I rooted 2 jade plants from cutting's they where in the same pot and i was going to give them to 2 different people.I re-potted them and it rain heavily the other night now i have 2 more cuttings because i had to cut off the bottom section which had rotted.

What is the best way to root these plants i'm going to post a picture of what i pulled out of the pot.

I need some advice on rooting these,the first time it took forever and i started with more than 2.I'm doing something wrong and instead of hoping one makes it,i would like to know a little more about what I'm doing,especially when to transplant them after they have grown roots.


below the black pot is the one with the jades that i re-potted,if you click it you can see there are 2 plants,just ones taller than the other.

As with any succulent, over watering is usually the main culprit for failure. In my area it is easily rooted, even the leaf alone can start to root. I just usually let it callus for a few days, and stick it in dirt. Sometimes I may dip it in rooting hormone, but oftentimes, especially when weather is really warm, it does not even need it. There are times I can just stick the cut off leaf direct into dirt without waiting for it to callus. I would know the leaf is starting to root when I see little plantlets growing. I guess it depends how warm it is already. But to play safe, have it callus, dip in some rooting hormone and stick into dirt, put in a shady side for awhile. I do not water yet the cutting. I wait for a few days. And when I resume watering, I just water sparingly enough to dampen the soil but not too soggy. Jades are not that fast growers, but very resilient. So patience in watering, if it looks damp, do not water.

thanks tarev, It took forever to root these jades and they had finally started growing & had good roots but when i separated them it rained that night.i use a quick draining mix but it does stay moist for a little while I guess these where just to young to be in the rain.

What do you plant your succulents in.I have 2 plants that i have to water every day if it's sunny & hot for 2 days.I really don't think they need me to re-pot them.One being my pencil plant,it was given to me last summer.My mother-in-law just took scissor's & cut pieces off of her's. It took month before I had 1 root out of all the cuttings.All rotted before rooting except 2 and they had 2 roots each for months i think.What finally got them going was when i started using super thrive.

Thanks for your advice

perhaps set the small pots in a larger one with soil so they don't get as hot on hot days and you won't need to water them as often? Neither of those plants will stand for wet roots, they will do better going completely dry than staying wet. They both need full sun and fast draining soil.

The pencil plant is (I think) native to parts of Mexico and the ones I've seen growing wild are in the desert highlands near Oaxaca. They are trees there. It is dry, very dry, and mostly poor soil but with excellent hilly drainage. I have one here on my roof in full sun, it holds up to our humidity but I keep it in a small pot compared to its size and with fast draining soil. It never looks as good in the rainy season as it does in the dry season.

jojoe said:thanks tarev, It took forever to root these jades and they had finally started growing & had good roots but when i separated them it rained that night.i use a quick draining mix but it does stay moist for a little while I guess these where just to young to be in the rain.

What do you plant your succulents in.I have 2 plants that i have to water every day if it's sunny & hot for 2 days.I really don't think they need me to re-pot them.One being my pencil plant,it was given to me last summer.My mother-in-law just took scissor's & cut pieces off of her's. It took month before I had 1 root out of all the cuttings.All rotted before rooting except 2 and they had 2 roots each for months i think.What finally got them going was when i started using super thrive.

Thanks for your advice

I just use cactus mix that I get from HD or any local hardware store that carries them, and I add some more perlite for more drainage. I do not water them often...once they are really established I do one deep watering, once a week when it is summer and once every two weeks when it is cooler, and hardly in winter, I just let the rains do their job. My plants are in full sun wherever they can get it. It is often windy here too so it quickly drys them out, but that's okay, it is a succulent, prefers full sun and fast drainage.

Those two photos you have, I recognize the first one as elephant bush..I also grow that, and I grow it like my jade plant, and they survive well with once a week watering. These plants do not suffer that much if they are underwatered, more damage happens in overwatering. And remember succulent plants are just very shallow rooted, so a wide and shallow pot is better, than one that is too deep.

I did say I'm a newbie at most types of succulents didn't I.

I seem to be killing another jade plant.Everyone says they are so easy to grow,so why am i having such a hard time.

