15 Useful Tips to Keep Your Jade Plant Thriving

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Jade plant is praised for its longevity and minimal maintenance requirements. Its resilience makes it an ideal choice for beginners, and the thick green leaves effortlessly add beauty and freshness to your home. Incorporate these 15 valuable tips into your jade care routine to ensure it is healthy and thriving.

Provide Adequate Light

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Place your jade plant where it can get bright, indirect sunlight for at least four hours daily. Avoid positioning it in direct sunlight, which makes the leaves burn, and we need them for beauty.

Use Well-Draining Soil

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Taking shortcuts with your soil type will make your jade plant rot. Buying soil best for succulent plants is recommended, or you can use cactus mix, perlite, and sand.

Avoid Overwatering

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Don’t be tempted to overwater because succulents thrive with less water. Only water it when the soil has dried. If the soil is still moist, your plant doesn’t need water.

Change the soil

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Sometimes, root damage could be the reason why your plant is not doing well. Therefore, changing the soil every two to four years is essential to give it freshness as you inspect the root.

Maintain Proper Humidity

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Jade plants thrive at room temperature between 65°F to 75°F in the morning and between 50 and 55 °F at night. Thus, shielding them from heat sources such as direct sunlight is essential, which can elevate temperatures and hinder their growth.

Fertilize Sparingly

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A well-balanced fertilizer is vital to promoting vibrant leaf growth in jade plants. Even as you use fertilizer sparingly, ensure it is balanced so that the plant gets its nutritional needs. Opt for a fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 10-10-10, providing the necessary nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).

Protect from Drafts

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Windows become drafty when air seeps through gaps around them, creating an environment where temperature fluctuations can occur. Consequently, positioning your jade plant near drafty windows or doors can stress the plant as it experiences sudden shifts in temperature.

Provide Adequate Air Circulation

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In addition to hindering healthy growth for the plant, a stagnant or still air environment can also increase the risk of pest infestations. Therefore, air is crucial to ensure the jade plant is situated in a location with proper ventilation to prevent weak stems, fungal diseases, and pest problems.

Repot When Necessary

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Every 3 to 4 years, consider repotting your jade plant into a bigger container to foster its growth. This prevents the roots from becoming crowded and suffocated, ensuring the plant continues to blossom.

Use a Container with Drainage Holes

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This step is vital because stagnant water in the pot can lead to root rot. Therefore, ensure proper drainage by adding holes to the bottom of the pot. After watering, always confirm that the excess water has completely drained away. In addition, use clay pots instead of plastic pots.

Wipe dust

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To maintain its shine and charm, gently wipe the dust away from the leaves with a soft cloth. Occasionally, let it enjoy a rain shower outdoors, but ensure leaves dry completely to prevent rot or mildew.

Monitor for Pests

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Combat mealybugs and spider mites, notorious pests of the jade plant, by promptly treating infestations with neem oil or insecticidal soap. Additionally, regularly inspect the plant’s leaves and stems for signs of pests to catch any infestations early.

Remove Fallen Leaves

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Don’t forget to remove fallen leaves because they can harbor pests and diseases, potentially spreading them to the rest of the plant. Regularly clearing away fallen debris also helps maintain a tidy appearance and promotes overall plant health.

Prune your plant

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Regular pruning is necessary for keeping your jade plant healthy. Use sharp and clean scissors or pruning shears to trim dead foliage and encourage healthy growth while maintaining the plant’s shape. To avoid spreading diseases, sterilize your equipment with rubbing alcohol or diluted bleach before and after pruning.

Use a rooting hormone

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Enhance the success of jade stem transplantation by applying rooting hormone to the stem and soil beforehand. This promotes robust root development, ensuring the highest chance of successful rooting.

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