Houseplant growing guide
Jade plant
Crassula ovata · Crassulaceae
Sun
4+ hrs direct
Season
Year-round indoors
Maturity
Decades
Water
Low
Soil pH
6.0 to 7.0
Spacing
Container; to 5 ft
Planting jade plant
Jade plant goes into a pot, not the ground, anywhere outside frost-free zones 10 to 12. Repot in spring into a container one size up with drainage holes, filled with a gritty cactus and succulent mix; plain potting soil holds too much water around the thick roots. Choose a heavy clay pot, because a mature jade gets top-heavy and lightweight plastic tips over. Starting new plants is the easy part: a single leaf or stem cutting laid on dry mix roots within a few weeks, which is why so many jades begin life as hand-me-downs.
Planting details
- Repot every 2 to 3 years in spring, one pot size up
- Cactus or succulent mix with added grit; drainage holes required
- Heavy clay pots keep top-heavy plants from tipping
- Leaf and stem cuttings root after a few days of callusing on the surface
- Outdoors year-round only in zones 10 to 12
Growing requirements
Jade wants more light than most houseplants: four or more hours of direct sun, which in practice means a south or west window. Good light keeps the plant compact and edges the leaves red; dim rooms stretch it into a droopy, deep-green version of itself. Water thoroughly, then let the mix dry before watering again. It shrugs off dry spells, but months of bone-dry soil cost it leaves, so low maintenance does not mean no water. Daytime 65 to 75 F suits it, and it enjoys cooler nights around 50 to 55 F, which makes a bright cool sunroom ideal.
Harvesting and care
Jade takes pruning well: pinch or cut a stem back to a leaf pair and the plant branches below the cut, slowly building the trunked, bonsai-like form people grow it for. Root the trimmed pieces for more plants. Wipe the leaves when dust dulls them. The pest to watch is mealybug, which shows up as white cottony puffs at the leaf joints; dab each one with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. Skip insecticidal soap, which can scar jade foliage.
Common mistakes
- Overwatering, the fast route to root rot and a collapsing plant
- Too little light, which produces drooping stems and plain green leaves
- Letting it go bone dry for months; even succulents drop leaves under real drought
- Reaching for insecticidal soap on mealybugs, which can scar the leaves; use alcohol on a swab
- Leaves pressed against a cold winter windowpane, which damages the foliage
Companion plants
Jade belongs on the sunny sill with other dry-footed plants that share its watering rhythm: echeveria, haworthia, aloe, and snake plant all take the same bright light and long dry-downs. Keep it away from ferns and other moisture lovers that want the opposite schedule. One caution for pet owners: jade is listed as toxic to cats and dogs, so give it a high shelf or a pet-free room.
Varieties worth growing
- Hummel's Sunset: green leaves flushed yellow and edged red in strong light
- Gollum: tubular finger-like leaves with suction-cup tips
- Tricolor: cream and pink variegated leaves on a slower plant
- Minima: small leaves on a compact plant, good for shallow bonsai pots
Frequently asked questions
How often should I water a jade plant?
Not on a schedule. Water thoroughly when the mix has dried out, roughly weekly in summer and every few weeks in winter. Wrinkled leaves mean it is thirsty; soft mushy leaves mean it has had too much.
Why is my jade plant dropping leaves?
Usually water trouble at one extreme or the other, or cold. Mushy stems point to overwatering and rot; shriveled dry leaves point to thirst.
Is jade plant toxic to pets?
Yes. Crassula ovata is listed as toxic to cats and dogs, causing vomiting and lethargy if chewed, so keep it out of reach.
Is a jade plant the same as a money plant?
Jade is sold as money plant or lucky plant in some shops, which adds to the confusion. In a houseplant store the name money plant usually means golden pothos or the Chinese money plant.
