PhiloFox
what is this? ogre ear jade or something?
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what is this? ogre ear jade or something? | Plant Identification | Planta-Community
32 Kommentare
AdrianYes, if not a gollum jade. They’re close cousins. Do you need any tips for jades? 😊
0 Likes- PhiloFox
all the tips! it's my only jade type at all! wait. I also have this purple thing I'm not sure what it is....
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- Adrian
That could be a jade…could I see the base of this plant? Or a close-up of one of the leaves? There are succulents that are similar from far away. Is it in your enclosure for your gecko?
1 Like - PhiloFox
yes it is lol I got it pretty stretched out, and it's finally giving me new leaves so I think it's happy?? just slow.
0 Likes
- Adrian
If the enclosure needs humidity or any misting, you might wanna separate it and take it outside, but if everything stays dry and it has a nice grow light or heat lamp for your gecko, it should be alright. They can turn a purple to red color when they get lots of sun. It definitely looks like a jade in terms of leaf shape and size. If they have “pores” on the leaves, that confirms it. If not, it’s possible it’s another type of succulent that is under the crassula family, but not crassula ovata (jade)
1 Like - PhiloFox
I think I have a general problem of overwatering some things. lol I'm not good with the more arid or the super moist plants. everything is about 50% humidity in my apartment..
0 Likes
- PhiloFox
oh jeez. lol 😂 that's overwhelming. I need plants that do well in an arid environment [still building my second bioactive and tbh might redo the whole substrate x.z
0 Likes- Adrian
Well, if the gecko needs a dry, arid environment, and not humidity, jades will survive. They don’t like humidity, is all. At all. They’re succulents from Africa that come from very dry regions. My biggest concern would be making sure it’s safe for your gecko, as I know they’re toxic if ingested by cats and dogs.
0 Likes
- Adrian
As for some basic tips for either jade (or just the ogre ears, if the second turns out being another succulent) 1. Check the roots and soil. I repot mine any time I get a new one, especially if it’s from a box store and not a nursery. Please do not use miracle grow soil for these, even their succulent soil. Their perlite is fine, but it stays moist for way too long for a jade. I use Espoma’s Cactus and Succulent soil and it’s never failed me. 2. They like being snug in their pots and getting rootbound, so make sure the pot is only 1-2 in larger in diameter than the previous pot, and to match the size of the root ball, not the size of the plant itself. 3. They really enjoy being bottom watered. If you’re new to that, look up “how to bottom water a plant” on YouTube. Very easy, helps develop a stronger root system, and helps prevent overwatering and attracting pests to wet top soil. 4. They do best in a south window, or a window that gets 6-7+ hours of sunlight. Mine are all in a south windowsill. They will survive in a west-east facing window, but take more time to grow, so you might wanna get a grow light if you don’t have a bright enough window.
1 Like - Adrian
5. They need their soil to be bone dry before watering. I don’t water any of mine any earlier than 10-15 days in the hottest months. 6. I rotate mine every time I place it back after watering it to give it even sun exposure on all the sides so it doesn’t grow unevenly on one side. 7. Don’t mist it or place it anywhere with humidity, humidifiers, or anywhere cold like a drafty window or air vent. Don’t get the leaves wet when watering, as wet succulent leaves in direct or bright light can burn the leaves. They’re draft sensitive and they’re succulents. They don’t know what to do with excess moisture. 8. They’re honestly very low-maintenance, and one of my favorites. I have one that’s 30 years old that’s a cutting from my grandmother’s 60+ year old jade, so with the right care they live a very, very long time. I’ve never had any pest problems with them, but I also tend to repot them and inspect them for pests before buying, and avoid box stores when getting any. Most pests tend to avoid them, but I have heard or mealybugs trying to eat them. Essentially, treat it like a succulent. Keep it dry, let it dry out between waterings, and give it lots of light. They’re also thought be plants that bring good luck and fortune into a house, so here’s one of mine to brings yours some good luck 😉
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- PhiloFox
WOW thank you for everything! very detailed lol just like my adhd brain needs. that's amazing. your jade is beautiful. I remember my mom [who I don't talk to anymore] had a giant jade tree like 3 ft tall. wish I got a cutting of them
1 Like - Adrian
Oh! Last thing! Mine are all in plastic pots, cause I find it’s easier to repot them that way when you can physically squeeze the sides to loosen it out of the pot, but terra cotta ones are great for them, especially if you’re worried about overwatering it. The key is making sure there’s at least one large drainage hole. I tend to avoid terra cotta ones cause they can have a small hole, and the plastic ones I get come with a detachable cover for the drainage holes after watering and multiple holes that help me ensure I’ve drained all the excess water out after watering. I’ve seen quite a few of those cute owl planters, but the ones I’ve seen don’t have drainage holes, so I wanted to add that if it doesn’t have one. If it doesn’t, you’ll wanna get a little pot with drainage holes for it. If you want a plastic one, mine are called Bloem Saturn Planter Pots.
