The jade plant, or crassula ovata, is a tropical plant hailing from South Africa. This plant is a succulent, and resembles a bonsai tree, and has thick, fleshy leaves. It is a shrub-like plant that gets woody stems as it gets older.
These plants are popular houseplants as they are very easy to care for, and might even bring some good luck!
Also known as the lucky plant and money tree, these plants are thought to bring prosperity, luck, good fortune, and wealth to whoever owns them, according to Chinese Fend Shui.
If you have a money tree, or would like to get one, this post is for you! Here, we are going to go through how you can easily propagate one of them.
On top of that, we will explore how you should care for these precious plants. By the end of this post, you should know everything you need to about the jade plant, and feel confident in your abilities to propagate and care for them. Ready to jump into it? Let’s go.
Propagating The Jade Plant
These plants are very easy to propagate, especially during the warmest times of the year. They are a good choice for beginners, and sometimes they even propagate themselves without any help at all!
If you feel like making clones of your favorite mother plant, check out the headings below and see how you can do just that. You will be surprised by just how easy and rewarding it is to propagate this plant.
Stem Cuttings
Healthy stems with leaves from the mother plant will almost always result in a success propagation story.
The jade plant is no different, so always make sure the parent plant is disease free and looks healthy before doing anything.
You will want to use a sterilized pair of scissors or a sharp knife to get the cutting. Cleanly cut the step with the sharp blade,
and make sure there are at least two nodes attached to it. There should also be some healthy, green leaves on the cutting.
Although you can use any sized cutting, the larger ones are better. You will need to pluck the leaves at the bottom of the carving off and leave some healthy ones at the top.
The leaves you pluck off can be kept to make more jade plants using the leaf method. Once you have your cutting, you should allow it to sit out for up to three days to callous over.
The callous will protect the plant from any bacteria, and reduce the chance of root rot.
Leaves
You can propagate using leaves pretty easily, too! For this, you can either cut some leaves from a branch, or even use ones that have fallen off.
You will want to make sure that the leaf comes with some stalk, and not just the leaf part. Like with the cuttings above, it’s a good idea to leave the leaves out for up to three days, so they can callous over.
Water Propagation Method
Water propagation is an incredibly simple and straightforward method. All you have to do is get your cutting of choice and a glass of water.
This method allows you to watch your cutting grow its roots, which is why it’s often a favorite among gardeners.
The water method is also less risky to the cutting because they won’t come into contact with the bacteria in soil so early on.
To do this method of propagation, follow the steps outlined below:
1) Get your jade plant cutting
2) Allow the cutting’s cut edge to callous over. This will help protect it from bacteria
3) You can dip the end of the cutting in a root hormone to speed up the process, but this is not necessary
4) Get a glass or another container that can hold water and place the cutting in it
5) Place the glass with the cutting in it in a bright spot that gets lots of indirect light. Keep it out of direct light, and make sure that it is warm.
6) You will need to change the water if it starts to look cloudy or unclean in any way
7) Leave the cutting in the water until it grows roots that are between 1-2 inches long. This may take several months.
8) Once the cutting has grown roots, you can repot it and care for it as a plant!
Soil Propagation Method
Soil propagation is also a very easy method you can use to multiply your jade plants. To do this, all you need to do is get your putting and plant it like you normally would!
There is nothing special to this, but you will have to keep an eye on the cutting to make sure that it doesn’t fall victim to a bacterial infection or root rot while in the soil.
To do this method of propagation, follow the steps outlined below:
1) Get your jade plant cutting or leaves
2) Allow the cutting’s cut edge to callous over. This will help protect it from bacteria
3) You can dip the end of the cutting in a root hormone to speed up the process, but this is not necessary
4) Prepare your plant pot. Jade plants like a well-draining potting mix. A succulent potting mix will be perfect for this.
5) Once the plant pot has been prepared, plant the cutting. If you are using leaves, you could simply place the leaves on top of the mix, and they will do their thing! You might need to use a stake or something similar to keep the cutting up.
6) Water the cutting. You should make sure that the soil is kept slightly moist at all times, but not soggy. Soggy soil puts your cutting and leaves at risk of rotting.
