Jade plants require the soil to dry out between waterings because they are adapted to withstand drought. To satisfy their moisture needs without creating root rot, water jade plants once every 14 days with a generous soak. Before watering your jade plant, make sure the soil is dry.
Knowing how much and how often to water your jade plant, often known as the “money tree” (Crassula ovata), is crucial since it is prone to root rot, which is brought on by overwatering and poorly draining soils.
Jade plants can enter a state of hibernation in the summer as a response to high temperatures or as a method to combat drought, thus they have varying watering needs at different times of the year.
To avoid water stress and maintain the health of your jade plant, the ideal watering schedule should be used in conjunction with the proper well-draining, succulent soil and pot.
Learn more about choosing the right potting soil and determining how frequently and how much to water your jade plant in your climate by reading on. Jade plants can live for over 100 years, so it’s important to keep them healthy.
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How Often to Water Jade Plants
In order to survive in hot, dry climates with little rainfall, jade plants, which are succulents, have developed special adaptations. These include storing moisture in their thick leaves and stems and preventing water loss (transpiration) from the leaves by opening their stomata at night rather than during the hot, sunny day.
Jade plants enjoy dry circumstances since they are so well adapted to drought, and as a result, they are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of overwatering, such as yellowing or transparent leaves and root rot.
It’s critical to replicate the watering conditions of their natural environment if you want to effectively cultivate jade plants in your house or yard.
Only water your jade plant when the soil is entirely dry as jade plants need the dirt around the roots to dry out between periods of watering. This often entails watering jade plants every 14 to 16 days.
It is significant to remember that different types of soil may not necessarily dry out at the same rate.
- Your climate’s temperature and relative humidity.
- How big the pot is (smaller pots dry out much quicker).
- Whether your jade plant is indoors or outside, exposed to strong air currents or forced air, it doesn’t matter.
- the soil’s ability to hold onto moisture.
By feeling the soil at the bottom of the pot through the drainage hole, you can determine how frequently to water your jade plant based on your climate. Watering should wait if the soil feels wet; however, if the soil feels dry, now is the ideal time to water.
When you know how long it usually takes for the soil in your potted jade to dry out, you can create a watering schedule that closely resembles the cycle of moisture that the jade is used to in its natural environment—a drought followed by a rainy period.
How to determine whether you are watering your jade plant too frequently or insufficiently…
Even if you live in a hot, dry area, if you are watering your jade plants more than once a week, you are probably watering them far too frequently.
Jade plants needing too much water develop leaves that are yellow, translucent, and finally black, which is a sign of rot.
Reduce watering immediately and allow the soil to totally dry out if the jade plant’s leaves are turning yellow or translucent to give the jade a chance to recover.
(If you want to know why your black jade plant needs more care and why the leaves are turning black or have black spots, see my post on how to save your black jade plant.)
The first indicator of drought stress is shriveling of the leaves and a wilted aspect to the plant, and the foliage may even become somewhat brown, if you are underwatering jade or possibly neglecting it totally.
The answer is to simply wet the soil well, let it to dry out for the following two to three weeks, and then soak it once more.
The jade should start to recover after two watering cycles, and the leaves should feel firm and appear plump rather than withered.
(For additional information, see my article on how to save a dying jade plant.)
It’s also important to keep in mind that jade may demand more or less watering depending on the season.
How Often to Water Jade Plants in Winter
Even when kept inside, jade plants’ needs for watering might change depending on the season.
Jade plants need less watering in the winter because the slower rate of soil evaporation from the cooler temperatures.
In order to prevent root rot, it is worthwhile to check the soil moisture through the drainage hole and regulate the frequency of watering. This will allow the soil around the roots to completely dry out between watering sessions.
Also think about whether your indoor jade plant is close to a heat source like a heater or forced air, which can lead to daily temperature fluctuations and hasten soil evaporation.
The jade plant should remain healthy as long as there is time between waterings for the soil to dry out.
Generally speaking, watering jade once every three weeks is suitable for winter, but you should always examine your soil to determine how frequently you should water your jade plant based on your particular conditions.
How Often to Water Jade Plants in Summer
Jade plants are slow-growing and can survive for 100 years, but they tend to grow more in the spring and fall. If summer temperatures are persistently very high, however, growth in the summer can be substantially slowed.
High temperatures can cause jade plants to go dormant and stop developing.
This is one of the ways jade plants survive in their harsh, hot, and dry native environment in places like South Africa and Mozambique where summertime temperatures may grow very high.
You should limit watering during the summer because the jade plants’ need for moisture is reduced during their dormancy because of the high temperatures.
Jade plants should receive less watering when dormant since they are more susceptible to root rot from excessive moisture surrounding the roots.
Water your Jade once every three to four weeks if the weather is over 80°F (26°C) to prevent overwatering and root rot; however, if the leaves begin to shrivel, increase the frequency of watering.
