Crassula Argentea, Crassula Ovata
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Magnoliophyta
Class Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
Sub-Class Rosidae
Order Rosales
Family Crassulaceae
Genus Crassula
Species Ovata, Argentea
Jade plant is a common, slow-growing
succulent grown as a houseplant and sometimes outdoors as a shrub in warm climates. It is a member of the Crassulaceae family, which includes such plants as sempervivum (
hens and chicks), and
kalanchoe. It has large plump
ovate leaves on thick woody stems. These plants live
forever (a friend had a forty year old plant she recieved from her
grandmother). These plants
thrive on
neglect due to their ability to store
water in the leaves, stem and roots. This is an excellent plant for a beginning
gardener.
CONDITIONS PREFERRED:
The
jade plant loves bright indirect light, although it will grow in partial shade. The
soil should be very well drained (I recommend 1" - 2" of horticultural
charcoal in the bottom of the pot, then a commercial
cactus and
succulent soil mixture or 2 parts common houseplant soil mixed with one part sand). The
jade plant does better when rootbound (repot a well established plant every 2 years). The plant prefers to keep its feet dry, so let the soil dry out between waterings. The best method for watering is to fill your sink up with water and soak the plant until air bubbles stop rising from the soil, then let it drain completely. Avoid getting
water on the leaves (if the leaves get wet during watering, do not immediately place it back in
sunlight, the water will act as a
magnifying glass and cause
burns on the leaves). It must be stressed --
let the soil dry completely before watering (this is the "
thrive on
neglect" part).
PROPAGATION:
The jade plant is incredibly easy to
propagate.
Propagation can be done either by
stem cuttings or
leaf cuttings.
To propagate with
leaf cuttings, use a sharp
sterile knife to cut off a whole
leaf (including the leaf stem). Place the leaf in a warm dry place until the cut is calloused over (2-3 days). Dip the stem in rooting
hormone (such as RootOne, available almost anywhere you can buy plants), and place the leaf, stem down, in warm, moist
soil. After two or three weeks, roots will have formed and a new plant should form. Even this much care is not really necessary -- often new plants will form from leaves which have fallen off the plant without any extra work.
Propagating with
stem cuttings is just as easy and allows you to create a new, already large plant. Select a branch out of which you would like to create a new plant. Cut the branch with sharp
sterile pruning shears (if the stem is thick) or
scissors. Cut just below a stem
joint. Let the cut
callous in a warm dry place for 3 - 4 days, then dip the cut into rooting
hormone and place it into moist, well draining
soil.
PRUNING AND GENERAL CARE:
Pruning:
How the
jade plant is pruned is a matter of personal taste. Some people use
jade plants in a
bonsai style, carefully removing new stem and leaf growth to increase the size of the
trunk while keeping the plant short. It is a good idea to ensure that the trunk has enough branches -- a long thin trunk will not be able to hold the
weight of the plant. To ensure a thick trunk and new branches, pinch off any new growth during the
winter months. To trim an extremely tall spindly
jade plant, you can cut the woody stems back to 1/2 their original length (use what you cut off to make more plants). Some who use
jade plants in a
bonsai style will remove all of the leaves in
fall to produce smaller leaves and bushier growth during it's active growing
season.
Tips:
Indoor plants are not commonly subject to problems except those due to improper watering, soil, or light. Here are a few tips for succesfully growing an indoor
jade plant:
- If you are unsure as to whether the soil is completely dry or not, watch the leaves -- water the plant when the leaves feel soft and don't look as plump as they normally do.
- When you water the plant, REALLY water it. Soak it then drain it. Less frequent, smaller waterings will cause the plant to wilt and drop leaves.
- It is best not to use fertilizer -- fertilizing jade plants will most commonly result in uneven growth spurts and plants which are too tall and thin.
- Jade plants are dormant during the summer months and have their active growth period in the winter. This means all major pruning should be done in the fall.
Problems:
Unfortunately, most symptoms of a distressed
jade plant are the same -- it drops leaves. Keep in mind, though, that this plant is more likely to be OVER-watered than under-watered. If leaves are dropping and the
soil is wet, it is best to re-pot the plant than to let it sit in soggy soil, this will cause root rot. If leaves are dropping and the soil is dry, feel the leaves to see if the plant may need
water. Too much
water is really the only condition that a
jade plant will absolutely not
tolerate.
These plants can be grown both indoors and out, however if the plant's
environment is changed suddenly (
temperature,
light levels) it will drop leaves. Don't worry, the plant is just adjusting and should be fine.
Although
houseplants usually have few problems with pests, the
jade plant seems to be well liked by mealybugs. Mealybugs themselves are not easily visible, but you will see white, cottony tufts, most often where the leaves meet the stem. The best way to
eradicate these bugs is to use a q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove the cotton. Check once per week and repeat as necessary.
NOTE: A common
bonsai plant called "baby jade", or "miniature jade" is not a crassula, rather it is a
South African native called Portulacaria Afra.