I still think this was a really cool experiment, thanks for sharing it with us.

Hey Mike,
I agree with newnie. This is the important stuff that newbies need to see. I am trying to keep as many jades in bright light to keep the colors nice. Your jades look really nice as always Mike!
Andrew

Hey, Mike!
The sun is definitely the instigator of color in Jades.
As I mentioned in the other Thread, I've seen a colorful Jade go quite green in
only a few day's worth of shade.

I don't see a 'Hummel's Sunset' among the bunch, though.

Josh

This is very interesting. It would be cool to also see if the color revert back after keep it indoor for a while.

That is a very cool experiment. Thanks for sharing the results.

For me in FL it is a combination of cooler nights and direct sun that triggers my best color. So for me I get the nicest colors out of my Jades in the early winter through late spring, then when the nights doesn't cool off anymore (low's in the upper 70's to low 80's)my Jades start losing their nice color, and it also pretty much goes dormant. At least for me, I need both cool temps and full sun.

Josh,

if you do not see a hummel's sunset, what do you see?
if there is a particular reason, i would like to know it.
if it is the lack of color, than time will tell.

Doug

I don't see a Hummel's sunset either. If you're referring to the large plant in the center of your first photo, that is a type of variegated jade.

Doug, that's a variegated Jade in the middle of the planting.
I think it's called Crassula ovata cv. 'Tricolor' - but I could be wrong.

Josh

sorry, i am talking about the plants on either side of the large variegated jade.

Those two didn't even register as Sunset's!
Keep us updated as the experiment continues.

Josh

Josh,

is there still a question if they are sunset's or not?
i am not insulted i had question that myself. with looking at every photo i could find of green hummel's sunsets i am mostly convinced that they are. i guess that the only real way to prove it or not is to get them to color up. which i am attempting with one of them to show the difference. if you see something that tells you they are definitely not i would like to know. because waiting all summer and possibly the fall is painful for me. patience is something i am working on

It's still hard for me to tell. More time needed.

One good indicator will be very red stems...
This is a pic I took the other morning...Pardon my sad looking Jade.

{{gwi:576657}}

Josh

{{gwi:576659}} the stems are becoming red

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Doug,

No, I don't think so - those look to me like reddened (through increased sun, cold, lack of water or some combination of all three) like Crassula ovata, period.

OTOH, I don't have a really clear idea of what C. o. 'Hummel's Sunset' is, but I do think I know what the regular C.o. looks like, in its various guises and growth conditions. Yours looks like it, albeit a nicely-grown specimen. Additionally, I think colour changes are more readily apparent, and therefore vivid in comparison, in younger plants versus mature plants.

But I could be wrong.

I've had Hummel's in the past that were all green. It was a little experiment I did. They were kept in shade, were over-fertilized, and watered too much. The plants I kept in full sun, were rarely fed, and were watered just enough to keep foliage on them showed the best color. That's how I treat them now.

This would be a fair representation of all of my Hummel's this morning. Almost all yellow with red edging and a slight tent of green starting to show on the center part of the leaves.

{{gwi:576663}}



During the peak of summer is when I see the most green on them. By December there is no green. Different climates, micro climates , and most of all cultural habits will influence any plant.

randy

randy,
thank you for your post. the last two conditions could be possible. i had been fertilizing on occasion, and i water when the leaves get a bit soft. would you say that was two much. thanks again

Doug

That's the perfect watering method, Doug.

I only fertilize Jades once in the Spring....and this is the first year that I've fertilized at all.
I think it was Randy, in fact, who convinced me that a little Osmocote wouldn't hurt.... ;)


Josh

Doug,

I can't be of much help on the soft thing. Not into putting the squeeze on my plants and not sure I want to go there. :-)

Watering is a visual thing. The old leaves will loose their gloss and start to get a dull shade. They will also start to wrinkle. That's when I water.

randy

Randy,
feel one of those slightly wrinkled leaves - a gentle caress, not a bear hug, mind you! ;)
By feel, one could water his or her Jades even if blind.

I find that the older leaves go soft a bit soon, so I wait until the mid-leaves have begun to
lose turgidity. Then I water. I no longer wait for actual creases or wrinkles.

Doug,
I just took a few more Jade pics.
Here's another ordinary Jade that develops good color:

{{gwi:576664}}
{{gwi:576665}}

Josh

Josh,

Most touches from me towards plants are usually the business end of a razor sharp blade. You have your fetish, I'll keep mine. :-)

randy

I must say I am so proud and honored to know some of the brightest people here..Looking at these beautiful jades is certainly proof of that.

If I hadn't met you folks, I would of NEVER had known about or grow these Hummels like you guys do..

Thanks" Randy" for everything!! And thanks Josh, Doug,and Jade-man for this thread..My Jades are looking mighty fine about now. I will post a couple of pics later.You all have some mighty good looking plants!

