Jade Plants Mary Tyler

People in Europe and America have been keeping jade plants, a native of south Africa, for over a hundred years. Crassula Argentea, more commonly known as Jade Plant or Money Plant, is a household favorite for one very good reason. Jade plants are very easy to grow.

Whether it's a huge mangrove stand of woody looking stems and succulent leaves or a single-stemmed, faux bonsai, jade is a great addition to the beginner's window sill. Old pros can enjoy it secretly, "Oh, that old thing? It just keeps getting bigger and bigger." The sneaky, old gardener won't tell you that a jade plant will grow to fit its pot: little pot, little jade; big pot, big jade. Here are the keys to having a nice, big, healthy jade plant.

What to Do

Light

Jade plants like full sun. A sunny window sill is a good place for a jade plant. Indirect sun, like on a table near the window in a bright room, is fine too.

Temperature

Jade plant grow best between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Water

This is good news for the negligent gardener. Jade plants like good long drinks, separated by a gradual drying out. So if you forget to water except once a month, you are doing exactly what your jade loves. Granted, a jade plant should be watered every two weeks during its growing season, but it won't die waiting an extra two weeks for a drink. Jade plants like dry air too.

Soil

Jade plants are succulents, a plant that stores water in its leaves and stems. They like a soil that is not too rich, drains well and has some phosphorous and calcium. The first half of the mix is potting soil. Always use potting soil because it doesn't have baddies like weed seeds and plant viruses. The second half is builder's sand. It's sharp, not like play sand which is not sharp. Lastly, you need a generous splash of bone meal, which will add the nutrients as it decays.

Potting

Jade plants don't have a tap root, so there is no need for a deep pot. They are very happy in a relatively shallow tray. Re-pot them as they grow, the bigger the pot, the bigger the jade plant.

What Not to Do

Now for the bad news, a jade plant won't thrive if you do the wrong things. Unsurprisingly, the good things can also be bad things.

Light

Jade plants can get sunburned. Be careful when you water. If you leave droplets on the leaves, it will magnify the sun which will burn the flesh and leave ugly brown scars that won't fade.

Temperature

Below 40 degrees, your jade plant will frost. Below 32, it'll freeze, certain death. Jade will cook if too hot. Don't leave your plant in a hot car when transporting it.

Water

Too much water is deadly to a jade plant. They hate wet feet. A jade's roots will only grow far enough to find water. Too much water will stunt the root system. Excess water can also cause your jade plant to develop an internal rot which is difficult to eradicate and will definitely kill the plant. A rotting jade will feel spongy and soggy and be brown on the inside. If your jade gets the rot from over-watering, you can try to cut the rot out. Make sure you get all the rot, over-prune rather than under-pruning. Use a sharp knife and make sure it is clean for each cut.

Bugs

Mealy bugs can attack the whole plant. Mealy bugs pupate in a cocoon attached to the stem or under the leaves. Scrape the cocoon off with an alcohol soaked cotton-swab. Scrape at two week intervals until the infestation is gone. You can also spray with a heavy duty, contact insecticide. This latter tactic is not recommended as a contact poison is not something one really wants to spray in the house, or even have in the house.

Unfortunately, with a root infestation, there are only two solutions. Gently wash off all the soil and swirl the roots in a contact insecticide, or throw the plant out and start over. Think seriously before using a strong poison. This is not a technique for beginners. Be very careful to dispose of the insecticide in an appropriate manner. Do realize that many experts have severe reservations about the safety of releasing strong poisons into our biosphere. Using completely organic methods can yield wonderful plants and peace of mind that you are doing the right thing for the environment.

Scale is an insect with a hard waxy shell that protects it from most insecticides. The only solution is to pick or scrape them off. Spider mites are not a common enemy and can be vanquished with a good wash (or two) with insecticidal soap.

Making More Little Jades

Now that the jade plant growing well with no bad bugs, it's time to fill the house, and the houses of your friends, with jade plants. Jade is very easy to propagate. Simply snip off a cutting and dip it in a fungicidal rooting hormone and stick it in the soil mix. Wait a couple weeks and you'll have a new plant. If you're not in a hurry, or if you have a plant dropping leaves from lack of water, you can simply let the dropped leaves form a scar and then stick them in the soil. After about a month, a tiny new jade plant will emerge from the fallen leaf.

Young Jade plants are delicate at first, so keep them out of reach of toddlers or marauding cats. Should the new plants (or even an old plant) get dumped or pulled up, just tuck it back into the soil and give it a little drink. Chances are, it will re-root itself in no time. Jade plants are pretty tough customers. It takes more than a little fall to kill them.

Whether you keep your jade small, or pot and re-pot until it's huge, a jade plant can bring even the beginning gardener years of pleasure. Enjoy!