I have my Jade in full sun. Over the month since I pruned it, I've moved it gradually from shade to sun. But it's 106 here today, and has been in the high 90's-low 100's for several weeks. I thought watering once a week was prudent, but I never stopped to think that succulents and cacti grow wild in the Southwest, with non-stop hot weather and no rain. I'll make sure to check the top inch of soil before I water again. I *know* that you shouldn't water on a schedule, but when it gets this hot I think it *has* to need water. I've been checking all my other plants (eg, lantana, euonymus, mandevilla, pentas) with a moisture meter, and it seems to correlate well with what I feel with my finger. I also have a red filigree-leaf Japanese maple that I never fail to water every day, and it's thriving (in the shade, of course). All my plants are in a gravelled bed that faces southwest, so I may tend to overwater.
I am a little concerned that some of the jade's leaves are getting brown areas, which I believe means they're burning. What's the best place for it? The nature of my garden is that everything gets sun until about noon. I have a 9' patio umbrella for those plants that have to have afternoon shade. I end up moving the pots around to get the sun or shade they need. I know my growing conditions are less than ideal, but they're in the only place my landlord will let me put them. Maybe I should put up another umbrella.
Edit: I just took a very close look at the plant (with my glasses on!), and there are three very very tiny places with new growth. It's not coming at the ends of the branches, from the leaves below it the way they usually grow, but in places along the trunks. It's soaking wet, though. It probably won't need water for a month, if I didn't kill it already this morning. But, maybe there's some room for hope!
One last question: do you fertilize succulents? I fertilize once a month, but have never done the jade. A little SuperThrive probably wouldn't hurt either.
Sorry this is so long!