Mike

Ha! Randy!
You know what they say about Love....the first cut's the deepest... ;)
Even for old, jaded fellows, eh? Speaking of which...where's Jeffrey gotten off to?
He ought to be here, enjoying the entendre!

Hey, Mike!


Josh

update photos for your viewing. will continue on with my sun light experiment. this makes two weeks in the direct sun.

{{gwi:576666}}

{{gwi:576667}}

That's what I call results!


Josh

Great results Jade man! Thanks.

thank you

update photos for your viewing. this makes three weeks in the direct sun.

{{gwi:576668}}

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i believe at this point i can conclusively say that the plants that i have were Hummel's Sunsets. and with both plants it is fairly obvious that the sun is the primary factor for color change. i will see this fall if the cold not freezing nights has an added effect.

i am considering putting my control plant out in a spot that gets some shade or morning sun only. and see if the red comes out. i would like it to have all the colors of some of the most beautiful plants i have seen. like the one that i have recently received a cutting of.

Hm, both of those still look like plain C. ovata to me. That's pretty much what mine look like after a few weeks in bright sun with little water.
Below is what my hummel looks like so far.
{{gwi:576670}}

rennet,
your plant looks like it is sitting under a grow light. the direct sun seems to have a different effect. i have a large regular jade plant. here is what they look like side by side. i have a few different jade plants. to me it is obvious. maybe this photo will help. in the front is a hummel, in the back is a regular jade. the jade in the background has been outside since may. i have never had any other jade plant turn to a cream color in any light.

{{gwi:576671}}

hopefully the size of these pics is better. flickr has changed some of there options, i can now choose a smaller size. unless you like the really big pics?

i know this is off topic but, i just scored 100lbs of turface MVP. i found a wholesaler pretty close, but they would not sell it directly to me. i had to find a local nursery to place the order and pay them. and they paid the wholesaler. i don't know if i got lucky but i am pleased with it. turface all by itself still holds less water than a peat heavy soil. i am going to do a little experimenting with it. i still need the other ingredients in Al's gritty mix. i will post with any positive or negative results.

Jade man, Congrats on finding turface...I think you will be very pleased with Al's gritty mix. I've had this Jade in Al's mix for about 3 1/2 years and its doing very well in it. I have ALL my Jades/Succulents and container plants in his mix(I tweek it a little)depending on their water requirements.
3 1/2 years ago...when I bought this Jade. 1-19-07
{{gwi:530377}}
Same Jade taken a few days ago...years of pruning/repotting
{{gwi:467683}}

that is a beautiful plant thanks for the pics.

Puglvr1
Your plant is very impressive and to get the trunk to grow this thick with 3 1/2 years. I wish mine would grow at this rate.

Thanks Jade man and Sam!

Sam, I've "whacked" that Jade a few times...and I still get a sick feeling in my stomach every time I do it. It's nerve racking for me waiting to see new growths so I know I didn't kill it,lol...
Here's a picture of one of its very drastic prune.
{{gwi:467682}}

i may have to try my hand at that, choose a Jade and see how it goes. i have just recently done this to a Portulacaria afra. i was beginning to think that cutting off all the green might have been too severe. obviously it works. thx

Pug and others,
When is the best time to prune jade? and what it's benefit?. Is this needed?. I'm new to the jade world. I have a newly acquired beautiful hummels sunset and would appreciate your advice on future pruning/care. Thanks

spring and early summer. i have also pruned in the early fall with good results. my plants seem to grow during the winter here. this summer my plants have stopped growing. too hot, too humid i believe.

Hi haworthia, I'm probably not the right person to ask, I've only been growing them for about four years. I prune mine because I like my Jades short and wide...I like the tree like shape and try to get the trunks to thicken up. Its a matter of personal preference as to how you want to grow them. You certainly don't have to prune them if you don't want to. I have limited space, so I don't want to grow them too large...and try to keep them in smaller pots. I prefer mine somewhat "bonsai" size/shape.

I prune mine late summer early fall. My Jades are pretty much dormant in the summer(Fl)...so I wait till the weather cools off a little...my jades seems to grow better when the weather is not so hot and humid.

Jade man and Pug,
Thank you so much for your response and advice. I will certainly use it. I'm a huge fan of Hummels Sunset jade after seeing it pictured in Debra Baldwin's recent succulent container garden book. The Hummels Sunset pictured in her book was kept in the same small pot for 20 years and it was treated as a bonsai. I knew I had to get this plant after seeing it in her book. I think my Haworthia and Gasteria plants may not be getting the same attention that this jade plant gets(smile). Thanks again. You guys are the best.

there had been some debate as to whether my hummel's sunsets were in fact hummel's sunset. i am now absolutely convinced that they are.

old pic
{{gwi:576672}}

new pic of the plant that had been kept inside and was very green.

{{gwi:576673}}

I'd have to say that you've convinced me, too, Jade Man.
That bold scarlet line along the leaf-margin is a sure sign of Sunset!
Thanks for the update!

Josh