We can grow huge ones here in pots. I've dug up jades and they have almost nothing for a root system, so I'm not sure putting them in the ground is going to make a lot of difference.

I would say sufficient light, mild temperatures, and low-ish humidity would be what you are looking for. Most (not all!) indoor-grown jades I see in photos on this forum appear more than anything else to be starved for light. (Over watering aside, of course.)

As has been mentioned above, light is so important to growing almost any succulent. The Jade family is no exception. Without good light, they become etiolated plants. I summer my succulents outside in lots of sun light. My jades are whacked back in early spring (April) just before the new growth begins. This will help make the plant grow more densely and give it a nicer shape. Of course, time and patients are just as important.

Also, to grow Jades large you need to give them root room.
A large container, a raised bed, or in-ground growing will encourage the largest, fastest growth.
Now, a caveat to growing in larger containers is that the media needs to be very free-draining.
Appropriate fertilization - light doses, more frequently - will also yield excellent results.

Josh

Thank you all for the information. I did summer my plants outside this year. I was forced to bring them in earlier than I planned due to frost. I am concerned that I don't have enough light during the winter, 2 small West windows and a medium sized East facing one.

I have read a lot about the fast draining soils and have placed half of my easily obtained succulents/plants, mostly Jades and a couple hoyas in gritty mix. I hope to figure out the proper care of plants in gritty mix over the winter so that I can re-pot everything into it this spring. I will try some Jades in larger pots to see how that changes their growth.
Tami

Tami,

I plan to plant a lot of extra succulent cuttings into the ground in May - I may go a little wild and put in an extra Cyphostemma. There's no real damage to the plant bringing it in in the fall, provided you're careful with the roots, and the plants grow so much better in the ground, even for 4-5 months.

May seems so far away, though. I've 9040 songs on my Ipod, and none of them mention the loss of a favourite Crassula ovata, either.

Cactus, I know how you feel. No snow here yet but it won't be long before it will be white for way too many months.
I had a few succulents planted in a large bowl outside all summer. When frost threatened I dug them out of the bowl, potted them into small clay pots and brought them into the house. They all have done great so I thought I would put these into a raised bed with good drainage in the spring. Too bad it is going to be so long before I can do that. Time to dig out the quilting stuff, quilt in the winter, garden in the summer.

I am trying to get a few leaves to root so I will have extra just in case my experiments don't pan out.

Tami,

Patience really is the key. I know we'd all love to have that huge specimen, but anything you do to "push" growth usually results in a homely plant. But just FYI, if you'd like to get your hands on a large established Jade, you can put out "feelers" to your local county extension office, a local cactus club or other garden clubs. As a member of our local cactus club, I get calls from people who somehow get directed to me about wanting to get rid of plants that have overgrown their space (or they're moving, or whatever...) Just the other day, a lady called me about a huge split leaf philadendron that also has a large Queen of the Night growing in with it that she needs to get rid of. I keep a contact list in my e-mails that I refer to as "plant folks" and when I get one of these calls, I send out an e-mail and usually someone (or a few someones) will express an interest and I put them in contact. A few years ago, an older woman had a backyard full of HUGE succulents and cacti she didn't want to bring in at the end of the season. There was a Jade that was probably close to 4' tall and 3' wide that was incredible. I'm sure she made some pretty good dough on her fabulous collection!

Denise in Omaha