if you notice the cutting is struggling.

• Transplant the new plant to a larger pot once it has established itself.

• Stem cuttings tend to root more easily in the summertime, but can be done at any time of year.

Leaf Cutting

• Pluck or cut some leaves from the plant’s stem.

• Ensure they have a little pointed bit, otherwise, they may fail to root.

• Lightly dip the end of these leaves in a rooting hormone, to promote faster propagation.

• Give it sufficient sunlight and watch a new plant form from the leaf cutting over the next few weeks.

Common Problems and Solutions

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.

• Treat mealybugs by wiping them off with a cotton ball or tissue soaked with a mixture of 50% rubbing alcohol and 50% water.

• However, if you find other pests on your houseplant, like; spider mites, thrips or aphids, you can read here and learn how to irradiate them.

Root Rot and Other Issues

• Root rot can be caused by standing in wet soil for too long, and can be treated by cutting off the root system and replanting in new soil.

• Underwatering can cause shriveled or wrinkled leaves, while lack of sunlight can cause leaf loss.

• Overwatering can lead to root rot and other problems.

Potting and Repotting

Jade plants aren't the fastest growing houseplant and often have smaller roots. Keeping it in a 4 - 6 inch pot may last your Jade plant for a few years before needing to be repotted. Use a cactus type soil mixed with horticultural sand and perlite to make a well draining soil. Place in terra cotta if you think you'll over water it.

If your pot has a drainage hole, placing a plant tray under it that catches the draining water but does not let the plant sit in water is perfect. The Treleaf Sausrs are a perfect fit. They come in two designs - Tera and Lili, they go with any decor.

Larger jade plants that measure several feet high can become top-heavy and require a heavier pot. You can also top the Jade plant with decorative rocks to add some decoration and help with stability. Or, even adding a trellis will help with a top heavy Jade plant.

Pruning and Shaping

Pruning is a key aspect of jade plant care. If left untrimmed for too long, your Jade plant may become leggy and may bend or break due to its heavy top. Pruning and shaping the Jade will also give it that nice tree shape. The best time to prune your Jade plant is from spring to early summer during the growing season to help aid new growth.

A stem cutting propagating in soil
Photo by Susan Wilkinson on Unsplash

Conclusion

Caring for a Jade Plant is simple, making it the perfect choice for both beginner and experienced house plant collectors. With the right balance of light, well draining soil, and proper watering, your Jade Plant can thrive for years, maybe even generations!