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Jade plants (Crassula Argentea syn. Crassula ovata), are woody-stemmed plants with oval, succulent, jade green leaves. [1]
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Expert Source
Andi Xoch
Plant Specialist
Expert Interview. 4 August 2021.
When grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, [2]
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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.
Steps
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Find a container that is only 1 to 2 inches deeper and wider than the old container. 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
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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.
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Put the new potting mix into the container at a depth of 1 to 2 inches. [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. -
Remove the jade plant from its old container. 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
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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.
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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.
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Put the jade plant in the new container. Then, fill in the spaces around the roots with potting mix. [9] X Expert Source Andi Xoch
Plant Specialist Expert Interview. 4 August 2021. -
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.
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Take special care of the jade plant for four weeks after transplanting it. The jade plant will be stressed from being transplanted and should be cared for a little differently while it recovers.
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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
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Do not overwater the plant. Too much water will cause the leaves to turn yellow.
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Avoid giving the plant any fertilizer while the root system is recovering. The jade plant does not need fertilizer during this time and it could burn the roots.
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Keep the plant out of direct sunlight. 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. .
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow can I start a new jade plant?Community AnswerGrab 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.
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QuestionMy jade plant has mold growing in the soil. I guess I have over watered, but now what?Community AnswerWell, I would re-pot with the sand soil mix. Water sparingly and give it filtered sun.
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QuestionMy jade plant is in a big pot. Should I move it to a smaller pot?Community AnswerIf 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.
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References
- ↑ Andi Xoch. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 4 August 2021.
- ↑ https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/
- ↑ https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/repotting-house-plants.html
- ↑ https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/jade-plant.html
- ↑ https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/repotting-house-plants.html
- ↑ https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/jade-plant.html
- ↑ Andi Xoch. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 4 August 2021.
- ↑ https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/repotting-house-plants.html
- ↑ Andi Xoch. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 4 August 2021.
- ↑ https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/repotting-house-plants.html
- ↑ https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/jade-plant.html
- ↑ Andi Xoch. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 4 August 2021.
About This Article
Article Summary
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Transplanting your jade plant is relatively easy, but it’s important to do it the right way to keep the plant healthy. Wait until early spring if you can, since it will recover more easily then. You’ll need a pot 2 inches bigger than your old container with drainage holes in the bottom. Fill the bottom 2 inches with a peat-based potting mix and perlite or builder’s sand to help the soil drain quicker. You’ll need to slide your plant out on its side and trim any long roots that stick out, then place it in the new pot. Fill in the spaces with more potting mix. Water it with room temperature water whenever the top soil gets dry and keep it out of direct sunlight. For more tips, including how to stop your jade plant from falling over when it grows too tall, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Happy to find this article. My jade plant is 7 feet tall. It needs replanting, and until reading this, all the articles and videos I saw were for average-sized plants. Now I will replant this monster with confidence and a prayer. It is the wrong season, but can't be helped." ..." more
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"Happy to find this article. My jade plant is 7 feet tall. It needs replanting, and until reading this, all the articles and videos I saw were for average-sized plants. Now I will replant this monster with confidence and a prayer. It is the wrong season, but can't be helped."
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"I was gifted a large jade plant. It was inside a plastic rectangular window box type planter. I'm very knowledgeable of houseplants, I was pleasantly surprised to learn about the after care of the repotted jade. "
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"I have just transplanted my jade plant, and since then it's been looking so tired and I wasn't sure why!"
"The whole article, including tips, helped me since I have never transplanted a big jade plant before."
"Excellent how-to. I'm terrible with plants, so this methodology was just my speed. "
