Thick, fleshy oval shaped leaves with tiny tree trunks; jade plant adds beauty to your living space.
It’s easy to propagate and grow, but the way your water, soil and sunlight has major impact on its greenery.
Dropping of leaves is one among the major problems jade growers face. This is a sign that your succulent is in stress. It can be due to number of reasons.
But, overwatering and underwatering are two major causes of yellow and dropping of leaves in most gardeners.
This is why it is important that you know how much water does jade plant need.
Water your jade plant generously once after 2-3 weeks. Ensure that top 1-2 inches of soil layer is dry between watering.
It might be painful to watch the plant in dry soil, but as a succulent (holds water in leaves) jade plant don’t need so much of water.
This succulent is native to semi-arid regions and over the years jade plant has evolved to live in low soil moisture.
Like most houseplants, jade plant doesn’t like to sit in water consistently. Though the growth is slow, you can’t resist from watching its appealing leaves and stems.
Living around plants is an amazing feeling and turning your space into wild can’t be possible without utmost care.
Anyway, jade plant is one among those succulents that demand little care to add beauty to your garden.
Later in this article you’ll know Jade plant caring tips, before that we shall look on jade plant watering.
How Often Do You Water Jade Plant?
Prior to watering jade plant, you must know its soil requirement (potting soil). Gardening experts say that this succulent grows well in well-drained soil.
So, what is well-draining soil?
The soil that easily allows water to flow through it in moderate rate, without pooling and puddling.
For this, you must fill your container with 1/3 of soil, 1/3 of vermicompost and 1/3 of sand. You can also add neem cake as a fertilizer.
Also Read: Do ZZ Plants like Coffee Grounds?
I think how much and how often should I water my jade plant queries can’t be answered in one liner.
Though not many, there are few things that must be considered while watering jade or any houseplant.
- First comes, growing soil. Is the soil effective to drain excess water and also retain moisture? Else, you may underwater or overwater your succulent.
- Climatic conditions in your region. (more on this later)
- and Plant location (how much sunlight does jade plant needs)
Even if you water at regular intervals, choosing wrong potting soil can ruin your plan to successful succulent.
You can buy fertile potting soil from online or a local garden store.
Else, you can try making your own potting soil by mixing three parts of garden soil, vermicompost, perlite and sand.
Climatic conditions in your region
This plant is native to semi-arid region that gets little rain.
If you’re growing jade plant indoors, then you don’t have to worry much. Anyway, just make sure the hot winds don’t leave the plant dry for more days.
Those who’re growing jade plant in balcony or backyard, ensure that the plant is saved from hot sun or frost.
Overwatering
By now you must already knew that excess watering can kill your plant.
Apart from soil, you must monitor climate/temperature in your locality before watering your plant as mentioned above.
Out of eagerness and affection towards this lovely succulent, often gardeners overwater the plant.
To avoid, water your jade plant only when your find dryness on top layer of the soil.
If you’re confused, then check the base tray of the container that holds the excess water. Remove excess water from the bottom tray, because who want to rot their plant’s root.
Dropping and yellowing of leaves can be signs of overwatering.
How to revive an overwatered jade plant?
Stop watering and diagnose the cause of water logging.
Is the soil not good enough to drain excess water or that you increased the watering frequency.
Shift the jade plant with its base soil to slightly bigger container, so that you can add some coco-peat. This will improve drainage ability of the soil.
This succulent needs 4 to 6 hours of light to grow.
Underwatering Jade Plant
Can anyone ignore this appealing succulent and forget watering?
No chance.
Probably, you left on a vacation or choose the wrong potting soil that failed to retain moisture.
Signs of underwatering jade plant: Drooping, yellow leaves and stunted growth.
How to revive: Start watering generously. When on vacation appoint someone to look after your dear houseplants.
Shouldn’t I water my jade plant every day?
No, check the soil in the container, water the plant only if it’s dry. Well-draining soil in the container will allow excess water through the drainage hole.
Also Read: Why is My Jade Plant Losing Leaves?
How to Water Jade Plant?
There are two ways of watering indoor plants that I’ll list here. One is the traditional top to bottom and other is bottom watering.
First, the traditional way of watering.
Best way to water your succulent is to water them from the top. Make sure the excess water gets out through drainage hole.
If your container has no drainage hole, then you must use less water. However its recommended to get a pot with a drainage.
When you see the excess water is coming out of the drainage hole, then you can stop watering.
While watering if your foliage gets wet, then place them in sunlight so the droplets gets evaporated. Else, they may result in rotting.
When you see the upper soil of your jade plant is dry, then water evenly. Depending on your climate, you may have to water jade plant twice in a week.
Check this out: How much water does arrowhead plant needs?
Bottom Watering Jade Plant
When you find the soil is dry.
- Fill a plastic pot (which is slight larger than your grow pot) with 1 inch of distilled water.
- Now, place the grow pot in the plastic pot or try that is filled with 1 inch of water.
- Allow the roots to suck the water thoroughly. It may take like 10 minutes.
- Again you can check the soil and see if it’s wet.
This method of watering has its own benefits, the root gets maximum water and it grows strong. However, you might have to take some extra time for it.
Both methods of watering jade plant, works efficiently.
