Jade plants (Crassula ovata) are beautiful succulent houseplants. It is a low-maintenance, hard-to-kill houseplant. So easy to grow, that anyone can successfully propagate Jade plants. Jade plants are great for beginners.
In the winter, your Jade plant may flower for you if it’s a mature plant (more than 10 years old). Jade Plants are known to be lucky houseplants that will bring good luck and prosperity to the home or office. Here are tips on how to care for your Jade plant at home.
Suburbs 101 participates in affiliate programs including the Amazon Associates Program and may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
9 Tips on How to Take Care of Your Jade Plant
1. Your Jade Plant is Happiest in Medium Light
Jade Plant has medium light requirements. Your Jade Plant is happy with a half day of filtered light. It will do well in an east-facing window or a west-facing window.
2. Low Water is Best for Your Jade Plant
Your Jade plant is a succulent plant and has low water requirements. Let the soil dry out 2 inches deep before you water your Jade plant. Make sure the soil is not soggy otherwise, your Jade plant will suffer from root rot.
If your Jade plant’s leaves are dropping, that is a sign that your Jade plant is not getting enough water. Do know that low water does not mean no water, you can still kill Jade Plants. The photo below is a Jade plant that I neglected and did not get sufficient water.
3. Get the Soil Right for Your Jade Plant
Your Jade Plant needs a well-draining, organic all-purpose potting mix.
4. Fertilize Your Jade Plant
Fertilize your Jade plant once every 2 weeks at half strength during the growing season. Don’t fertilize your Jade plant in the winter.
5. Don’t forget to Repot Your Jade Plant
Repot your Jade plant once a year in the Spring. Repot your Jade plant in a container with a diameter 2 inches larger than the current pot. If you have a mature Jade plant, repot once every 2-3 years.
6. Drainage is Essential for Your Jade Plant
Good drainage is important, you don’t want your Jade plant to sit in soggy soil. Make sure there are drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
After watering your Jade plant and you see water draining out of the pot’s drainage holes, make sure you empty out the accumulated water in the saucer. Don’t let your Jade plant’s pot sit in this puddle of water. It will cause root rot!
7. Get the Temperature Right for Your Jade Plant
Your Jade plant needs to have a daytime temperature of 70F to 80 Fahrenheit (21-26C). Nighttime temperature should be at 60-70 Fahrenheit (15-21 C). If you want your Jade plant to flower in the winter, it needs a temperature of 55 to 65F (13-18 C) all day in winter. Know that your Jade plant will only flower if it’s a mature Jade plant, more than 10 years old.
8. Your Jade Plant will Flower if It’s a Mature Plant
Your Jade plant will flower only if it’s a mature Jade plant (10 or more years old). It will flower in the winter. You will see pink or white flowers at the tips of the branches of your Jade plant.
9. Humidity is Vital for Your Jade Plant
Your Jade Plant is a succulent houseplant that can tolerate dry indoor air and does not need additional moisture on top of its regular watering.
How to Choose the Right Jade Plant?
When buying Jade plants, choose the Jade plants with plump and glossy leaves. Make sure the Jade plant is full of leaves. Don’t buy Jade plants where the leaves are wilted, dry, and have fallen off. Inspect to make sure there is no fluffy white growth in between the leaves and stems of your Jade plant.
3 Common Jade Plant Problems
The common problems for Jade Plant are root rot, mealybugs, and leaf drop.
Why is there Fluffy White Growth In Between the Leaves and Stems of Your Jade Plant?
Problem: There are fluffy white growths in between the leaves and stems of your Jade plant.
Cause: Mealybugs are causing the fluffy white growth on your Jade plant. It is a common houseplant disease.
Solution: To get rid of mealybugs on your Jade plant, wash your plant with water. You can also use soapy water. Spraying rubbing alcohol on affected areas can also get rid of mealybugs. Horticultural oil and insecticidal soap are also effective in getting rid of mealybugs.
Check out our article on how to make your own homemade pesticides using baby shampoo: How to Make Horticultural Oil and How to Make Insecticidal Soap
Why does your Jade plant look Wilted even if the Soil is Wet?
Problem: Your Jade plant looks wilted even if the soil is wet. Check for root rot by pulling the plant out and examining the roots. If the roots of your Jade plant look mushy (healthy roots are firm) and the roots are gray to black in color, these are telltale signs of root rot.
