How to Grow the Jade Plant

One of the most popular succulent plants is the Jade plant. It's serenely elegant and quite easy to grow. Beginners to the world of plants will find this plant a a good one to get started with.

I grew this one from cuttings that I pinched off of my mother's jade plant. I put them right into a pot filled with potting soil. Then I kept the soil a little on the moist side for a few weeks to get it established. After it successfully rooted I gave it to my friend, Byron, and it is doing quite well!

Crassula argentea is its botanical name. Its native home is South Africa. As a mature plant it will produce pinkish-white sprays of starry-shaped flowers.

Care Instructions---

• Direct sun indoors. They will probably do well with only an hour or so of direct sun.
• Let them dry out a little below the soil line. If they sit dry for too long, they will begin to lose lower leaves. Even though they are succulent, a thorough watering when necessary is best so that all of the roots are moistened.
• A plant in a 4" (10 cm) diameter pot should dry out slightly below the soil line, then water with about 1/2-3/4 cup, (enough so the water seeps through the bottom of the pot.)
• A plant in a 6" (15cm) diameter pot should dry out about 1/2"'-1" (about 2cm) below the soil line before watering with about a pint of water.
• Soil moisture meters for indoor plants were developed for measuring the moisture content of a houseplant's soil. There are several models available for sale on the market. For prickly cacti and succulents, that fill up most of the pot, it can be difficult to test the moisture level by feel and a moisture meter may be just the aid you need..    
• Fertilize regularly for best growth and blooming.

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**For a variety of  video clips on houseplant care from my 90's TV series, click on: 

   The Indoor Garden TV show

 

 

©2012