How to Water Jade Plant in Summer & Winter?
Jade plant is a succulent, means they store water in leaves.
These plants don’t do well when you keep them overwatered.
However, in summer you must check your houseplant to make sure the top soil isn’t dry. If it’s dry, then you can water them.
If you’ve this plant indoors, then you might have to water once in 2 weeks. But make sure to check the top soil for moisture.
In winter, this succulent plant undergoes dormant.
So, allow them to dry between watering. Compared to summer and spring, jade plant requires less water in fall and winter seasons.
- Though jade plant is hard and tough plant, many people fail because of overwatering. Watering your plant more than it needs results in rotting of roots. You can check the soil and decide to water them.
- Underwatering is also a thing with indoor plants. Though succulent hold water in leaves, in hot temperatures they may need excess water. You must check the top soil and water when needed. Else, the greenery of the leaves will turn yellow or wrinkled.
Also Read: Underwatered Snake Plant: How to Revive it?
Things to Consider While Watering Jade Plant
Not just jade plant, these below factors has major impact on any succulent or any plant in your garden.
- Soil type
- Sunlight
- Temperature
- and Fertilizer
As mentioned above, a potting mix soil is best for this succulent. Jade plant needs well-drained soil with sand, soil and vermicompost in equal quantities.
Your jade plant needs bright sunlight for about 3-4 hours. After that you can shift them indoors. Or you can choose a location where the plant has maximum morning sunlight.
Placing this succulent in sunlight for whole day will spoil the leaf color. So, half sunlight and half shade will work.
Temperature
Jade plant is hard going succulent. However, temperature below 40° F isn’t recommended.
Hot temperatures (dry air) obviously dry the soil and this may change how often you must water your jade plant.
Check the soil with your hand; in case you find it dry, water them.
If you find leaves of jade plant wrinkled in cooler climates, then it is asking you to water. Listen to your plant.
When to fertilize jade plant?
As mentioned, this plant goes dormant in winter. So, it’s recommended that you fertilize your plant twice in a year in spring and summer.
Just spread the organic fertilizer on top layer and cover it with a layer of soil.
You can also use liquid fertilizers.
Also Read: Best Fertilizers for Pothos
Repotting
Don’t be in a hurry to repot your jade plant, even when it is small. Gardening experts say that this houseplant love root bound. However, if you see roots coming out of drainage hole, then it’s time to repot.
How to Water Jade Plant Indoor?
With thick fleshy oval shaped leaves, once jade plants are regarded as good luck for owners. So, often this succulent is grown indoors.
Because they aren’t demanding, you can easily grow them on a window sill.
Also, as listed above, they need bright sunlight for about 3-4 hours. So, make sure your indoor plant gets it.
If your house doesn’t have such location, then you can place the jade plant outdoors for couple of hours and bring it back on your table.
Another important aspect while growing jade plant indoors is watering.
Most people fail to grow healthy and beautiful succulent because of overwatering.
Go through above paragraphs to decide when to water your jade plant.
Depending on the climate in your region, water your indoor succulent only when the soil is dry. Like once in 2-3 weeks.
Also Read: Where Should I Put My Orchid in My House?
How to Water Jade Plant When on Vacation?
If its winter, you can water your jade plant thoroughly and leave for your vacation. These succulents can easily manage for a couple of weeks.
In summer, you can go for self watering system. Even in summer, they don’t need regular water if you keep them indoors.
Another best thing about growing jade plant is that is easy to propagate this plant through its stem. After pruning, instead of throwing leftover you can actually plant them in coconut coir and water them. Within few weeks you’ll be glad to see another beautiful jade plant in your room.
Also Read: Pothos Cuttings Not Rooting: Propagated Pothos Not Growing
Jade Plant Care Tips
If you skipped above lines, then don’t worry read this few lines at-least to know how to water your jade plant.
- Thick leaves and brown colored stems that resembles tiny tree tuck make this succulent more beautiful.
- Apart being aesthetic, growing jade plant is easy. There few things which you must take care and this succulent will bring life to your space.
- Soil mixture, watering, sunlight, pruning, fertilizing and repotting.
- In case of jade plant, you don’t need to worry much about repotting. Because they grow very slowly. Repot them only when you feel the container is too small.
- Soil mixture, mix garden soil, vermicompost and sand. (As this succulent need well-drained soil.)
- Water your jade plant only when the top soil layer is dry. You can check it manually with hand, if you find it wet then don’t water your plant.
- Jade plant needs bright sunlight of about 3-4 hours. So place them in such a location where it will be exposed to bright sunlight.
- Pruning helps to grow the plant and you can trim top part of the jade plant. So, that small tree truck like branch appears after pruning.
- Spring and summer are best seasons to fertilize your plant.
- In winter they go dormant, so no need to fertilize in winter.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for how much gallons of water a jade plant needs?
Am afraid, you can’t get accurate number.
There are few things that will be considered before watering a houseplant.
However, remember this: Water your jade plant when the top 1 -2 inches of soil is dry. You can check this by inserting your index finger into the growing soil.
Khaja Moinuddin, a computer science graduate, finds joy in gardening and homesteading. Join him on this blog as he shares his experiences in homesteading, gardening, and composting