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floridabear

Rooting A Jade Stem, Special Soil ?

18 years ago

I saw the posting below about rooting jade, But I had a specific question about rooting them. I bought 2 expensive cuttings off of EBay. I mean EXPENSIVE! 2 cuttings of 2 very pretty varieties cost over $30.00! So I want them to root and thrive. I have a special cacti soil mix that I got on EBay...it is about 95% pumice and 5% peat moss, so it drains super fast and it holds up heavy cuttings really good. Is this soil a good one to ROOT in. OR should I root in something that holds more water??

The rooting directions, gave good instructions, but it said to SOAK the soil after planting the cuttings,and they will have rooting hormone on them when they arrive, It even said to keep the spaghnum moss on the cuttings, that they will be wrapped in for shipping, when they are planted to root them. Is that right? That part doesn't sound right. It sounds like a great way to ROT the cutting. Shouldn't it be removed?

With this cacti soil it drains super fast,and my other cacti love it, and my Stapelia cuttings took to it VERY fast as well.

So is this cacti soil be the right one to use to root in...or should I use a soil that holds more water longer to get them to root?

I hope that this question makes sense.

Comments (5)

  • 18 years ago

    You should be pretty warm right? Jades in most places this time of year can be hard to root. You should be okay where you are. I wouldn't put it in any soil until you actually see roots and certainly don't put it in moist soil. It will rot. There should be enough humidity where you are to keep it happy for a while. Don't put it in direct sun. When you see new roots, pot up and water lightly and wait for it to dry out completely. If you want to root it in the soil, you can, but it is harder to see the root growth. If you do it this way, wait until you see new growth and then water. I root in 100% fired clay. It works nicely and has lots of room and oxygen for the roots to be happy. Do a search on rooting large cuttings of jade or simply rooting jade. You should find a wealth of info. I've not been on in a while. I had a herniated disc sitting on my sciatic nerve and had to have surgery. I had to lie down for two months as sitting made the pain unbearable. I am glad to be able to sit at the computer if only for a little while.

  • 18 years ago

    If it isnt put into soil,how is it suppose to root? Just laying around sitting on a table??

  • 18 years ago

    I put mine is a small glass of water, they root fine.

  • 18 years ago

    Howdy, Florida Bear!
    I just rooted two jade tip-cuttings that were three inches long.
    Rooting jade cuttings can be a very simple and rewarding process.

    To answer your question, a jade cutting will root without soil.

    Here's what I did:
    1) I left my cuttings on top of some sandy soil, in a window-sill, for about three weeks. I checked them every week, until I saw the first tiny white roots emerging from the calloused-over cuts.

    2) Once the cuttings had roots, I put them into small pots with the same fast-draining (high perlite) soil I use for my other jades.

    3) I left the potted cuttings alone for about another week, and then I started giving them some water. The key is to wait to water your cuttings until you know they have roots.
    ___________________________________________

    You can literally root jade in nothing more than an empty terracotta pot (which I learned on this forum). Of course, if you plan to grow the jade as a plant, you'll want to put it into soil! ;)

    Good luck! And please post a pic!

    Josh

  • 18 years ago

    I know that rooting in water works fine for some, but I've read that it can create a weak plant and sometimes cause rotting. I've tried multiple ways and lost some in each of the ways I've tried. It's so humid where I am that I one survive with no soil for six months. I am not joking. I left it in the garage from late early winter to early summer having forgotten it in a terracotta pot. I was cleaning the garage and found it. it had roots sprawled everywhere in the pot. The stems were etiolated like crazy but it was alive. I put it in soil, gave it a trim, and it is beautiful now. I believe jades can even take in water through their leaves.