Commercially available potting soil mixes designated for use with cacti or succulents are generally appropriate for use with jade, although the plant may benefit from the addition of a small amount of organic matter. The product contains mostly organic matters mixed with inorganic ones. The height of the Jade plant can be up to 6 feet and can spread up to 3 feet but this requires best management practices and best fertilizer application (over-fertilization often proves fatal). Symptoms of drought stress include stunted growth, leaf spotting or discoloration, leaf drop, and extreme drought conditions, death. The best soil for Tricolor Hobbit Jade Plants is a well balanced mix of peat moss, perlite and vermiculite that dries some between watering but takes a long time to compact. If you over-fertilize, it will absorb too many of the nutrients and eventually cause damage to the roots. Choosing or preparing an appropriate soil moisture is key to avoiding problems like root rot. Because plants tend to be top-heavy, commercial potting mixes for succulent usually contain sand, grit, rock chips or other weighty materials. How to Plant a Jade Plant. Prune dead roots before setting the jade plant in its new pot. Choose a wide and sturdy pot with a moderate depth, as jade plants have a tendency to grow top-heavy and fall over. After transferring your jade plant to a new pot, … Jade plants do have a tendency to become top-heavy and their shallow roots make them prone to tipping over. Root rot is common in jade plants and is caused by overwatering or heavy, poorly draining soil. Use a soil that will drain thoroughly, as excessive moisture may promote fungal diseases like root rot. Jade plants adapt well to the warm, dry conditions found in most homes. It is possible to grow a jade plant outdoors up to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 10, but you can grow it anywhere as a houseplant and they look somewhat like bonsai trees. A potting mix formulated for cactus plants is a great way to get all of these in one. Best Jade Plant Bonsai Soil. When I googled “white stuff of jade plant” I was misled and thought that it was some sort of mold. Repotting a Bonsai Jade Plant. The jade plant (Crassula ovata, C. argentea or C. portulacea), also known as the money or friendship plant, is prized for its succulent, oval-shaped green leaves, clusters of white flowers and a distinctive, attractive form. Rootbound or top heavy jade plants should be transplanted after soaking the soil the day before, then gently prying the whole plant out for repotting. If there is a saucer beneath the container to catch the water that drains from the hole, empty it after watering the plant. Like other succulents, jade plants do not like to sit in overly-moist soil.. Too little water or a soil mix with little or no organic matter and a limited ability to retain water can cause drought stress on the jade plant. Choosing or preparing an appropriate potting soil mix is key to avoiding problems like root rot. Always water the plant sparingly, because too much moisture will cause the plant to rot. Jade plants prefer to have their soil on the dry side, and one of the common problems homeowners see is rotting at the base of the stems due to overwatering. Angela Ryczkowski is a professional writer who has served as a greenhouse manager and certified wildland firefighter. The jade plant is … Soak the plant, until water drains from the bottom of the flowerpot. Only water the plant again when the soil has dried out and is no longer damp to the touch. Related posts: 6 Best Soil for Succulents in Pots. Commercially available potting soil mixes designated for use with cacti or succulents are generally appropriate for Jade Plant. Moisten the soil with water. It is possible to grow a Jade Plant outdoors up to USDA hardiness zone 9b, but you can grow it anywhere as a houseplant. Jade Plants Soil Requirements. Drill a hole in the soil to hold the stem – You can do this by using your finger or a garden spoon to make a little hole at the middle of your potting soil for the Jade cuttings. Mature plants produce starry white or pink blossoms during the winter months. When a jade plant is actively growing, it will need more water than usual. Root rot is common in Jade Plants and is caused by overwatering or heavy, poorly draining soil. Jade plants are easy to grow in any free-draining gritty compost, or suitable store-bought soil for succulents with small amounts of coarse sand or perlite. "Look for pots with multiple drainage holes, accompanied by saucers to prevent making a mess when water seeps out," he advises. I addressed this by draining the plant and waiting a while for the soil to dry before watering again. The only soil requirement that Jade Plant has is that the soil must drain rapidly. The jade plant must be watered regularly and its soil must remain lightly moist at all times, otherwise the plant will begin to shrivel from dehydration. But beware of potentially over-watering the jade plant. The only major soil requirement that jade plants have is that the soil must drain rapidly. After several years of growing a jade and occasionally applying fertilizer, salt can accumulate in the soil and the jade plant will benefit from an extended watering that leaches the problematic salts out of the soil. All rights reserved. This succulent can grow in acidic or slightly alkaline soils but can suffer from nutrient deficiencies or toxicity in an extremely low or high soil pH.