As you can guess from the title, I got my first jade plant five years ago. And boy did it suffer!
I followed the classic internet advice. And what it gave me was a droopy and lifeless jade plant! Not to mention strange looking leaves with huge gaps between them.
Five years on I have these tips that I wish existed then.
Richard from Sheffield Made Plants talks all about common jade growing mistakes. And he offers tips on fixing them.
Here’s what he suggests every jade parent should do!
#1 Jades Need Water
There are many jade plant care tips growers should know. But the one I’ve had the most struggles with is watering.
The internet has made me believe that succulents need waterless weeks on end. Believe me when I say, this is the surest way to a dry and dead jade!
In fact, jade plants need plenty of water to flourish. But how much is the right question.
The best solution is to water your jades whenever they need more moisture. It’s not a trick! Don’t fix a watering schedule you follow to a T.
The worst thing you can do for your jade is water it while its medium is still wet. Its leaves and stems will fatten to the point of becoming mushy.
Check the soil every time you wish to irrigate this succulent. If it’s dry, go ahead and give your plant a nice soak.
I prefer using moisture meters. That way there’s no guesswork included. And if you don’t have one, I’d suggest you get one. They are inexpensive and can help you excel at plant care.
Probe it into the soil and check out the reading. If it says moist or wet, don’t water your jades. It can’t get simpler than that.
Don’t wait too long to give your jade a drink either, instructs Richard. The best time to water this succulent is when the meter shows one. Of course, you don’t have to be that nitpicky. Anything in the dry zone works fine.
But know that if you wait too long, the jade’s foliage will start to look wrinkled.
The general guide is to water your plants every 2 weeks in summer and every 3-4 weeks in winter. However, this depends on your climate.
If you live in drier and hotter regions, you’ll have to irrigate your jade plants more often.
#2 All Jades Are Happy In Light
Jades love light. The more you’ve got to give, the more they’ll love you, comments Richard.
The best thing you can do for your jades is keep them on bright windowsills. East and west-facing windows work wonders. Or you can keep them on south-facing ones if you have those.
The more light you give a jade, the more purple it’ll become, maintains Richard. That’s because these plants have a pigment – anthocyanin. It accumulates in leaf margins when you expose jades to plenty of sunlight.
And yet, if the entire leaf is reddish and violet, your jade might be getting too much light. Luckily, all you have to do is reduce sun exposure. Move your jade a few feet away from the windows.
You’ll know how happy your jade is with its sun exposure by checking the gap between the foliage. Long gaps between leaves are one of the signs of etiolated succulents.
In low light levels, jades elongate to search for light. Not good! And if the gaps are short, all is well in the land of jades.
The good news is that you can use artificial lights for plants. They will supplement the lack of natural light to a T.
P.S. Avoid placing grow lights too close to your plants. They can burn their gentle foliage this way.
#3 Jades Love Having Their Limbs Severed
I avoided pruning jades for years. Why? Who knows? I always thought that they didn’t need it. And then I noticed that they had become lanky!
Jades love having their limbs severed. Luckily for them, two brand new ones grow back in its place, reminds Richard.
So that means I could’ve had a bushy jade all these years?!
The more you cut, the more branches you get, continues Richard.
But how do you know which branches to prune? Remove any branches that are growing away from the circumference of the pot. The weight of their leaves will make them lean towards the floor.
And where do we make the cuts? As I said, jade plants always produce new branches. You can use this to your advantage. Prune your jade where you want more limbs. Shape it to your liking!
Jade plants grow in the direction of leaves under which you make cuts.
Yet, you don’t have to think too hard about this. Just cut back any leggy stems and they should sort themselves out, proposes Richard.
And pruning leads us to the last jade plant tip – propagation.
#4 Propagate Jade Stems Or Leaves
Did you know that you get free plants after pruning your jades?
Plant the stems (or leaves) in soil and you’ll get new plants in no time. Of course, leaf propagation takes much longer.
It may take years and years before you get something that resembles anything like a plant, comments Richard.
The success rate of leaf propagation is also low. But you can chuck the entire stem into the soil and get jade plants in no time.
