An extremely popular succulent houseplant that symbolizes fortune and good wealth. However, you don't need to be lucky to learn how to care for your Jade plant. With the right conditions and a little TLC, your Jade plant can live for years.
OK, before we start this blog on how to care for your Jade plant, let's clear the difference of Jade plant to Money Tree. Yes, they are different. The Jade plant, also known as the Crassula Ovata or Money Plant, came from the Crassulaceae family, similar to Echeveria, which is a popular succulent houseplant because of its compact symmetrical leaf rosettes. The Jade plant can grow up to 5 feet tall indoors. Meanwhile, the Money Tree, which most of us are familiar with, came from the Malvaceae or mallows family, similar to the Cacao tree, Durian, Hibiscus, and Okra. However, both houseplants are popular feng shui money trees.
Fun Fact: The Jade plant is also known as the "Friendship Plant" because it's a popular housewarming gift for your family and friends. Receiving a Jade plant means fortune and good wealth.
The Jade plant is a generally undemanding houseplant, which makes it perfect for busy plant parents and first-time owners. To keep this plant happy and healthy, it needs plenty of light and proper watering since this plant originated in Mozambique and South Africa. With proper care, your Jade plant can grow up to 5 feet tall indoors, and it will produce attractive and mildly fragrant white flowers in the winter season.
The Jade plant is also known for its ease of propagation. No wonder it's a popular housewarming gift. If you want to propagate your Jade plant, simply find a healthy branch that's at least three to four inches long, and cut it with a sharp knife. Then let the wound of the Jade plant to dry for one to two weeks. Do not plant the branch wet because it has the potential to develop a disease, and it will not be able to grow.
Once the branch is completely dry, you may plant it in your soil mixture by creating a hole with your finger or a pencil. Do not water the Jade plant for two to three weeks or until its roots start to grow. As we have mentioned, your Jade plant can grow up to 5 feet tall indoors, so it's required to repot it, preferably during spring or summer season. Don't worry because it's pretty simple to repot this succulent:
- Before you repot your Jade plant, check if the soil is dry. If it is, gently remove the pot.
- Remove any dead roots or rotted roots and old soil from the plant's roots. If your Jade plant has any cuts, treat it with a fungicide.
- Place your Jade plant in its new planter and refill it with potting soil. Make sure to spread the roots out during this process.
- Lastly, do not water the Jade plant for a week. After a week or so, water it lightly to decrease the risk of root rot.
Here's everything else you need to know on how to care for your Jade plant.
| Botanical Name | Crassula ovata |
| Common Name | Chinese Rubber, Dollar Plant, Dwarf Rubber, Friendship Tree, Jade Plant, Jade Tree, Japanese Rubber, Lucky Plant, Money Plant, and Pink Joy |
| Plant Size | The Jade plant can grow to up to 5-12 feet tall and 3 feet wide. |
| Types of Jade Plants | Crassula Arborescens Ssp. Undulatifolia (Ripple Leaf), Crassula Ovata 'Gollum' (Monstruosa), Crassula Ovata Blue Bird (Blue Bird), Crassula Ovata Sunset (Sunset), and Crassula Ovata Tricolor (Tricolor) |
| Sunlight | The Jade plant requires direct sunlight or full sun to grow for at least four hours every morning, or you can place your Jade plant in a room with south-facing windows for the whole day. |
| Water | Your Jade plant needs to be watered once a week during the summer. During the winter, your Jade plant needs to be watered once every two to three weeks. It's important to keep the soil moist, but don't overwater it. To avoid overwatering your Jade plant, you need to check if the soil is dry. |
| Humidity | Low humidity is best for Jade plants. It's best to place your Jade plant in a room with 30 to 50% humidity. However, it can also thrive in average home humidity. |
| Temperature | It prefers room temperature, between 65–75°F. Your Jade plant can tolerate cool to 50°F during the winter. If the temperature drops below 50°F, we recommend relocating your plant to a warmer area. |
| Toxicity | Your Jade plant can be toxic to children and pets. |
| Food | Feed your Jade plant with a diluted succulent fertilizer weekly during spring and summer. If you have a mature Jade plant, it's best to use a balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer at one-quarter strength. However, if you have a young Jade plant, we suggest a fertilizer with less nitrogen. |
| Pests and Problems | Your Jade plant is prone to common pests, such as mealybugs. To eliminate this pest, clean your Jade plant with rubbing alcohol several times. |
| Omysa Plant Care Tip | Your Jade plant is sensitive to overwatering, particularly during the winter. We advise that you mist your plant with a spray bottle instead of thoroughly watering it in the cold season. |
Jade Plant Care Tips
Since your Jade plant is a type of succulent, you can expect that it's easy to care and grow houseplant. It's perfect to use as home decor because of its beautiful features: glossy green, oval-shaped leaves, and thick, woody stems. This plant can live for a very long time, considering it doesn't require extra effort to keep it alive.
