Jade Plants: Shade or Outside Sun?

To keep jade plants healthy it is important to understand the growing conditions of its natural habitat so that you can try and recreate the environment at home or in your office. The botanical name for the jade plant is Crassula ovata. They make popular houseplants because they are hardy and do not require much watering. They are also known as a friendship tree or money plant.

Hillside slopes in South Africa are the native habitat of jade plants where they grow in abundance and can reach 10 feet tall. Summers are hot and during this time soils receive very little rainfall and are very dry. During winter when cooler temperatures arrive, jade plants produce clusters of small star-shaped flowers that are half an inch wide and smell of scented soap.

Jade plants can survive long periods without water due to a feature that enables them to conserve water and energy. Small pores on their leaves absorb carbon dioxide during the night and this is converted into sugar using the sun. During the day, leaf pores close to stop the water and carbon dioxide from evaporating.

Place jade plants in a sunny place, such as a bright windowsill, water sparingly and never position them in the shade. They can be placed outside on patios but they need to be brought inside over autumn and winter to avoid frosts. They can withstand cold temperatures to just above freezing. According to the University of Arkansas, it is important not to the restrict growth of jade plants by growing them in pots too small for their size. Do not get disheartened if you have a jade plant and it does not flower, because they rarely bloom as a houseplant.

It is very easy to propagate a jade plant. Simply place a single leaf against the side of a pot filled with soil, with its leaf base touching the soil, and water sparingly. Repot jade plants into larger pots every three years in houseplant compost that is mixed with one-third sand or grit.

Although they are very hardy and require little watering, jade plants do suffer from mealy bugs. Look out for "fluff" underneath leaves and in crevices on the plant. The fluff is in fact lots of little mealy bugs that group together and stick themselves to leaves and stems. If left to multiply they can inhibit the growth of the plant. Treat mealy bugs by rubbing the affected areas gently with alcohol. Always pick off dead leaves and occasionally clean jade plants to remove dust by putting them in the shower or leaving them outside in the rain.