Houseplant · Crassulaceae
Jade Plant
Crassula ovata
Give it bright light and a dry-out between waterings, and the jade plant will outlast most of the houseplants you bought beside it.
Full sun
50–75°F · 10–24°C
USDA 10–11
1–6 ft · 0.3–1.8 m
Overview
The jade plant is a succulent from southern Africa that has become one of the steadiest houseplants you can grow. It stores water in thick, glossy leaves and a stout woody trunk, which is why it shrugs off the neglect that finishes off fussier plants. Left alone in a bright window, it slowly takes on the look of a small tree.
Growth is slow but long. A jade can live for decades and reach 1 to 6 feet (30 to 180 cm) indoors, thickening into a gnarled, bonsai-like form over the years. It earns its folk names of money plant and lucky plant, though the wealth is in how forgiving it is, not in any charm.
The one thing it won't forgive is a soggy pot. Almost every jade that dies was watered too often, not too little. Get the watering and drainage right and the rest of its care is close to effortless.
Care
The short version: bright light with some direct sun, a gritty fast-draining mix, and water only after the soil has dried out completely. Keep it warm, feed it lightly in the growing season, and resist the urge to overwater.
Light
Jade wants bright light with several hours of direct sun, so a south-facing window suits it best. Too little light and the stems stretch and lean, growing pale and leggy as they reach for the window.
Water
Water deeply, then wait until the soil has dried out completely before watering again, cutting back hard in winter. Overwatering is the single biggest killer of jade plants, while too little only shrivels the leaves, which plump back up after a drink.
Soil
Plant it in a gritty cactus or succulent mix that drains fast, always in a pot with drainage holes. A slightly acidic pH of 6.0 to 6.5 suits it, and the loose, sandy texture keeps water from pooling around the roots.
Temperature
Ordinary room warmth is ideal, roughly 50°F to 75°F (10°C to 24°C). Protect it from cold drafts and never let it sit below 50°F (10°C), which can trigger sudden leaf drop.
Humidity
This is a dry-climate plant that prefers low humidity and resents damp, stuffy air. No misting needed; normal household air is more than enough.
Feeding
Feed monthly through spring and summer while it's actively growing, then stop for the winter. Use a balanced or low-nitrogen succulent fertilizer diluted to half strength, since jade grows slowly and needs little.
Pruning
Pinch or prune in spring to push fuller, tree-like growth and to take out leggy or weak stems. Jade tolerates hard pruning well, and every piece you trim off roots easily as a fresh cutting.
Repotting
Repot every 2 to 3 years in spring, or when roots push through the drainage holes and the plant turns top-heavy. Move it into a slightly larger pot with fresh gritty mix, and go easy on water for a week or so afterward.
Size & spacing
Indoors a jade reaches 1 to 6 feet (30 to 180 cm) tall with a spread of about 1 to 3 feet (30 to 90 cm). It grows slowly, so give it a stable, heavy pot to keep the thickening top from tipping over.
Troubleshooting
Most jade trouble traces back to water and light. Soft, mushy growth means too much water, while a wrinkled or stretched plant is asking for a drink or a brighter spot. Match what you see below and you can usually fix it before the plant is lost.
Soft, mushy stems and yellowing leaves near the base
This is root and stem rot, almost always from too much water sitting around the roots. Once the base turns soft and dark, the plant is past saving as-is, so cut away the rotten tissue and let the cuts dry, or start over from a healthy cutting. Going forward, water only after the soil dries out completely.
Fix:
- Stop watering immediately and allow the soil to dry out
- Remove the plant, cut away rotted roots and tissue, and let cuts callus
- Repot into fresh, fast-draining gritty mix
- Propagate healthy stem or leaf cuttings if the base is lost
Leaves dropping all at once
A jade that sheds leaves suddenly is usually reacting to stress from a sudden change in light, temperature, or watering. Look back at anything recent: a move to a new spot, a cold draft, or a swing from dry to soaked. Settle it into one steady location and routine, keep it clear of cold below 50°F (10°C), and let it adjust at its own pace.
Fix:
- Stabilize location, light, and watering routine
- Protect from cold drafts and temperatures below 10°C
- Allow the plant to acclimate gradually to new conditions
Wrinkled, shriveled, or drooping leaves
Soft, flexible leaves on bone-dry soil point to underwatering, since the plant has drawn down the water it stores in its leaves. Give it a thorough drink until water runs from the bottom, then go back to watering only when the leaves start to lose their firmness. The plump look returns within a day or two.
