My current mini jade plant army (if Planta lets the photos stay posted in order, they’re a crassula ovata sunset, variegated crassula ovata, two classic crassula ovatas (one that’s a cutting from the other, and the second being the lanky fellow turning a lovely 30 years old this year), and finally, my abuela’s 60+ year old jade plant that the 30 year old is a cutting of). I hope to turn my crassula ovata sunset into a little green giant like hers someday.
(This is possibly my excuse to try to inspire others to get their hands on a jade plant 👀 (crassula ovata). They are incredibly hardy, thrive on neglect, and can last forever if you occasionally water them and keep them in bright sunlight. If anyone’s having any trouble with theirs, I am happy to offer any tips, as these lil guys are what got me into houseplant keeping and gardening in the first place. (And if you just wanna make a lovely thread of everyone attaching photos of their jades, that’d be a lot of fun too)
1 LikeIronically, I just bought a pretty little jade plant this week! I would love to get some advice from an OBVIOUS jade lover. 😊 I am great with houseplants but not so great with the succulents. 🥺 Help!!!
I also received some pieces from the woman that helped me at Home Depot. 🙌🏼 Our HD doesn’t mind if u take leaves that have fallen off. This woman actually went through each jade plant to look for leaves for me. 💚
Oh wow. My HD would never do that! 😂 the ones around where I live are sadly infamous for not taking the best care of their plants, and being prone to pest infestations. That’s so nice of that employee!
1 LikeThe service desk employees love me. Haha. I’m there often looking at plants. I have had good luck with our local HD. Walmart is another story. Their ZZ plants are always drowning. 😒
1 Like Ok so a few tips 1. They like full sun. Put it in the brightest windowsill you’ve got. If the tips turn that darker color some of them already have, that means they’re getting the right amount of sun. Some varieties turn red or pink at the tips, others have more of a gradient on the leaves like yours. 2. Bottom water it and especially if it’s new, always check the soil for pests or root rot. They do not need to be watered often. I water mine about every 10 days during the summer, and about once or twice a month in the winter. Also please take them out of the windowsills during the winter as they’re draft sensitive. If you’ve never bottom watered a plant, it’s very easy and there’s tutorials on this app for it! :)
1 Like That’s awesome. I have a local nursery that I love that was kind enough to repot my 30 year old jade for me for EIGHT BUCKS. The guy who worked there even took some cutting for me to prop. Both the 30 year old and the cuttings have started forming new leaves and roots so I’m very happy. As for the HD and Lowe’s ones, I have to try not to take them home to save them 😂 that’s great that you’ve got such great service at yours!
1 LikeThank you soooo much Adrian!! I’m a habit bottom waterer. I believe that is why my plants do so well.
1 Like Oh that’s great! Ok hmm what else should I tell you… 🤔 3. Rotate the pot a bit when you put the pot back after watering it. It helps the plant grow evenly on all sides. 4. If the plant is getting a little leggy or “stretching”, or leaning in one direction, it’s telling you it needs to be in a spot with more light. Jades are really great with telling you if they like their spot or not 😂 5. If you’re new to succulents and soil brands for them, I love the Espoma Organic Cactus and Succulent mix. It’s about 9 dollars where I live. I like to add extra perlite (about $7 for that) to my mix, especially for other succulents like echeveria. DO NOT USE MIRACLE GROW SOIL, EVEN THEIR CACTUS MIX. I swear I added an entire bag of perlite just in case and I have to completely repot them again with my good soil cause the soil is staying WAY too wet for succulents. I’m talking stays wet the whole week and even a week and a half. Avoid at all costs. 5. For your props, if you got any cuttings, make a hole in some fresh soil where you plan to stick it and put a little water in the hole, THEN add the stem. I add a little more water and gently take them out to check for roots about once a week, making sure the soil is dry. As for leaf prop I’m sad to say they’ve been a bit more difficult to propagate than stem cuttings, but place them around any stem cuttings you have. You really don’t need to mist them like other props. Just put them in a bright windowsill like your jade and typically the jade does its job by itself in a few weeks. If they start forming “air roots” (please look those up if you’re new to them) start planting the props into the soil and giving them a little water.
2 Likes 6. Jades like being root bound, but they get very root bound and start to outgrow their pot width-wise from new growth, it’s time to repot. Only repot one size bigger (about 2 inches larger in diameter) when repotting to reduce the risk of overwatering and root rot from too much water sitting there. 7. Mine are currently in plastic, but Terra cotta is not only weirdly cheaper than plastic in my area, but great for succulents. Either works fine but just a tip if you ever need a new pot for it. I personally prefer the plastic at the moment just because mine have more drainage holes than a typical Terra cotta pot. 7. If you find there is a pest problem, or root rot, but it’s so root bound that you can’t remove it from the soil, soak it in room temp water for a few hours. If you can manage to reduce it to the roots, cut off at much rotted root as you can and soak it in a mix of hydrogen peroxide and water for at least 30 min. If you can’t remove the soil still, take the plant soil included and soak it up to its soil in the hydrogen peroxide and water mix for the same amount of time. This cleans the roots, improves oxygen absorption, and kills pests and their larvae/eggs. Then run the soil/roots under water again, THEN repot.
3 LikesYou are officially my new BFF. 💚 Thank you!!! I can’t wait to get home. Mine is very tight in the pot. I will check it tonight. AND the day I bought the jade plant is the day I bought Miracle grow cactus and succulent mix at HD! Ugh. I hope I can find the darn receipt. Lol.
1 Like Aww, no problem ☺️ lemme know how she turns out. And phew! 😮💨 glad I mentioned not to use the miracle grow. Yeah, sadly the box stores have a deal with miracle grow, so they almost exclusively sell their brand. You typically have to go to a nursery or individually owned chain like Ace Hardware to find it in-store. I got mine from my Ace Hardware. I’ve been very happy with Espoma, and Foxfarm has been pretty highly recommended to me by the folks that work at my local nurseries for all-purpose soil for any non-succulent plants you may have. Best of luck with your jade (my final tip if to give yours a name if you haven’t yet. My abuela has one thats 60+ years old. They can become really cool family heirlooms if they like the spot they’re in. (They also make great gifts for friends if you get the hang of propagating them from cuttings.)
1 LikeMuch appreciated!
0 LikesEspoma soil ordered. 👍🏼
1 Like