Jade is a succulent, which means its fleshy oval shaped leaves store water. This houseplant is drought tolerant and demand low- maintenance to thrive.
However, things aren’t similar in winter.
Unlike summer or spring, in winter jade plant goes dormant and its growth is slowed or stopped depending on climatic conditions of your region.
Jade plant isn’t tolerant to frost and cold. If left unnoticed, it will eventually die.
But, with little extra care your jade plant can survive winter season.
Ideal temperature to grow jade plant is 65F to 75F. But, in winter when the night temperature drops below 50F, the plant leaves start wilting.
To save jade plant, you must move it indoors in winter. If you’re living in USDA 10 and above, where the winter is warmer, then you can leave this succulent outdoors.
Apart from moving indoors, jade plant winter care also include to stop watering or limit to once in a month, stop fertilizing and expose the plant to indirect sunlight for 4-6 hours.
Read on below lines to know more about jade plant and how to save them from cold drafts.
General Light, Soil and Watering Needs of Jade Plant
Sunlight: 6 hours of indirect sunlight per day.
Watering: Keep the soil moist, but avoid overwatering. In winter, reduce watering to once in a month.
Potting Soil: Well-drained soil that prevent excess water accumulation and with neutral to slightly acidic pH.
Ideal Temperature: 65F to 75F is best temperature range. At night it prefers 55F, but can tolerate below 50F.
Winter: Move your jade plant pot indoors and ensure it gets enough sunlight. Avoid cold and hot drafts. Sudden change in temperature can negatively impact the plant growth.
Growing jade plant successfully can be easy if you know climatic conditions of region from where it is originated.
Jade plant is native to South Africa and it is drought tolerant. It can survive without water for days.
With aired environment, well drained soil and exposure to indirect sunlight, jade plant thrives in your backyard.
You just need to reciprocate this environment in your home.
- As it is native to South Africa, this plant is hardy and tolerates full indirect sun. A red border along its leaves is a sign that it is getting adequate amount of light.
- However, in winter plant goes dormant due to lack of sunlight and dropping temperature.
- Choosing well-drained potting soil will help the plant to survive all climatic conditions.
- As mentioned above, stop watering. Allow the growing medium to dry completely.
Also Read: How Much Light Do Jade Plants Need?
Jade Plant Cold Tolerance
It is originated from a place where temperature in winter isn’t below 50F.
In such regions, when winter is warmer, jade plant can be left outside.
But, this doesn’t mean it is tolerant towards cold. Jade plant can’t survive if the temperature drops below 50F.
Gardening experts recommend moving jade plant to a warmer spot indoors.
You’ll eventually kill the plant if left outside in cold.
- Winter temperatures of USDA zones 10 and above range between 30F to 40F. Bring the plant indoors to give the warmth it needs.
- In other USDA zones where winter is below 40F, it’s difficult to save jade plant. But, you can protect them indoors if you able to maintain ideal temperature. (Source)
- Jade plant can’t tolerant frost.
- Move the pot indoors before frosting.
How to revive: If you jade plant gone limp, then first shift it indoors and allow the growing soil to dry. Don’t water and trim off leaves that turned black or rotten.
Check this out: How to Care Pothos Plant in Winter?
How to Care Jade Plant in Winter?
Jade plant winter care isn’t just about moving the pot indoors. You must ensure the new location isn’t exposed to cold drafts and it gets proper indirect sunlight.
Overwatering is a major issue for indoor gardeners; it can be more dangerous in winter.
To make it simple, as a gardener there are some do’s and don’ts in winter.
Do’s
- Shift the jade plant pot to a location where it gets 4-6 hours of sunlight. Though sunlight in winter isn’t intense, it helps this succulent to survive.
- Water jade plant once in a month (in winter), only when the growing soil is dry.
- If needed use humidifier to maintain humidity levels up-to 30 percent.
- Warmer place with temperature ranging from 65F to 75F is ideal, but 50F works fine.
Don’ts
- Leaving jade plant outdoors can make them limp. When temperature drops below 50F, move the pot indoors.
- Avoid overwatering the succulent. Once watered jade plant can survive the whole month in winter. Before watering insert your index finger to check the moisture.
- If your jade plant is getting enough sunlight, growing soil may dry up early. Depending on climatic conditions, water the jade plant.
- Avoid underwatering the succulent.
- Avoid placing jade plant pot beside cold drafts or air conditioner.
- Due to dry air humidity in air drops, maintain humidity levels around 30-50 percent.
- Avoid jade plant propagation in winter.
- Avoid fertilizing jade plant in winter.
#1 Proper Sunlight (4-6 hours)
Jade is native to sub-tropical climate and it does well when exposed to indirect sunlight.
In winter, though the intensity of the sunlight is low, the plant must get enough sunlight at-least 4 hours.
When you provide some bright and indirect sunlight, the will be protected from root rot and infestation.
Choose a south facing window for your jade plant pot.
If you don’t have such location, you can use artificial grow lights. You must keep them on for at-least 12 hours.
With enough light, your house plants can successfully survive winter and will thrive in spring.
#2 Watering (Once in a Month)
With low levels of sunlight and cold, moisture in growing soil stays for longer time.
Avoid watering jade plant regularly as you do in summer.
Else, the plant’s root will rot and the plant will fail to survive winter.
Yellowing of leaves and stunted growth are common signs of overwatering.
Water the jade plant only when the growing soil is dry.
Underwatering
If your region is getting enough sunlight in winter, then you must increase watering frequency accordingly. Else, the plant may experience underwatering issues.
Remember this: Insert your finger 1 inch deeper into the growing soil to check the moisture. Water the plant is the soil is dry, if the soil is sticky then don’t water allow it to dry.
#3 Temperature (Not Below 50F)
Jade plant is not cold tolerant.
The plant thrives in 65F-75F temperature. Anything below 50F, you must shift the pot indoors.
Avoid frost and night temperatures below 50F.
Plant location must be away from air conditioner and extreme heaters.
Fluctuation in temperature will negatively impact the jade plant growth.
Note: Shift the plant pot to warmer location and save it from frost.
#4 Potting Soil (Well-drained)
Growing soil is the most important aspect of growing successful succulent.
Well-drained and fertile potting soil is recommended by most gardeners.
You can use cactus soil mix with perlite.
Choosing wrong growing medium can lead to overwatering your jade plant.
Note: Soil must retain moisture for longer time, at the same time drain excess water.
#5 Fertilization (No Fertilizing)
Not just jade plant, most houseplants goes dormant in winter.
Due to low intense sunlight and dropping temperatures, jade plant growth will be stopped till spring.
So, the plant doesn’t need fertilizers at this point.
Adding fertilizers will leave salt deposits on the growing soil and eventually impact jade plant growth.
Also Read: Should You Fertilize Houseplants in Winter?
#6 Humidity (At-least 30%)
Dry air in winter has low humidity, which results in comprised photosynthesis process.
Stomata will be closed resulting in no CO2 absorption.
Use humidifier to maintain ideal moisture levels in the atmosphere.
30-50 percent of humidifier levels are recommended by experts.
Note: Don’t try to propagate jade plant in winter.
Can Jade Plants Survive Winter?
If winter in your region is warmer or not too cold and temperature above 50F, then jade plant can survive winter.
Anyways, to save your jade plant you must shift it indoors.
Can I Save My Jade Plant with Frostbite?
In winter when cold wind passes through the jade plant, it may suffer frostbite.
Browning of tips, wilting or shriveled leaves are signs of frostbite.
If severely affected, whole plant can become limp.
To revive, trim wilted and rotten leaves. As the plant is in dormant, watering will not help to revive, allow the growing soil to dry.
Also Read: Why Is My Jade Plant Losing Leaves?
Can a Jade Plant Stay Outside in Winter?
Depends on the climatic conditions of your region.
If winter in your region is warmer and temperature is above 50F, you can leave jade plant outside. But, ensure the night temperature isn’t below 50F either.
However, to save the plant you must bring the jade plant indoors.
Conclusion
Jade plant can’t tolerant cold temperature and frost.
You must shift the pot indoors, before the temperature drops below 50F.
Reduce watering frequency to once in a month. Watering frequently may result in overwatering and then root rot.
Don’t fertilize the plant in winter. As the plant goes dormant you must ensure some bright sunlight to avoid excess moisture and infestation.
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