Fix:
- Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom
- Resume a regular dry-out watering cycle
- Move out of excessive heat if leaves continue to shrivel
Stretched, leggy stems with gaps between the leaves
Stems that reach and stretch with wide gaps between leaves mean the plant is starved for light, a problem called etiolation. Move it to a bright south-facing window with a few hours of direct sun, and turn it now and then so it grows evenly. The stretched growth won't reverse, but you can prune leggy stems to bring back a compact, tree-like shape.
Fix:
- Move to a brighter spot with several hours of direct sun
- Rotate the plant periodically for even growth
- Prune leggy stems to restore a compact shape
Toxicity
Keep the jade plant away from cats and dogs. The ASPCA lists it as toxic to both, and a pet that chews the leaves can vomit, turn lethargic, walk unsteadily, and develop a slowed heartbeat. Oddly, the exact toxin has never been identified, so the safest course is simply to put the plant where pets can't reach it. People are essentially fine around it.
Toxic to
Cats · Dogs · Horses · Rabbits · Livestock · Birds
Safe for
People
Cats Moderate
Cats that chew the leaves tend to vomit and turn dull and sluggish. Watch for a wobbly, uncoordinated walk and, in heavier cases, a heart that beats slower than normal.
Dogs Moderate
A dog that eats jade usually throws up and goes quiet and low on energy. Some grow unsteady on their feet, and a slowed heartbeat can follow a larger mouthful.
Horses Caution
Horses aren't a known target, but the toxin behind jade's effect has never been pinned down. Until that's clear, keep the plant well out of reach rather than assume it's harmless.
Rabbits Caution
There's no solid record of how jade affects rabbits, and a succulent like this has no place in their diet anyway. Treat it as off-limits and don't let them nibble it.
Livestock Caution
Grazing animals haven't been studied with this plant, and since the active compound is still a mystery, the safe move is to fence it off from goats, sheep, and cattle.
Birds Caution
No one has confirmed what jade does to birds, but a curious parrot will gnaw at almost anything. Keep it away from cages and perches to be safe.
People Low
People are essentially in the clear, and jade isn't considered a danger to handle or keep around the house. Still, it isn't food, so there's no reason to taste it and worth keeping small children from putting leaves in their mouths.
Helpline numbers
United States
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 (fee applies)
United Kingdom
Animal PoisonLine: 01202 509000 (fee applies)
Australia
Animal Poisons Helpline: 1300 869 738
Varieties
Beyond the common jade, a few cultivars are grown for their unusual leaf shapes and colors. These are the ones worth seeking out.
'Gollum'
Its leaves grow as narrow tubes tipped with reddish, suction-cup ends, giving the whole plant a coral-like look.
'Hobbit'
The leaves curl and roll back on themselves into little trumpet shapes, on a plant noticeably more compact than 'Gollum'.
'Hummel's Sunset'
Its golden-yellow foliage takes on red margins that deepen in bright light and cooler temperatures.
'Variegata' (Tricolor)
Each leaf is streaked with creamy white and green and often flushes pink along the edges.
How to propagate
Few plants are easier to copy than a jade. A single dropped leaf or a trimmed stem will root on its own with hardly any help, which is why one plant tends to become many.
Leaf cuttingsEasy
Spring or summer during active growth · 2 to 4 weeks to root, several weeks more to form plantlets
A single leaf is enough to start a new jade. Pull a healthy one off in spring or summer while the plant is growing, let the cut end dry and callus for a few days, then lay it on or just barely into gritty mix. It roots in 2 to 4 weeks and needs several weeks more before tiny plantlets appear, so this is the slow but nearly foolproof route.
Stem cuttingsEasy
Spring or summer during active growth · 2 to 3 weeks to root
Stem cuttings are the faster way to a real plant. Take one during the spring or summer growth period, let the cut callus for several days, then set it in dry succulent mix. Roots form in about 2 to 3 weeks, and the cutting establishes quicker than a leaf because it starts out as a piece of stem rather than building one.
Myths
The jade plant is the real money plant that brings wealth, the same one sold as a trailing vine.
Money plant is a folk name pinned on several unrelated species. The jade plant is a succulent, while the trailing vine sold under that name is usually a pothos or a Pilea, so the two aren't even close relatives. The name comes from folklore, not from any plant that actually grows wealth.
Jade plants are perfectly safe to keep in a home with pets.
The ASPCA lists jade as toxic to cats and dogs, and the odd part is that no one has identified the exact compound responsible. A pet that eats it can vomit, turn lethargic, walk unsteadily, and develop a slowed heartbeat. Keep it well out of reach of cats and dogs.