Cause: Root rot is caused by fungus and is a serious problem for your Jade plant. Root rot is a result of wet soil due to overwatering or poor drainage.
Solution: When your Jade plant is afflicted with root rot the chance of survival is slim. Your best course of action is to throw your Jade plant out and start over with a new plant. This time don’t overwater your Jade plant and make sure there is good drainage in the pot.
Why are the Leaves of your Jade plant Falling Off?
Problem: The leaves of your Jade plant are falling off, that is a sign that something is wrong. It’s normal if one or two old leaves fall off your Jade plant but if a lot of leaves fall off all at once that is a sure sign that something is wrong.
Cause: The leaves of your Jade plant are falling because it’s not receiving enough water.
Solution: Increase your watering and your Jade plant should bounce back. Just be careful though and don’t go overboard with watering. Check to make sure the soil is not soggy. Your Jade plant is prone to root rot if you overwater.
Jade Plant Houseplant Facts
| Name | Jade Plant |
| Scientific Name | Crassula ovata |
| Light | Medium Light |
| Daytime Temperature | 70 to 80 F (21-26C) |
| Night Time Temperature | 60 to 70 F (15-21C) |
| Water | Low Water |
| Humidity | Low Humidity |
| Potting | Well-draining, organic, all-purpose potting mix |
| Fertilizer | Fertilize once every 2 weeks at half strength. No fertilizer in the winter. |
Jade Plant: Frequently Asked Questions
What are Other Common Names of Jade Plant?
Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) is also called Lucky Plant, Money Tree, Friendship Tree, and Friendship Plant.
How Can You Tell When It’s Time to Water Your Jade Plant?
Let the soil of your Jade plant dry out 2 inches deep. The best way to tell when it is time to water your Jade plant is to feel the soil. Stick your finger in the soil 2 inches deep. If it feels dry, it’s time to water your Jade plant.
Make sure the soil is not soggy otherwise your Jade plant will suffer from root rot. Remember, your Jade plant is a succulent so it’s best to underwater than overwater! Alternatively, if your Jade plant’s leaves are dropping, that is a sign that your Jade plant is not getting enough water.
Can You Use Cold Water When Watering Your Jade Plant?
Jade Plant can be watered with tap water but be mindful of the water temperature that you are using to water your Jade plant. Don’t use straight cold water from the tap to water your Jade plant. Jade plant prefers cool water that is not hot and not cold. When you turn on the cold water from the faucet add a little bit of warm water. You can also get to this ideal temperature by filling a watering can or pitcher with water and leaving it out overnight until the water is at room temperature.
What Fertilizer Should You Use for Your Jade Plant?
Use a balanced organic fertilizer on your Jade plant.
How Big Does Your Jade Plant Get When Kept as a Houseplant?
As a houseplant, your Jade plants typically stay less than 2 feet tall.
How Do You Propagate Your Jade Plant?
Your Jade plant is easy to propagate. You can propagate your Jade plant by stem tip cutting. Below are steps on how to propagate your Jade plant by stem tip cutting:
1. Take a Stem Tip Cutting of Jade plant
Pick a stem with a node. Cut a 3-inch-long stem.
2. Place the Jade plant stem in a Jar of Water
Place the Jade plant stem into a jar of water and wait for it to grow roots. To help it focus its energy on growing roots, make sure your stem has a maximum of 2 leaves. Cut off extra leaves as needed.
Another way to stimulate root growth is to dip your stem cutting in root hormone and plant it in moist sand. I personally prefer the jar method so you can easily see the roots come out. Know that not all stem cuttings of the Jade plant will grow roots, so to be safe, cut a few stem cuttings so you will at least get one with roots.
3. Plant Stem Cutting in a New Pot
Once the roots grow, plant these stem cuttings into a new pot. Water the new plant immediately after planting. Then water every 2-3 days until the roots are established.
4. Place the New Jade plant in a Spot with Bright Indirect Sun
Place your new Jade plant in a spot with bright indirect sunlight. Don’t put it in direct sunlight.
You May Also Be Interested in These Small Houseplants:
8 Tips on How to Care for Your Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus Infographic)
9 Tips on How to Care for Your African Violet (Infographic)
7 Tips on How to Care for Your Haworthia Plant (Infographic)
Want More Suburbs 101?
Be sure to Follow Us on Instagram, Like Us on Facebook, Subscribe to our YouTube Channel, and subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter.