Easy Succulent Toxic to pets

Jade Plant

Crassula ovata

The jade plant is a tree-like succulent, associated with luck in Asia.

The essentials at a glance

Watering

Every 14 days
Light

Full sun
Humidity

30–40 %
Temperature

10–32 °C

How to care for your Jade Plant

Everything you need to keep your Jade Plant healthy: watering, light, humidity, feeding, repotting and pruning.

Crassula ovata, native to South Africa, is a succulent that with age takes on the appearance of a small tree with a woody trunk. Its fleshy oval bright jade-green leaves are very decorative. It is very long-lived and easy to maintain. In the feng shui tradition, it is said to attract luck and prosperity into the home.

Watering your Jade Plant

Every 14 days

Water deeply, then allow the substrate to dry out completely before the next watering; highly drought-tolerant.

How to know it needs water

Substrate completely dry throughout
Leaves slightly wrinkled, soft or shrivelled

How much light a Jade Plant needs

Full sun

Bright direct to indirect light; a sunny south or west-facing windowsill is ideal.

Direct sun tolerated: 4 to 8 h a day
Orientations that suit it: South, South-west, West, South-east, East

Humidity and misting

30–40 %

Low (30–40%) Do not mist; tolerates dry air very well and is susceptible to fungal issues if foliage remains wet.

Feeding and fertiliser

Every 60 days

Apply two or three times during summer only; never fertilise in winter.

Recommended feed: Cactus and succulent fertilizer (low nitrogen) · 2-7-7

Repotting your Jade Plant

Every 36 months

Use a specialist cactus/succulent substrate in a terracotta pot with excellent drainage; allow to dry for 48 hours before first watering.

When: Spring
Potting mix: Cactus and succulent mix
Mix in: perlite, pumice, coarse sand

The tell-tale signs

Plant unstable due to top-heaviness relative to pot size
Roots emerging from drainage holes

Pruning your Jade Plant

Pinch growing tips to maintain a compact, bushy habit; best done in spring. Pinch or cut stems back to just above 2–3 leaf pairs; stem cuttings root easily after a brief callusing period.

Through the year

Watering is not set once and for all: it follows the light and the growth. Allow 21 days between waterings in the depth of winter, against 11 in the growing season.

21 J
21 F
14 M
11 A
11 M
11 J
11 J
11 A
14 S
17 O
21 N
21 D

Active growth · Days between waterings

Toxicity

Toxic to cats and dogs; ingestion may cause vomiting, depression and incoordination.

Good to know

Symbol of luck and prosperity in Asian culture (feng shui)
Can live more than 50 years if well maintained

Frequently asked questions about the Jade Plant

How do you care for a Jade Plant?

Water it every 14 days. Give it full sun. Ideal humidity: 30–40 %. Ideal temperature: 10–32 °C. Water deeply, then allow the substrate to dry out completely before the next watering; highly drought-tolerant.

How often should you water a Jade Plant?

Every 14 days Water deeply, then allow the substrate to dry out completely before the next watering; highly drought-tolerant. How to know it needs water : Substrate completely dry throughout ; Leaves slightly wrinkled, soft or shrivelled.

How much light does a Jade Plant need?

Full sun Bright direct to indirect light; a sunny south or west-facing windowsill is ideal. 4 to 8 h a day

Is the Jade Plant toxic to cats and dogs?

Yes. Toxic to cats and dogs; ingestion may cause vomiting, depression and incoordination. Keep it out of reach of your pets and call a vet if any is swallowed.

Why are my Jade Plant leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing most often comes from too much water: the mix stays wet and the roots suffocate. Check that the pot drains, empty the saucer, and let the mix dry before watering again. Too little light or a cold draught cause the same symptom.

When should you repot a Jade Plant?

Repot every 36 months, ideally in spring. Use a specialist cactus/succulent substrate in a terracotta pot with excellent drainage; allow to dry for 48 hours before first watering.