Repotting
Repotting is an important process for any plant owner. You will need to repot your plant at various times in its life, including propagation and when it gets larger.
These plants thrive in slightly acidic soil with a pH of around 6.0. If you use Alkaline soil, you could kill your plant, so always double-check the potting medium you’re using!
When you’re repotting your jade plant, you should try to plant it as deep as you can without letting the leaves touch the soil.
The stem will grow thicker as the plant grows, and it will gradually look more like a tree. New leaves will settle on the plant as it gets taller.
RELATED: Types of Crassula Jade Plants – Bring Happiness and Prosperity to Your Home
Caring For The Jade Plant
Money trees are easy to care for, but still have a set of requirements that should be met. If you want to have a happy and healthy plant, you need to do your best to give them the right environment.
We will take a look at these requirements below, so you can know what you expect if you get one of these plants.
Lighting
Bright but indirect light is the most important thing you can give your jade plant. For young plants, this is especially critical.
However, all jade plants should get a minimum of four hours of indirect sunlight every day. Direct sunlight will damage the plant by scorching its leaves,
so keep it away from windows that get a lot of direct sun. This strong sun can kill young plants, and will turn the leaves of mature plants red.
Water
Like most plants, the jade plants will need well-draining soil and at least one drainage hole in the plant pot. It should be watered at least once a week in the summer, and the soil should remain slightly moist at all times.
In the winter, watering should be reduced to around once a month. This plant should never sit in water, and any excess water must be disposed of.
Fertilizer
In the growing season, jade plants should be fertilized with a controlled-release fertilizer. This should happen at the beginning and end of the growing season.
You can also use a diluted liquid solution weekly to help your plant stay happy and healthy. A fertilizer that is 20:20:20 is ideal for these plants when they are mature,
as long as it is used at a quarter strength. For young plants, fertilizers with less nitrogen is recommended.
Final Thoughts
Crassula ovata are beautiful plants that are native to South Africa. They have common names such as the jade plant, money plant, money tree, and lucky plant.
Jade plants are succulent houseplants that can do well in a variety of climates, which only make them more popular. Although there are a number of types of jade plants, they all follow the same basic rules.
Remember to keep them in bright sunlight, as long as it is indirect, and use a good succulent soil. Water jade plants weekly in the summer months, and monthly in the winter months.
If you can take good care of these plants, you will be rewarded with the possibility of propagating more!
FAQ
What Are The Other Names For The Jade Plant?
Money plant, money tree, lucky plant.
What Lighting Do Money Plants Do Well In?
Jade plants do well in bright, indirect lighting.
Do Jade Plants Like Direct Sunlight?
No, direct lighting can burn the leaves of the jade plant. Bright light may harm the plant, so although they like to be in a sunny spot, ensure that there is indirect sunlight,
What Is The Scientific Name For The Jade Plant?
Crassula Ovata is the jade plant’s scientific name.
Can You Propagate A Jade Plant With A Single Leaf Cutting?
Yes, you can use a single leaf to propagate a jade plant.
Should A Jade Plant Have Moist Soil?
Yes, the money plant should always have soil that is slightly moist.
How Tall Do Jade Plants Get?
Jade plants can reach heights of 5 feet tall.
Where Does The Money Plant Come From?
South Africa.
Is The Jade Plant A Succulent?
Yes, the jade plant is one of many succulent plants.
Is Jade Plant Propagation Easy?
Yes, propagating jade plants is very easy.
What Fertilizer Do Money Plants Like?
A balanced fertilizer.
What Temperatures Do Money Plants Like?
Money plants like warmer temperatures between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit, but can handle cooler temperatures as low as 50 degrees.
What Can I Use To Get A Jade Plant Cutting?
A sharp knife will be fine for taking a cutting as long as it is sterilized. You can use rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball or cotton swab to disinfect the blade.
Do All Succulent Plants Like Dry Climates?
No, many succulents enjoy humid climates, too.
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The majority of people who have no interest in the subject, and aren’t green fingered assume that all plants and vegetables require the same growing conditions. This is not the case at all. Each plant has its own unique and interesting history and growing process.
I hope you will find The Natural List useful, and that it will help educate you on the wide variety of different flower and plant species there are across the globe.
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