How to Transplant a Jade Plant

Co-authored by Andi Xoch

Last Updated: March 11, 2024 Approved

Jade plants (Crassula Argentea syn. Crassula ovata), are woody-stemmed plants with oval, succulent, jade green leaves. ^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Andi Xoch
Plant Specialist

Expert Interview. 4 August 2021.} When grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, ^{[2]
X
Research source} where temperatures stay above 20 °F (−7 °C) in the winter, jade plants can reach a height of 10 feet. They are most often grown as houseplants, however, where they grow slowly to a height of about 3 feet. Because of this slow growth rate, jade plants only need to be repotted every two to three years if they become pot bound.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Part 1: Using a New Container and New Soil

Download Article

1
Transplant the jade plant in early spring. This is the time when they are just entering a season of vigorous growth. ^{[3]
X
Research source}
- They recover from the stress of being repotted more easily and quickly during this season.
2
Use a heavy clay, terracotta or ceramic container. This will help to keep the plant upright. ^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Jade plants tend to become top heavy and fall over easily.
Advertisement
3
Make sure the container has at least one drain hole in the bottom. This will allow excess water to drain from the pot.
- If the excess water cannot drain away, it will keep the potting soil too moist and restrict air movement which can cause root rot and kill the plant.
Larger containers will encourage excessive root growth or hold too much soil around the roots which will keep them wet for too long. ^{[5]
X
Research source}
5
Use a peat-based potting mix with extra coarse builder’s sand or perlite added in. This will allow the soil to drain more quickly. ^{[6]
X
Research source}
- You can mix the perlite or sand into the potting mix at a ratio of two-thirds potting mix and one-third perlite or sand.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Part 2: Transplanting the Jade Plant

Download Article

^{[7]
X
Expert Source

Andi Xoch
Plant Specialist

Expert Interview. 4 August 2021.} The top of the jade plant root mass should be about 1 inch below the top of the container after it is transplanted.
Do this by laying the pot on its side, grasping the base of the stem in your hand and sliding the roots out. ^{[8]
X
Research source}
3
Disinfect a pair of sharp scissors with a household disinfectant like Lysol. Soak them in the disinfectant for five minutes, rinse them in tap water and dry them off with a clean towel.
- This will kill fungal spores and bacteria that may infect the jade plant.
4
Trim off any roots that are much longer than the root mass. Then, cut the roots off so they are even with the rest of the root mass.
- Trimming off these long roots will cause the plant to develop a healthier root system within the root mass.
Then, fill in the spaces around the roots with potting mix. ^{[9]
X
Expert Source

Andi Xoch
Plant Specialist

Expert Interview. 4 August 2021.}
6
Water the jade plant with room-temperature water until it drains from the bottom. This will settle the soil around the roots and give the plant some moisture.
- If there is a saucer beneath the container to catch the water that drains from the hole, empty it after watering the plant.
- Water left in the saucer could leach back up into the potting mix and keep the roots too wet.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Part 3: Helping the Jade Plant to Recover

Download Article

The jade plant will be stressed from being transplanted and should be cared for a little differently while it recovers.
2
Water the plant with room-temperature water when the top of the potting mix begins to dry. The jade plant needs to be watered more often than usual because the root system has been compromised and cannot absorb water efficiently. ^{[10]
X
Research source}
- Room-temperature water will not shock the roots like cold tap water.
- If the jade plant is not getting enough water, its succulent leaves will begin to shrivel and may develop brown spots. ^{[11]
  X
  Research source}
Too much water will cause the leaves to turn yellow.
The jade plant does not need fertilizer during this time and it could burn the roots.
As the leaves are not receiving moisture as efficiently as usual, they could be burned by too much sunlight ^{[12]
X
Expert Source

Andi Xoch
Plant Specialist

Expert Interview. 4 August 2021.} .

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

How can I start a new jade plant?

Community Answer

Grab one petal from the plant and place it in a pot. Don't water. The genetic memory from the leaf will root itself and start another jade. Pretty cool right? That's how you end up seeing the jade that looks like it grows out of the ground and then grows right back into the ground. The leaves sit on the soil and re-root themselves.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 23
Question

My jade plant has mold growing in the soil. I guess I have over watered, but now what?

Community Answer

Well, I would re-pot with the sand soil mix. Water sparingly and give it filtered sun.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 6
Question

My jade plant is in a big pot. Should I move it to a smaller pot?

Community Answer

If it's growing well in the big pot, leave it. They tend to be top-heavy, so a bigger pot keeps the pot from tipping over. If it's not doing well in the big pot, definitely move it to a smaller pot. They thrive in a regular potting soil mixed half and half with some type of gravel (depending on the size of the pot, use fish tank gravel for smaller pots and pea gravel for larger pots). You could also mix half potting soil and half builder's sand. The key is to amend the soil to make it more like the rocky soil jade plants grow in naturally. They must have good drainage and you must not over-water them. I water mine every few weeks.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 12

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

[1]

Expert Source

Andi Xoch
Plant Specialist

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

Log in

How to Transplant a Jade Plant

Steps

Part 1: Using a New Container and New Soil

Part 2: Transplanting the Jade Plant

Part 3: Helping the Jade Plant to Recover

Community Q&A

Tips

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Reader Success Stories

Did this article help you?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Quizzes

Explore Categories