Jade Plant
Jade Plant is a vegetable in the Crassulaceae family. It grows best in full sun to part shade with dry moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 10-11.
Varieties
1 · sorted by days to maturity▸Jade Plant
PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Succulent houseplant (cuttings) (not in original seed catalog). Use: Tree-like succulent; very long-lived. Note: Toxic to pets if chewed (ASPCA).
Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) is a long-lived succulent that grows into a miniature tree of plump glossy leaves; needs bright light and minimal water and roots easily from cuttings.
Growing notes: Botanical name: Crassula ovata|Hardiness zones: 10-11|Propagation: cutting|Light: Bright light|Water: Low|Mature size: 1-3 feet
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Start your free plan →Jade Plant care at a glance
At least four hours of direct sun — a south or west window. Good light keeps growth compact and can blush the leaf edges red.
Water deeply only when the mix has fully dried — typically every 2–3 weeks. When in doubt, wait; jades store water in their leaves.
Ordinary-to-dry household air is ideal.
Keep above 40°F — cold damage starts below that.
A gritty succulent mix; heavy soil plus enthusiasm with the watering can is how jades die.
Dilute fertilizer two or three times across spring and summer.
In winter: Water only monthly-ish in winter; a cool, bright, dry rest is what a jade wants.
Toxic to dogs and cats per the ASPCA — vomiting, lethargy, and incoordination if chewed. Keep it on high shelves in pet homes; only mildly irritating to people.
Pet listing per the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database.
How to propagate jade plant
Leaf or stem cuttings
- Take a leaf or a short stem cutting and let it callus for 2–3 days.
- Set it on (leaf) or in (stem) barely-moist succulent mix.
- Water lightly only when the mix dries.
- Roots take 2–6 weeks; new leaves confirm success.
Common jade plant problems
Why is my jade plant dropping leaves?
Likely cause: Watering extremes — a soggy pot (most common) or prolonged drought both trigger leaf drop; so does sudden cold.
Fix: Feel the mix: wet means let it dry fully and repot into grittier soil if it stays damp for weeks; dust-dry and wrinkled means a deep soak. Keep it above ~50°F.
Why is my jade plant stretching with small leaves?
Likely cause: Insufficient sun — jades etiolate quickly indoors away from a bright window.
Fix: Move it into direct sun over a week or two and prune the leggy growth; cuttings from the prunings make new compact plants.
Why is my jade's trunk soft and mushy?
Likely cause: Stem rot from chronic overwatering — the plant is rotting from the roots up.
Fix: Cut healthy branches above the rot and re-root them as cuttings in dry succulent mix; the original rootstock is usually lost.
Care profile compiled from extension and horticultural society guidance and the ASPCA toxic-plants list. Conditions vary by home — treat ranges as starting points.
At a glance
Storing & preserving
Most keep best refrigerated; storage crops prefer a cool, dry spot.
- Freeze: Blanch briefly, cool, then freeze — keeps color and texture.
- Can: Pressure-can low-acid vegetables; water-bath only pickled/acidified ones.
General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Growing timeline
Care & troubleshooting
No curated care & troubleshooting advice for jade plant yet. Our extension-sourced library currently focuses on common edible crops; we're expanding it over time.