Home and Living

Jade Plants provide a great option for indoor gardening, since they’re hardy and easy to grow. They thrive in containers and enjoy warm, dry conditions. As succulents, they tolerate low-water conditions well and require very little fertilizer.

Jade Plants can live for years and will reach up to five feet, even indoors. Their dark green leaves, often edged with red trim, provide a perfect shrub or tree for that large, empty corner. They produce clusters of star-shaped white or pink flowers that will liven up any room.

But, like any plant, they do require some care in order to keep them free of insects and common houseplant diseases.

Leaf drop will occur if the soil becomes too dry for too long, but they are susceptible to root rot when (as is too often the case) they are overwatered. Soil that’s kept moist is fine when the weather is warmer, such as during Spring and Summer. Let the soil dry out a little more between waterings in the Winter.

Providing them with good draining soil and moderate, regular water will help achieve the right balance. That can be achieved by the use of a cactus soil mix with some added organic matter, such as 1/4 quarter sphagnum peat moss and 3/4 coarse sand.

Give these plants lots of full sun at a window with southern exposure. They’ll soak it up and be grateful for four hours or more. But take care the temperature doesn’t get too high at their location. They thrive when it’s between 65-75F (18-24C), but have no problem with nighttime temperatures around 50F (10C). Watch for any browning of the edges of the leaves, though. Move to a less direct position if you notice that.

Feeding is easy, too. Just add some liquid fertilizer every three or four months. A standard 10-10-10 NPK mixture with some micro-nutrients, such as magnesium, will work wonders. You don’t have to worry too much about overgrowth with Jade Plants, since they’re very tolerant of root bound conditions. But hold off on any feeding during the dormant season in Winter.

Several pests enjoy a Jade Plant as much as you will, with mealybugs and spider mites among the most common. Mealybugs can be eliminated by wiping the leaves with a cloth or cotton swab soaked in alcohol. Spider mites will be a bit more difficult to deal with, but they can be physically brushed off or sprayed if needed.

Keeping the leaves free of dust by an occasional wipe with a wet cloth is a good idea, even when you don’t notice any bugs. That will help the pores do their job of ‘transpiration’ - the type of ‘breathing’ that allows plants to exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen. Keep any dead leaves trimmed off.