My biggest jade is 3 plants in one pot,i was going to let them get bigger until i separated them.Now the leaves are falling off.Again we had rain storms one day & that night,the next two days were cooler in low 80's to high 70's with no sunshine totally overcast next 2 days.

I'm going to post a picture of the jade before & after & the chunky mix i use.It drains fast but it does hold moisture. Maybe i added to much soil in with the bagged mix.I have a picture of the bag that way you'll see what I'm using.I don't like killing plants but i want to grow some jades and it seems the plain ones don't like me.I have had a gullum since last summer that does good for me

here's the potting medium, the bark tends to come to the top & dry out 1st.


this mix is fast draining but maybe it still holds to much moisture.It doesn't get soggy but it will stay damp for a couple days. I use it for almost all my plant only adding soil or peat or as is depending on the plant.

Hmmm. I never use orchid mix for my succulents....I just use cacti mix adding in more perlite to keep it really open and fast draining. Maybe it is time to reconsider the media that you are using, especially if it is too rainy on your side, the bark in the orchid mix will be holding too much water for the succulents. In their natural environment most succulents live in rocky, sandy areas, so they have adapted to hold water in their leaves or stems.

Now if you really still want to use orchid mix, maybe you need to reposition your succulents just indoors by the sunniest window you can find, so you can control the moisture. Those orchid mixes can stay really damp for over 2 weeks indoors, as I have seen in the orchids that I grow indoors. And with the water storage capacity of the succulents, you can withhold watering for a month in that kind of media.

I live in the middle of no where except tree's.I have to go about 5 towns over to get to a lowe's.Can anyone tell me if out of what i already have can i mix a medium that will grow succulents.I am hoping i can mix a few together and come up with something i can use for now, before my jade gets root rot.

I have MG potting soil plain & moisture control,the chunky orchid mix, vermiculite,perlite,spagnum peat,seed starter.I think that's it.I was thinking if i use just enough of the chunky to let it drain good but add perlite or vermiculite with potting soil?Would that be better than simply the chunky orchid mix.

Opinions or other options needed.PLEASE If i need to go get the cactus mix i will just have to find a way to get to town.I have MS and don't drive anymore.

Perlite is good if you don't have sand.

I went and got some MG citrus,palm and cactus soil.Going to re-pot my jade and i have a desert rose i have been having problems with would this also be the best thing to use on my DR?

I have never been able to find sand or more like i have no idea what kind of sand i am suppose to use.

Which is better to add to the cactus mix perlite or vermiculite ?

thank you all very much for your help!!!!!!

Perlite; vermiculite holds the water too much.

thank you Hetty,

One more question as i was getting ready to re-pot the jades,i was wondering if they would do better in separate & smaller pots or re-pot as they are.
there's 3 plants in the pot.

I would personally separate them, but don't go smaller - they will be growing!

Hello, The jade plant seems to take better to a sandy soil, or rock hard. As long as the drain is good, let the cutting dry a few days before you plant. If these are the same cuttings that you tryed before they may have a fungus on them inside the cane or stem, that is causing the same reaction. You may need to clip way up to rid this or start fresh. I know I have had trouble finding the right soil. The orchid mix is more a heavy mulch for shade plants or tubers, it stays wet to long and will root rot your plant that hates wet feet. I collect lithops and succulents as a hobbie. Its intresting to try to get them to bloom, and in finding this I have managed to get the soil right when I use a good amt of perilit and a sandy type or one with little mulch. I believe the other plant in here is an Elephant brush, more to a lithop then the cactus. Its hardy and will adapt well any where. Good luck...p.s. I know this sounds strang, but I have also started a jade in little water, keeping an eye on it not to be bruised , if you allow the plant to seal its self you may try one this way as well. Lori

Thanks for all the time everyone has taken to help me!!!

As far as the chunky orchid mix,i have found that in my climate (which rainy isn't the normal) HOT & HUMID is,the bark holds just enough moisture to keep my plants healthy that like to be moist but not have wet feet,like full to partial sun and can take the heat. everything is doing wonderful since the rain is gone & our weather is back to normal!!

I have learned a lot from the info i have received here!!! Since i have the right soil in the correct plants, everything seems to be right in my little world of plants.

HAVE A WONDERFUL SUNDAY!!!!