Jade plant
Crassula ovata · Crassulaceae
📷 Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE · CC BY-SA 2.0
⚠️ Feuilles modérément toxiques pour chats par ingestion ; troubles digestifs légers à modérés.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around jade plant and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Crassula ovata
- Family
- Crassulaceae
- Foliage
- Evergreen, fleshy and dark green
- Flowering
- Winter and early spring, white or pink flowers
- Adult size
- Up to 150 cm in height
- Growth
- Slow to moderate
- Hardiness
- Frost-sensitive, grow indoors or in mild climates
- Origin
- South Africa
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Crassula ovata stores water in its stems: water sparingly during growth and almost not at all in winter. Repot in spring in well-draining substrate.
The common mistake
Watering it like a normal houseplant: it will inevitably rot within 6 months.
The pro's trick
Expose it to more than 6 hours of direct sunlight so the trunk reddens and becomes lignified: it's the indicator that it's happy and robust.
Care
Moderate and spaced watering
Water generously during the growing season (spring-summer) only when the substrate is completely dry. In autumn-winter, drastically reduce watering as the plant enters dormancy. Excess water is the main enemy of succulents: prefer to let it dry out rather than overwater.
Very important light
Place your jade tree in full sun or very good indoor lighting, ideally 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Insufficient light causes etiolation and weakens the plant. Indoors, choose a south or west-facing window.
Well-draining substrate
Use a specific mix for succulents: cactus potting soil or light potting soil mixed with sand, perlite or pumice (50-50 ratio). Excellent drainage is essential to prevent root rot. Repot every 2 to 3 years in spring.
Light and formative pruning
Regularly pinch young shoots to encourage a bushy and branched habit. You can prune overgrown branches in spring. Basal leaves that dry out should be gently removed: the plant naturally renews its foliage.
Moderate nutrient supply
Fertilize lightly once a month during the growing season (April to September) with diluted succulent fertilizer or very diluted houseplant fertilizer. Stop in autumn-winter. Over-fertilizing makes the plant soft and prone to disease.
Watch out for pests and rot
Mealybugs and spider mites can attack in dry indoor conditions; regularly inspect the foliage. Root rot, linked to excess water, is serious: if it occurs, repot in fresh, dry substrate. Regular ventilation prevents fungal problems.
Did you know?
The jade tree is nicknamed the 'money plant' in English and is considered a good luck charm in Asia, especially in Feng Shui, where it symbolizes prosperity and wealth. This popular belief has made it a highly prized houseplant in homes and businesses. Its nickname comes from its round, fleshy leaves that resemble coins.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring, once all risk of frost has gone. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from April to June.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.