This time of the year it’s very easy to over-water house plants.
There is a lot less light in the winter,so most plants including Jade Plants, will not be as actively photosynthesizing and won’t need as much water.
Over-watering has symptoms similar to under-watering.
When you give a plant too much water, it can cause the roots to become water logged and eventually die back. When the plant loses its roots, it can’t take up enough water, hence, the apparent symptom of not enough water. The well-meaning person taking care of the plant gives it even more water making the problem worse.
A Jade Plant is able to store water in its fleshy leaves and stems. When it dries out to the point of needing water, the leaves become soft and flexible.
If you think your Jade plant needs water, gently squeeze a leaf or two.
If it feel soft, it needs water. If it’s still firm, which in the horticulture trade is called turgid, no water is needed. The plant shown above needs no water, the leaf feels pretty firm.
This next plant’s leaves are soft and flexible, that means this plant needs water.
This squeeze-the-leaf method works only on Jade Plants and other plants with similar fleshy leaves such as sedums and aloe.
Enjoy your indoor gardening!
Bob
I just read your blog on Jade Plant and watering it. But I was just wondering how to separate them my Jade Plant is really getting big and it seem like I should separate it, but I’m scared it might die if I do. DO you have any good ideas how to do it. Thank You, Joyce
Comment by Joyce — May 24, 2009 @ 12:05 am
Joyce, Jade plants actually do quite well in a pots that would be too small for other plants of the same size. They don’t mind their roots getting crowded in the pot. If the plant starts to get so top heavy that it keeps falling over, then you may want to transplant it.
Jade plants can be easily started from a single leaf. Just pick off a leaf and place it on the top of a pot full of half planting mix and half sand. It will soon send out roots and begin to form a new plant.
Good luck to you,
Bob
Comment by Bob — May 24, 2009 @ 5:18 pm