Everything You Need to Know About Jade Plant

Family: Crassulaceae

Scientific name: Crassula ovata

Common Name: Jade Plant

 

What is a Jade Plant?

The Jade Plant, more popularly known as the money plant is native to South Africa, but is popular as a house plant. The plant is also known as the friendship plant or the lucky plant, and is a derivative of the Crassula family. People grown this plant worldwide as a house plant, and is regarded as a ready choice for decoration purposes. You might have caught a sight of it in corporate offices and fancy restaurants. It might not bring in money, but is sure to give you that pleasure of spotting some green in a cityscape that craves for some fresh air.

The jade plant has the looks of a bonsai, or a miniature plant that could have had a full grown version if not grown under restricted conditions. The plant is a perfect choice for lazy growers because it is a succulent, and stores water in its puffy leaves and stem. So, do not worry about remembering to water the plant every day. It does not need that sort of commitment, and the watering would be infrequent. However, it needs the right amount of heat and light, so make sure you place it in a bright corner of your house.

 

The Special Features of the Plant

The USP of the plant is that unlike the cactus, which has a rugged look, it is quite easy on the eyes and emanates an amicable environment. It has thick, round edged leaves that have red colored edges in some varieties. If grown in the right conditions, the jade plant bears beautiful flowers. However, you must be very careful about providing the plant with the ideal conditions for it to flower. Growers have varying degrees of success in this regard, but do not lose hope and try to stick to the basics—the right amount of water, feed, and light. The plant grows to a height of up to three feet, which is quite conspicuous while not being obstructive. This is the very reason the plant is favored by growers who want it for decorating their study or office.

 

Propagation of the Jade Plant

The propagation of the plant occurs through its twig cuttings and leaves. You must follow a strict regime to ensure a successful propagation. When you are using the leaves for propagation, choose a leaf that is healthy and might grow into a plant if proper care is taken. Preparing the soil is very important at this stage. For this process, mix equal amounts of vermiculite and soil to prepare the perfect mix for the plant. Vermiculite or perlite will make sure that the jade plant has enough aeration in the soil for the well-being of the plant. It works as a natural tiller for the soil so that the roots of the plant are not suffocated. You can breathe a sigh if relief when the plant is around 8-10 centimeters in height. It can then be considered to have grown into a plant from a sapling.

You can also propagate the plant from its twig cutting. Select a tiny branch that is healthy looking and shows the promise of growing into a plant. Select a twig that is long enough for the purpose and anything above 7 centimeters is good to go. However, if you do not find the required length on your plant, do not worry. You can then propagate the jade plant by using its leaves. Follow the procedure described above to propagate the plant by the leaf method successfully. Coming back to the plant cutting method, make sure you cut the eligible twig or branch with a clean knife, and be sure to make a clean cut so as not to injure other parts of the jade plant. The next important step is to let the twig would dry and heal. If you try to plant it while the wound is still fresh, a mistake that many growers make, the plant might catch diseases from the soil because it is not prepared to fight against them. For the drying purpose, you should ideally choose to store the twig in a dry and warm place (free from moisture) for two weeks until callous forms over the wound. This is when the twig is ready to be planted in the soil mix that you can prepare by reading the instructions given in the previous paragraph.

Further, you can use rooting hormone in the mix so that the roots get an extra supplement apart from the nutrients from the soil. Moreover, the hormone has anti-bacterial features that protect the roots from fungal infection that is so common to young saplings that are exposed to moisture. A caveat you must follow is that you should not over-water the plants. As mentioned before, the plant can store a lot of water and can survive tough times. So, you should make sure that the soil is damp and only water the plant when you find the soil dry.

 

Jade Plant Care

Temperature –average room temperature at 15.5 to 24 Degree C (60 to 75 Degree F)

Light –The beautiful jade plant is known to flourish with abundant light. Impart just a few hours of sunlight daily.

Watering –Make the soil become dry after each watering season before watering again.

Soil –Ensure a healthy draining soil mix.

Fertilizer –make use of a weak or diluted fertilizer every two weeks.

Humidity –Jade plants can survive well in naturally humid conditions.

Propagation –Achieved with stem or leaf cuttings that get placed in a soil mix.

 

Other Things to Remember      

To sum it up, the jade plant is a hardy variety that you can grow at home. You only have to take care of the very basic requirements. The plant suits best to a humid environment, so choose the plant only if you live in such conditions. Further, if you choose to grow the plant, make sure you keep it away from pets, because the jade plant is known to be poisonous to cats and dogs. These pets are known to mess with anything that they find within their reach, and it is in everyone’s best interests that you put the plant out of their reach.

Growing the jade plant can be a hobby that you could be proud of. Its little structure is just too cute to miss for your friends when they come to your house over lunch or dinner. While you explain them the process of propagation, you can literally avoid conversations that often tend to flag. Be sure to gift them one of your plants as a token of love!