0 Likes - PhiloFox
how do 8 find tiny pots that small? don't snake plants like them wider rather than deep too? lol 😂
0 Likes - Adrian
Thank you ☺️ I’m hoping to turn her into my grandmother’s jade someday. She passed away when I was young, so I’ve been taking care of the 30 year old one she gave my mom when she bought her first home, and she was absolutely magical with plants, so she inspired me to get into houseplants and gardening. Here’s her 60+ one. Totally get the ADHD brain too. I’m autistic and ADHD, so I like to make sure I give detailed enough tips.
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- Adrian
That might be the case with snake plants. They’re actually lower light lovers. As for tiny pots…Amazon. Use a tape measure or ruler to measure how big the root ball is, or how big it is with soil covering the roots, and try to order some newer ones. If you personally don’t like Amazon, though, you could try asking for some from a local nursery 🤔 I’ve gotten a little collection of tiny pots from all my nursery plants over the years 😂
1 Like - 1 weitere Antwort in der App
- Adrian
Ok so upon some quick research, some plants that should be safe for your gecko include: haworthia, echeveria, aloe plants, and some sites are saying jades are safe, but I personally wouldn’t risk it if your gecko tries eating the plants. As a tip, use the “non-toxic” filter in the plant ID search, and do some quick double checking online before introducing anything to the gecko. I think a fair amount of succulents like echeveria, pachyveria, pachyphytum, etc. should be good for them, but I would avoid cacti or anything sharp and prickly. I believe air plants are also safe for geckos. You just might wanna double check if you’re using any type of soil or substrate for the plants that it’s a safe brand for your gecko, if not online, as a local pet store or exotic pet store 😉 Espoma’s stuff is organic, and I believe it’s fertilizer free as consequence, but it’s always good to double check with the pet experts
1 Like- PhiloFox
omgosh thank you! lol I know some are toxic but tbh neither rly pay attention to the plants other than to walk on them and squish them lol
1 Like - PhiloFox
I was wondering what I could all do substrate-wise to make the bioactive better.... I'll have to go back to basics and back to the groups I started in..
1 Like - PhiloFox
it's a 70/30 mixture of top soil and quikcrete play sand, idk what succulents need substrate wise.... drainage. so. I should add a drainage layer? ugh we're do people get leca?
1 Like - PhiloFox
fourth comment in a row I'm sorry I wish messages was a thing. so many after thoughts. BTW this jade gollum ogre ear guy us not potted yet! it's just sitting in the owl in some water to get rooted
1 Like - Adrian
I see them at nurseries, but I’ve never seen succulents with leca. They like chunky soil with perlite and bark chips/orchid bark, which I’m not sure if it’s safe for a gecko, which is why I advise you double check what a pet store would recommend
1 Like - 1 weitere Antwort in der App
- PhiloFox
bro I work at a pet store and let me tell you- no one that works there knows Jack about bioactive setups. I'm the smartest in that area 🤣 so fb groups it is!
1 Like- Adrian
😂 I’m planning on getting a job at my local pet store to literally save their terrarium plants. They’re keeping them in a KIDDIE POOL rn, so they don’t have to individually water them. Mortified. I had to save one of their ficuses from certain death. Hoping I can get the job by saying I’ll take care of their plants for them so they, ya know, don’t sell some pest-infected or sick plant to a reptile/amphibian owner
1 Like - PhiloFox
hey we all bring something to the table maybe that's exactly what they need rn, doesn't hurt to try!
1 Like - Adrian
I hope so🤞I’m serious. Kiddie pool. The plants were all SOAKED. It’s a miracle the ficus I bought from them was healthy. I felt I needed to save her (and she was $7 so…it was a $7 ficus I couldn’t say no 😂) There were spider webs on almost all of the plants in the pool, it was right next to the front doors where any bugs could come in (especially ones attracted to moist soil or sitting water. See: fungus gnats and mosquitos 😬). The horrors. Repotted her immediately, sprayed her with insecticidal soap and neem oil, and she’s been fine ever since. Weirdest thing is that she’s literally toxic to cats and dogs, and I would imagine isn’t the safest for lots of other pets. Her sap is also literally liquid latex, so unsafe for anyone with latex allergies. I’d like to start by giving warning labels for which plants are safe for what pet, which are toxic, etc.
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- PhiloFox
how do you feel about philodendron for geckos? I think spider plants are safe all around.. succulents of some kinds, not cacti. pothos?
1 Like - Adrian
Not sure about pothos, as I know they have calcium oxalate crystals in their sap. Same with philodendron. Those don’t do so well on arid environments anyways, so I would probably pass on putting them in a dry enclosure
1 Like - 1 weitere Antwort in der App
- PhiloFox
are you good with succulents? say, do you know which ones would be good ground cover and which would be good fast growing and tall? lol
1 Like- Adrian
My specialty is jades, but I know a fair amount about other succulents because of them (they are succulents). As for ground cover, stonecrop might be nice. Just make sure it’s non-toxic. They’re common ground covering. The trickiest part here is the substrate. The fastest-growing I’ve had is sedum morganianum, but their leaves are very easy to snap off, and even if it’s non-toxic, I’d worry about your gecko trying to eat it…or choke on it 😬 you could make a post on the pets and plants group asking for suggestions!💡
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