More about jade plants

Not only are jade plants easy to propagate, they are one of the easiest house plants to grow.  They absolutely love the warm, dry conditions most of us have in our homes.  They like bright light, but they aren't going to complain as long as they receive at least 4 hours of direct sun or bright light from a south or west facing window each day.  They are rarely struck by diseases or insect infestations.  They are very long-lived, grow well in containers, and seldom need re-potting.

They are, in my opinion, the perfect houseplant!

Jade plants are succulents in a genus called Crassula.  Crassula ovata is the one most commonly seen in florist shops and garden centers.  It has a stout brown trunk with broad, glossy, green succulent leaves.  It produces small star-shaped white flowers. 

Another of my favorite cultivars is the Red Jade Tree,  Crassula ovata 'California Red Tip'.  This plant has smaller trunks and leaves, and the leaves have a purple-red edge to them.  When I move my Red Tip outside onto our west-facing deck for the summer, the sun exposure turns the leaf edges a beautiful burgundy red color and deepens the green of the center of the leaf for a very strking combination.

A cultivar that is becoming more commonly seen is Tricolor jade, Crassula ovata 'Tricolor'.  Tricolor has cream and pink stripes on glossy green, pointed leaves.  This will bloom with pink and white flowers when it is a mature plant, but the leaves are so striking themselves that you will likely forgive it readily if it never blooms for you. 

Regardless of the cultivar, jade plants are another species that thrive on benign neglect.  In addition to at least four hours of bright sun daily, they also do their best with daytime temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees and nighttime temps between 50 and 55 degrees, but again, they won't complain too much if it isn't that cool at night.  They don't like to be exposed to drafts, especially cold air, and while they like to be very close to the light source, their foliage should not be allowed to touch the windowpanes, especially in very hot or very cold weather.  The soil should be kept evenly moist in the spring and summer while the plant is actively growing and in the late fall and winter when the plant is resting, the soil should be allowed to dry between waterings.  Jade plants need very little fertilzing; a balanced houseplant fertilizer every three to four months is plenty. 

Jade plants do their best when they are root bound in very small containers.  Planting a jade plant in too large a container will cause the trunks to become "wimpy".  A wimpy trunk will not be able to support the weight of the large, succulent leaves and it will collapse.  Since there is a lot of top growth in that small pot, jade plants do not do well in lightweight, plastic or resin containers.  Choose the heavist pot you can find for the amount of soil your jade plant needs so that the weight of the pot keeps the plant from tipping over.  Broad based planters are also desirable.  Jade plants are often used for bonsai plantings because they do so well in small containers with minimal soil.

If your jade plant does require repotting, do so only right when new growth begins in the spring and do not give it any fertilizer for at least the first four months after repotting.  This will give your jade plant the best chance to re-establish a strong root structure to hold the top heavy plant in place.  You may need to provide staking for your plant for a time after re-potting, but the staking should be removed as soon as possible to encourage strong root growth.  Try not to move your newly repotted jade plant any more than is absolutely necessary, to keep from disturbing the new root growth.

Most of the problems gardeners have with jade plants comes from treating them too well.  Root rot is the most common affliction of jade plants and is a direct result of over-watering or planting in a soil mix that doesn't drain quickly enough.  Plants that are kept too moist are also more inviting to insects, especially mealybugs and spider mites.

Mealybugs are those little white "cotton balls" that appear on your plants. Spider mites will cause the leaves to look dusty or speckled. Both are easily wiped off with a cloth saturated in 70% rubbing alcohol.  Now, strange as it may seem, the alcohol is the thing to use rather than insecticidal soap.  Insecticidal soap is more likely to damage the leaves of your jade plant than rubbing alcohol. 

I have had my jade trees for years and have never had an insect problem, so I think it is safe to say that these are rare problems.  I move the jade trees outside in the summer and give them a good shower with the garden hose before I bring them back in for the winter.  That alone has kept them insect free.

If you are looking for a beautiful, easy care, long-lived houseplant, jade trees are a very good choice.