Here's a complete explanation on how to care for your Jade plant, from sunlight requirement to common problems and its solutions.
Sunlight
First, on our list on how to care for your Jade plant is to put it in a room with south-facing windows where it can get direct sunlight or full sun of at least four hours each morning.
Common Problem: If the leaves of your Jade plant are turning brown, this could mean that it's getting too much sun.
Solution: Your Jade plant indeed prefers direct sunlight or full sun, but exposing your indoor Jade plant for too long can cause scorched brown spots or sunburn. In case that you are dealing with this problem, leave the lightly scorched leaves since it will still be healthy and remove the very burned leaves from your plant.
Water
Next on our list on how to care for your Jade plant is to water it when the soil is dry once a week during spring and summer. In the winter, water your Jade plant once every two to three weeks. It's important to keep the soil moist, but do not overwater it, since this plant is sensitive to diseases caused by too much water.
Common Problem: If the leaves of your Jade plant starts to drop and shrivel, this could mean that your plant needs more water. However, if the leaves are turning brown or it's developing rust-colored spots, this means that you are overwatering your Jade plant.
Solution: One of the most common mistakes of beginners or new plant parents is giving the plant too much water. Your Jade plant should only be watered once a week during spring and summer. In the winter, water your Jade plant once every two to three weeks, or we recommend you to mist your plant with a spray bottle instead of thoroughly watering during this season.
Your Jade plant can be sensitive to salts in tap water, so it's best to use distilled water or a water filtration system. However, if this is not possible, leave the water in an open container overnight. Try to avoid splashing water on the leaves of your Jade plant, as this can expose them to rot, especially in a humid environment.
Humidity & Temperature
Adding to our list on how to care for your Jade plant is to put it in a room with low humidity or 30 to 50% humidity. However, it can also thrive in average home humidity. In case you live in a humid environment, we strongly advise you to keep your Jade plant near sources that dry the air, such as air-conditioners and heaters.
Your Jade plant prefers room temperature, between 65–75°F. It can tolerate cool to 50°F during the winter, but if the temperature drops below 50°F, we recommend you to relocate your plant to a warmer place. Keep your Jade plant away from cold windows and drafty areas during the winter months.
Toxicity
Your Jade plant can be toxic to children and pets. The most common side effects of eating this plant are diarrhea and an upset stomach.
Food
Another on our list on how to care for your Jade plant is to feed it with a diluted succulent fertilizer weekly during spring and summer. If you have a mature Jade plant, it's best to use a balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer at one-quarter strength. However, if you have a young Jade plant, we suggest a fertilizer with less nitrogen.
It's important to follow the prescribed amount of fertilizer and schedule to avoid fertilizer burn or plant burn.
Pests & Other Problems
Your Jade plant is prone to mealybugs. You will notice that these pests are in your plant by looking for cotton patches along the joint between the stem and leaves. They can destroy your Jade plant by feeding off the plant's sap and eventually create an infection known as sooty mold. To eliminate this pest, clean your Jade plant with alcohol-soaked cotton swabs several times.
That's a wrap on how to care for your Jade plant. If you're a beginner or new plant parent, we highly recommend this plant because of its resiliency and long lifespan. You can actually pass your Jade plant from generation to generation. It's also a great gift for your family and friends.
Grow your plant knowledge. Check out our Plant Care blog to learn more about different houseplants and tips on how to keep your plants alive and healthy.
