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Jun 7, 2015 8:57 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cynthia White
Courtenay, BC, Canada (Zone 7a)
Hi all:

I'm going to ask my first question. I just bought a jade plant, and I'm baffled about how much and when to water it. I have a lot of plant experience--I've even competed nationally with African violets and flowered orchids. But this jade plant really intimidates me. I've read that you don't want to overwater it, and I've also read that it doesn't like to get too dry either. Then how much should I be watering it? Thank you.
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Jun 7, 2015 10:17 PM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
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Hello seawitch! Welcome to ATP! Welcome!

Jade plant or Crassula ovata is a succulent plant. So you have to plant it in a well draining media and in a container with drainage holes. By well draining, I use cactus mix and add some more pumice or perlite, to really make the media open. So when you water this plant, water it at the soil level thoroughly till water drains out. Then allow to dry. I do my watering early in the day, never at night, to avoid fungal/bacterial issues. Drying time varies from each of our locations, depending on our micro climates. So to help gauging that, you can put a rock beside the plant. If you want to check if soil is still wet, lift that rock. If it shows damp, then delay watering for a couple of days more.

The plant being a succulent, will hold water in its leaves and stems. They do their active transpiration at night, their stomates are closed during the day. During summer, it drinks a lot, but do not be tempted to overwater, it is very good in conserving the moisture it gets . It loves full sun/part sun.

When colder temps come, depending on your location, and winter conditions, you may have to bring it indoors and be more careful with watering. Once a month will be more than enough. But make sure it gets as much light or sun. Color of the leaves may turn darker green being indoors, since there is not much light. When it is time to bring it out in Spring, do it carefully so the leaves can acclimate again to outdoor conditions.

I find that it actively grows new leaves during cooler months, and fatter stems during summer. When grown outdoors in areas with mild winters, the leaves can turn rosy red, as it gets stressed by the chilly weather. It does not hurt the plant. What will hurt the plant will be getting rained on when it is cold. So if you have it outside in winter, make sure to keep it as dry as possible.

Root ball of jade plants are quite small and very shallow, so do not pot too big or very deep container. Each leaf is a potential new plant you can easily root if you want to propagate it.

Have fun! Smiling If you can, post a photo of your jade plant, we love photos Smiling
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Jun 7, 2015 10:44 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cynthia White
Courtenay, BC, Canada (Zone 7a)
Thank you so much Tarev. I have it outside right now because the weather is nice, about 75, but I plan for it to be an indoor plant other than in the summer. I have it on the deck on a table under an umbrella. It gets morning sun, but afternoon shade. I haven't repotted it yet. I have some cactus mix, and I also have plain vermiculite and plain perlite. I'll do as you suggest. This is my first houseplant in our new (to us) house. I'll try not to be afraid of hurting it. *Blush* Those leaves that are in the dish were knocked off accidentally by my dog. I'm letting them callous over, then I'll try to root them. Thank you again.

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Jun 8, 2015 12:06 AM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
Lovely plant you have there! I see it seems there are more than one in there, good for a repot, but I will not use vermiculite, it holds water. If you have no pumice then just add some more perlite in the cactus mix you will use. Just remember also to empty that saucer under the pot once water drains out so it will not sit in water.

Those leaves are really fun and easy to root, lay them on the cactus mix in a part shade area and it should grow new roots or new little leaves first.

Love BC! It rains more often in BC, so you really have to make the media very well draining, since your present container is plastic, so it takes awhile longer for media to dry vs. clay containers which easily absorbs water away, so there is faster drying time.

Have fun! Smiling
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Jun 9, 2015 10:53 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cynthia White
Courtenay, BC, Canada (Zone 7a)
When I repot this jade, is it okay to leave all of the individual plants together in one pot or should I pot them separately? Thank you for the help.
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Jun 9, 2015 11:56 AM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
It will depend how wide your next container will be, and your preference. I like them stand alone or at the most two in a container, since they do branch out a lot, and makes that fantastic fat trunk.
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