Finding the best watering balance for your particular climate may need some experimentation.
How Much to Water Jade Plants
It’s crucial to understand how much water your jade plant needs to thrive!
The frequency of watering your jade plant can vary according on the climate, humidity, and temperature, but the amount of water should remain constant.
Give jade plants a generous soak to the point where water drips out the bottom of the pot.
In order for the roots to absorb the hydration they need, this guarantees that the water has permeated the soil.
A generous watering also promotes root development and growth, which is beneficial for the health of the jade plant and further strengthens its drought tolerance.
A jade plant’s leaves will begin to shrivel and eventually turn brown as a symptom of drought stress when they are watered too little, which results in only the top inch or two of the soil being moist. The water also does not reach the roots where it is needed.
(It should be noted that succulents can sometimes shrivel when over- or under-watered; to learn how to identify the difference, read my article.)
By giving the soil a good soak and then letting it dry out, you can mimic the jade plant’s native environment’s watering patterns, which include brief but intense downpours followed by hot, dry spells.
Well Draining Soil to Avoid Over Watering
To prevent root rot, jade should be planted in the right blend of well-draining soil and good watering habits.
Ordinary potting soil causes the drought-tolerant jade plant’s leaves to turn yellow or translucent as a symptom of stress and holds too much moisture around the roots.
Peat-based potting mixtures also have a propensity to reject water when they become dry, which causes water to flow off the soil’s surface and keeps moisture from getting to your jade plant’s roots, stressing it out during a drought.
In their native South Africa, jade plants naturally grow in very sandy, rocky soil, frequently on the sides of hills, where the soil drains fast and does not retain much moisture.
Growing jades in specialized succulent and cactus potting mix, which is available from garden centers and Amazon, is crucial for maintaining the health of the plant and preventing root rot. This mix closely resembles the unique well-draining soil characteristics and soil profile of a succulent’s native environment.
In order to keep your plant healthy, it is much simpler to maintain the ideal moisture balance for jade plants with the correct soil and avoid any effects of overwatering.
Water Jade Plants in Pots with Drainage Holes in the Base
Jade plants cannot tolerate soggy soil, so you must make sure your container has a drainage hole in the bottom so that any extra water may drain.
The easiest approach to make sure your jade plant has received enough water is to water it until water trickles out the base of the pot. This is also an excellent way to check whether the soil at the bottom of the pot is moist or dry so you can choose when to water your jade plant.
Without proper drainage, planting jade in pots will result in water pooling around the roots, which will eventually decay and result in leaves that are yellow, transparent, and finally black.
In your plant planter, water may still collect around the roots if
- Roots or compacted soil can obstruct the drainage hole. It is worth checking to see whether the hole in the base needs to be cleared if you notice that your soil is draining slowly to allow water to properly escape.
- trays and saucers beneath your pots In order to stop water from dripping into your home, it is fairly customary to place a saucer or tray underneath your plant pot. Regularly empty the tray or saucer to avoid water accumulating and keeping the soil too wet for your jade plant.
- outside pots that add style. Decorative outer pots look nice and keep water from overflowing in your home even though jade plants are frequently offered in stores in plastic pots with drainage holes. The outer pot, however, prevents water from escaping and keeps the soil moist, which leads to root rot. As a result, either empty the water from the outer pot frequently, or plant in a pot with drainage holes in the base.
Key Takeaways:
- Plant jade plants in Miracle-Gro® Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix.Even though the frequency of watering your jade plant can vary depending on the climate, humidity, and temperature should not change the amount of water used.
- Jade plants need a lot of water, so give them a good soak until water drips out the bottom of the pot.
- Thus, the water will have penetrated the soil and be available for the roots to absorb when they need to be moistened.
- For the sake of the jade plant’s health and to further strengthen its drought resistance, a generous watering also promotes the roots’ deepening and maturation in the soil.
FAQ
Do jade plants need direct sunlight?
A jade plant that has been watered insufficiently will only have the top inch or so of the soil moist, and the water will not get to the roots where it is needed, causing the leaves to shrivel and finally turn brown as a symptom of drought stress.
How do you keep a jade plant healthy?
(It should be noted that both under- and over-watered succulents will shrivel; to learn how to identify the difference, read my article.)
How do I know if my jade plant needs water?
By giving the soil a deep soak and then letting it dry out, you can mimic the jade plant’s natural environment’s watering patterns, which include brief, rare bursts of heavy rain followed by stretches of drought and hot temperatures.
Where should jade plant be placed in the house?
To prevent root rot, planting jade in the proper well-draining soil mixture should be done in tandem with good watering methods.
Can I put a jade plant in the bathroom?
The drought-tolerant jade plant suffers from excessive moisture retention in regular potting soil, which results in yellowing or transparent leaves that indicate stress.