Resist the urge to water on a schedule — this genus stores water in its thick leaves and stems, and the single most common way it's killed is generic houseplant watering habits carried over from thirstier plants.
Care
Needs strong light to stay compact; in low light it stretches and leans towards the window.
Allow compost to dry out completely between waterings; reduce further in winter.
Free-draining cactus/succulent compost.
Pinch out growing tips to encourage a bushier, more tree-like shape; older woody stems can be lightly shaped at any time.
Two weak cactus feeds over the summer, no more. A jade plant that is fed and watered generously grows fast, soft and top-heavy, and then snaps its own branches under the weight.
Both leaves and stem cuttings root: let the cut surface callus for several days first, then set it on or just into gritty compost and wait before watering. Rushing the water is what turns a cutting into a rotten stump.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- AprilResume light feeding with a dilute succulent feed as growth picks up. how ›
- JuneGive the brightest spot available; a sheltered spot outdoors for summer can thicken growth, if brought back in before autumn cold.
- NovemberCut watering right back for winter — this is the single easiest way to avoid root rot on this genus. how ›
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilResume light feeding with a dilute succulent feed as growth picks up. how ›
- JuneGive the brightest spot available; a sheltered spot outdoors for summer can thicken growth, if brought back in before autumn cold.
- NovemberCut watering right back for winter — this is the single easiest way to avoid root rot on this genus. how ›
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilResume light feeding with a dilute succulent feed as growth picks up. how ›
- JuneGive the brightest spot available; a sheltered spot outdoors for summer can thicken growth, if brought back in before autumn cold.
- NovemberCut watering right back for winter — this is the single easiest way to avoid root rot on this genus. how ›
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilResume light feeding with a dilute succulent feed as growth picks up. how ›
- JuneGive the brightest spot available; a sheltered spot outdoors for summer can thicken growth, if brought back in before autumn cold.
- NovemberCut watering right back for winter — this is the single easiest way to avoid root rot on this genus. how ›
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Soft, mushy stem base or leaves, often with the plant toppling over.
What to do. Almost always overwatering — let the compost dry out completely between waterings, and cut back hard on watering in winter when the plant is barely growing.
How to spot it. Stems elongate with wide gaps between leaves, leaning towards the light.
What to do. Move to a brighter spot immediately — this genus needs strong light to stay compact and won't reverse existing stretch, only prevent more.
How to spot it. Leaves look deflated rather than plump.
What to do. Usually underwatering taken to an extreme — water thoroughly once, then return to the normal dry-out-between-waterings routine.
Popular varieties
Questions
Jade plant: is it hardy?
H2: Tender. It survives down to 1 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Grown almost exclusively as a long-lived pot plant; the thick trunk and branching habit make it a popular choice for a bonsai-style specimen.
Jade plant: when do you prune it?
Pinch out growing tips to encourage a bushier, more tree-like shape; older woody stems can be lightly shaped at any time.
When do you feed it?
Two weak cactus feeds over the summer, no more. A jade plant that is fed and watered generously grows fast, soft and top-heavy, and then snaps its own branches under the weight. Feeding months, UK: May, July.