How to Grow a Jade Plant

It's relatively easy to grow a jade plant. Jade plants are tough, easy-to-grow succulents. They grow well in containers and like the warm, dry conditions found in most homes. This is one reason that people like to have them as house plants.

Instructions

1. Provide a jade plant with soil that is a mixture of one quarter sphagnum and three quarters sand or coarse soil.

2. Place jade trees where they will get the most light. Like other succulent plants, jades prefer the full sun or bright filtered light of a south-facing window. Jade plants do best where they get four or more hours a day of direct sunlight. Plants grown in sun can withstand higher temperatures than those grown in poor light.

3. Keep the soil moist, but not wet. When watering jade plants, try not to splatter water onto the leaves. The plats do well in temperatures that are between 65F and 75F.

4. Fertilize jade plants once every three to four months. A liquid houseplant fertilizer will work well.

5. Check the roots yearly. Jade plants can live quite happily for years while root-bound. If re-potting is necessary, do it as new growth starts. When your plant becomes older and top-heavy, move it to a large, heavy pot to prevent tipping over and causing damage.

Tips & Warnings

• You can start new plants from stem cuttings.

• Clusters of star-shaped white or pink flowers will appear on mature plants in the winter.

• Don't let the plant get too dry. Even though this is a succulent, dry soil can kill the plant if left dry for too long. Keep the soil moist.

Resources

• The Garden Helper good source for gardening.