A healthy jade has erect stems and firm foliage that points outward, upward, or slightly downward. But when a plant is under stress, the young, soft stems may droop, and the foliage may hang limply, like fallen dominoes.
Shriveled or wrinkled leaves are signs of a thirsty plant in need of more frequent or deeper waterings. Waterlogged and squishy leaves indicates that the plant is getting too much water. Leaf drop is a symptom of watering issues, too.
Succulent, fleshy leaves are round or oval, dark green, blue-gray or edged in red depending on species and cultivar. The thick trunklike stems and branches of jade plants are usually brown.
Place jade plants in indirect sunlight.
Too much direct sunlight can scorch the leaves of young jade plants or cause the leaves of mature plants to develop red tips. Not enough sunlight can stunt their growth or cause them to look leggy and stretched out.
How to Water Jade Plants. Jade plants are succulents (they hold water in their leaves), so they don't do well when sitting in constantly moist soil, so let the top 1 to 2 inches of soil dry out between waterings. Indoors, this will probably mean watering once every 2 to 3 weeks—but be sure to check regularly!
Traditionally, jade plants grow well as indoor plants in bright but indirect light or outdoors in full or partial sun, but they cannot survive freezing temperatures. If you live in cooler zones, you can still grow these succulents outside, but they must be brought indoors before any chance of frost creeps in.
A healthy jade has erect stems and firm foliage that points outward, upward, or slightly downward. But when a plant is under stress, the young, soft stems may droop, and the foliage may hang limply, like fallen dominoes.
To encourage health, harmony and thriving business, place the Jade plant in the east direction. And if you wish to promote creativity and children's luck, it is recommended to set it in the west direction. Keeping it either in the southeast corner of the room or your desk is highly favourable and auspicious.
Instead of fully watering your jade plant during colder weather, mist your plant with a spray bottle. During the summertime when fully watering the plant, make sure the jade is placed in a drainage pot, so that excess water can escape and the roots do not drown.
What are the disadvantages of Jade plants. The only disadvantage of the Jade plant is that the leaves of the plant can tend to hold onto excessive water. Due to this, they become soft and mushy and fall off the plant.
Jade Plants have a small, shallow root systems. They prefer a smaller pot and could easily be overwatered in a large pot with a lot of soil mass. As your Jade gets larger and heavier, it will need a “weighty” pot as a base.
It is a drought-tolerant plant that does not require frequent watering and can go without water for days or weeks. Considering their native habitats and growth, they don't need to be watered very often.
If your place doesn't hold a lot of humidity, your jade plant may dry out quickly. You might have to water every five to seven days. If you live in a more humid place, you may only need to water once every other week, or less.
In this case, use a high-nitrogen, soluble plant food, such as a 10-20-10 formula. Jade plants do well when fertilized with plant foods formulated for African violets. Organic fertilizers, such as fish emulsion, also provide the proper nitrogen for jades to thrive.
Insufficient Light
Your jade plant normally needs a fair amount of direct sunlight, at least six hours per day. If your jade plant isn't getting enough light, this might lessen its vitality and cause leaves to drop. Try moving it to a window with a southern exposure or where it gets bright afternoon light.
Jade plants are perennial and can last for years. It is advisable to repot the young jade plants every 2 to 3 years to facilitate faster growth. As for adult jade plants, you should consider repotting them every 5 to 6 years.
As an indoor plant, trailing jades look particularly striking in hanging baskets that allow the stems to hang down. Of course, if you happen to live in a place with a warm climate and plenty of direct sunlight, you can also grow trailing jade outdoors.
How long do jade plants live? One major jade plant benefit is the plant's longevity. With proper care, jade plants can live between 50 and 70 years—sometimes even longer. Because of this, they're often passed down generationally.
Position: full sun or bright ambient light; shade-tolerant. Flowering: clusters of small, pinkish-white, star-shaped flowers. Feeding: use a long-term controlled-release fertiliser sparingly. Watering: water when soil is dry; good drainage is essential; don't overwater.
Jade plant care indoors
Pick a good, sunny place to keep your jade plant, like a south-facing window. They need at least four hours of bright sunlight. They also prefer dry, arid environments, so avoid keeping it in the bathroom or kitchen where humidity is higher.
Jade plants need lots of light to grow, but too much direct sunlight can damage their leaves. The best way to provide your jade plant with the light it needs is to place it near a window that receives indirect sunlight.
Water needs: Not as drought-tolerant as other succulent species, Jade likes moist soil—not wet, because you don't want root rot—during the growing season (spring and summer), drier soil during the dormant season (fall and winter).