Remove the bottom foliage and place it in the growing medium. Water it afterwards and place it in a bright spot.
Here is more info about these tips:
#5 Repot Every 2-3 Years
Repotting is a task that many plant owners tend to put off, but trust me, it’s an absolute game-changer for your jade plant’s health.
Jade plants may not grow at breakneck speed, but they do grow steadily, and after 2-3 years, they’ll have outgrown their pot and need more room to stretch their roots.
Neglecting this can result in a plant that’s “root-bound,” meaning the roots are packed in tightly and can’t expand properly. When this happens, your jade plant may start to show signs of stress, like stunted growth or wilting leaves.
I agree with Richard, repotting your jade plant is more than just switching out the pot; it’s like giving it a fresh lease on life.
When repotting, you’ll notice that the roots may have become tangled or even started to rot if the plant’s been sitting in soggy soil for too long.
This is why it’s crucial to check the roots and refresh the soil every few years. Be sure to choose a pot that’s just slightly bigger than the current one – jades don’t like to “swim” in too much space, so don’t go overboard with size.
#6 Pests Love Jade Plants, Too
It’s easy to assume that pests wouldn’t be interested in a tough, succulent plant like jade, but I’ve learned that even the hardiest plants have their weaknesses.
While jade plants are generally low-maintenance, they can still fall victim to pests like aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites.
When I first encountered these little invaders, I was caught off guard! But the truth is, pests love jade plants because they offer a buffet of soft, juicy leaves perfect for nibbling.
Mealybugs are especially sneaky, hiding in the crevices between leaves and stems, making them hard to spot at first.
If you notice a sticky residue on the leaves or find small cotton-like clusters, your plant may have an infestation. Spider mites, on the other hand, like to spin fine webs under the leaves, which can lead to speckled, yellowing leaves.
As soon as you see these signs, it’s time to spring into action! Pros suggest regularly checking your jade plant for signs of trouble and give it a good rinse with soapy water or neem oil if you spot any unwanted guests.
#7 Jade Plants Aren’t Heavy Feeders
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that jade plants aren’t heavy feeders, and giving them too much fertilizer can be a recipe for disaster.
As Richard said, like many succulents, jade plants prefer to take it easy when it comes to nutrients. Overfeeding them is like trying to force a piece of cake down someone’s throat – eventually, it’ll do more harm than good.
Excess fertilizer can lead to leggy growth, weak stems, and in some cases, even burning the roots.
Using a diluted, balanced fertilizer once a month during the growing season (spring and summer) is enough to keep the plant in tip-top shape. During the fall and winter months, jade plants go into a dormant state, so they don’t need feeding at all.
#8 Leaf Drop Happens Way Too Often
Leaf drop in jade plants can be a real head-scratcher, especially when you’ve been doing everything right.
One minute your plant is thriving, and the next, you’re seeing leaves falling off left and right.
The truth is, leaf drop is a common occurrence in jade plants, and it often happens for a few different reasons.
The most common culprits are stress from overwatering, underwatering, or temperature fluctuations. If you’re suddenly noticing leaves dropping off, take a moment to assess your plant’s environment and care routine.
#9 All Jades Need Rest During Winter!
Winter is a time of rest and relaxation, not just for us but for our jade plants too. Jade plants need a little downtime to recharge during the colder months.
I’ve learned the hard way that keeping my jade plant on a constant watering and feeding schedule during winter is a big mistake.
During this dormant period, jade plants aren’t actively growing, so they require less water, less fertilizer, and definitely less fuss from us.
Jade plants go into a rest mode where they barely need any moisture. Overwatering during this time can cause the roots to rot and leaves to yellow, so water the plant only when the soil feels completely dry.
Additionally, stop fertilizing until spring comes around and the plant starts to show signs of new growth.
Winter is also a great time to move your jade to a cooler location, ideally between 50-60°F. This mimics its natural winter dormancy period and encourages healthy growth when the growing season resumes in the spring.
Giving your jade plant a well-deserved break is one of the best things you can do to ensure it thrives year after year. A little rest goes a long way, after all!