Jade plant care guide

A jade plant is a succulent that grows into a little tree with a thick trunk and fat, glossy leaves. It can live for decades and gets passed down through families. Sun and dry soil keep it happy.

Light

Give it your sunniest window. A south or west window is best. Four or more hours of direct sun keeps it compact.

In low light, the stems stretch, the leaves space out, and the plant leans and gets floppy.

Leaf edges that blush red mean the plant gets lots of sun. That is healthy.

Water

Water when the soil is dry all the way down. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer.

In spring and summer, that is often every two to three weeks. In winter, it can be once a month or less.

The leaves show you what it needs. Wrinkled, soft, thin leaves mean it is thirsty. Plump leaves that drop off, or turn yellow and mushy, mean too much water. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Use cactus and succulent mix. A heavy terracotta pot with a drainage hole helps it dry out and keeps a top-heavy plant from tipping.

Jade likes a snug pot. Repot every two to three years in spring, one size up. Let the soil dry before you repot, and wait a week before you water. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Dry indoor air is fine. Keep it between 13 and 27°C (55 and 80°F). It can spend summer outside in sun. Bring it in before nights drop below 7°C (45°F), since frost kills it.

Feeding

Feed two or three times in spring and summer with a balanced or cactus fertilizer at half strength. Skip fall and winter.

Pruning

Prune in spring or summer to shape it or thicken the trunk. Cut just above a pair of leaves. Two new branches grow from below the cut. Keep the cuttings to grow new plants.

Flowers

Older jade plants grow clusters of small white or pink star-shaped flowers in late fall or winter. Cool nights, short days, and dry soil in fall help it bloom. Plants kept warm and watered all winter seldom flower.

Propagation

Jade roots from almost any piece.

1. Cut a stem 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) long, or twist off a single healthy leaf.
2. Let it dry for a few days until the cut end calluses.
3. Set it on or in dry cactus mix in bright, indirect light.
4. Mist the soil now and then. Water once roots show, in two to four weeks.

A single leaf grows a tiny new plant at its base. It takes a few months.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Wrinkled, soft leaves	Too dry
Plump leaves drop off	Too much water, or cold
Yellow, mushy leaves or a soft stem	Root rot from too much water
Long, stretched stems	Not enough light
Red leaf edges	Lots of sun. Healthy.
Brown, dry spots	Sunburn after a sudden move into strong sun
White, cottony spots	Mealybugs

Pests

Mealybugs are the main pest. They look like bits of cotton where leaves meet the stem. Dab them with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. Avoid oil sprays on jade, which can damage the leaves.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists jade plant as toxic to cats and dogs. Eating it can cause vomiting and depression. In rare cases it slows the heart rate or causes poor coordination. Keep it out of reach, and call your vet if a pet chews it.

Varieties

• ‘Gollum’ has tube-shaped leaves with a suction-cup tip.
• ‘Hobbit’ has curled leaves. It is a smaller cousin of ‘Gollum’.
• ‘Hummel’s Sunset’ has gold leaves with red edges in strong sun.
• ‘Tricolor’ has green, cream, and pink striped leaves.
• ‘Crosby’s Compact’ stays small, with tight red-edged leaves.

In my house

My jade plant has flowered for me. I do not know how old it is.