Jade Plant
Crassula ovata
Other names: Money tree, lucky plant
The jade plant grows thick, woody stems and plump, oval leaves, and with age it looks like a miniature tree. Plants live for decades and are often handed down through families. Mature plants given cool, dry autumn nights produce clusters of starry flowers in winter.
How to grow jade plant
Light
Give it at least four hours of direct sun a day. A south or west window is ideal. Leaves develop red edges in strong light, which is harmless.
Watering
Water thoroughly when the soil has dried out, about every two weeks in spring and summer. In winter water just enough to stop the leaves shriveling.
Soil and feeding
Use a gritty succulent mix in a heavy pot, because the plant becomes top-heavy. Feed every two months in the growing season.
Pruning and upkeep
Pinch or cut stem tips just above a leaf pair in spring to encourage branching and a thicker trunk. Repot every three to four years.
Propagation
Let a stem cutting or a single leaf dry for a few days until the cut end callouses, then set it on barely moist mix. Roots form in two to four weeks.
Common problems
- Leaves dropping
- Usually overwatering or too little light. Let the soil dry and move the plant to a sunnier window.
- Wrinkled, soft leaves
- The plant is thirsty. Water deeply and the leaves firm up within days.
- White fluffy insects in leaf joints
- Mealybugs. Remove them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.
Questions about jade plant
How do I make my jade plant bushy?
Pinch out the growing tips. Each cut stem produces two new branches, so regular pinching gives a dense, tree-like shape.
How long do jade plants live?
With basic care they commonly live 50 years or more.
Plant details
| Botanical name | Crassula ovata |
|---|---|
| Family | Crassulaceae |
| Native range | South Africa and Mozambique |
| Plant type | Succulents. Evergreen succulent shrub |
| Soil | Gritty succulent mix |
| Flower color | White, pink |
