Your conceptions of jade care are partially right, but mostly not. They shouldn't be watered at all right after planting, they are full-sun plants, they like water at times but not at others. Perhaps it's also the soil they're in, too. Perhaps if you read some of the jade posts here that have lots of comments here that will give you a better idea of what to do (and what not to). They really are not difficult plants, and you have gardening skills, so following your readings you'll probably get a better idea of what to do. Just do a search for them (using the search function at the top of the page) using 'jade' or 'Crassula ovata' - you will have lots to read.

Indeed, the key to Jades is NO water after planting, allowing the roots to establish, a fast draining potting medium, and as much light as you can give it. Once you follow a few simple rules, these are pretty much care free.

Christopher

Thanks for all your comments. I'm thinking the fault begins with my choice of potting medium and I need to change that. Will any commercial cactus/succulent mix be ok? I promise not to water after potting !

Lincann - I think you're right too, it's probably your mix. You can add to commercial cactus & succulent mix to make it better or create your own mix (which I would recommend).

Since you have a big garden and so many other plants, sounds like there is good opportunity to test out that green hand with different soils!

Here is one of my smaller Crassula ovatas that I started from cutting. It's kept outdoors in the summer on my roof and in a very bright spot indoors for the fall/winter:

Thanks, ewwmayo - we're at the end of planting season here in Derby City, so I'm left with buying a bag of cactus/succulent mix. What should I add to create the best blend for what's left of my little jade. Perlite? Sand?

Neither, please. If there's one useful thing that's easy to find, it's perlite. Mix half/half with your soil and you've got a useful mix easily.

Being such a good gardener surely means you are attentive to your plants. Being attentive to jades, it has been mentioned on this site, is a practice in benign neglect. Very harsh learning curve for nurturers.

ez

Boy, you can say that again, breathnez ! I'm accustomed to loamy, organic soils, deep watering and babying my plants. After spending the evening reading about 'all things jade', Al's gritty mix and the dire need for sun and good drainage, it's a wonder my jades every lasted even a day ! I really had this ALL wrong, but then I'd never grown succulents until trying my hand this summer (except for poor past jades). So, I can get pine fines (instead of c/s mix) and perlite, but the turface or granite grit are another story. Wondering it I could find turface at a pet store in aquarium supplies?

Where do you live? Not sure if anybody else is in your general area and can give some tips on finding what you need.

Grit is most easily purchased from farm feed/supply stores. Turface can be a bit trickier to find.

I've heard of folks in the bonsai world substituting Mule Mix for Turface. Never used it, never looked for it, but it might be available where you are. Pumice or lava might also be an option. Best to have the various components you might use in a mix be of similar size in order to avoid compaction.

ez

Lincann, pet and aquarium shops will sell fish tank gravel, a useful additive to any succulent mix when you can't get hold of horticultural grit from garden centres. I prefer it to loads of perlite as jades can get big and gravel adds weight to stabilise plants and pots.

Gill UK

Gill - Are you able to find non-coated gravel from pet shops?

I really love the look of aquarium gravel, but I find the coated types aren't as helpful - they are so smooth and aren't able to hold much water or nutrients.

Sometimes landscaping supply 'stores' have lots of different types of grit for quite cheap. Just need to make sure their smallish crushed stone is not limestone (which it is around here in the Ontario, Canada area). Granite or other inert types of stone are preferred.

I never get tired of saying this, but once again my GardenWeb family has come through for me ! You all are simply the best. I guess most people google search everything. Not me - if there is a question needing an answer, I know someone somewhere on GardenWeb has it.

Well, today I experienced a most serendipitious moment. I went to visit my 90 year old mother, told her my latest post - this time on killing Jades - and all your kind and helpful replies. With that, she gives me her beautiful jade plant. Said she can't care for it like she once did and knew I would love it. She also said "And if it ever starts looking bad, call one of those gardeners up and find out what's wrong with it." Don't think she quite understood this is an online forum. Ha !

The planting medium it's growing in is just as you all have described - good and gritty - so I felt comfortable transplanting my own struggling little jades at the foot of the larger one. It's so pretty. Just wish I had a decent enough internet connection to share a photo of it with you. I'm working on that.

Again, thank you all so much for your time and advice. It's always priceless !

Annie (Lincann) in Louisville, Ky

How lovely of your mother! Sounds like my mom, who is from Lexington.

I just wanted to mention that John Deere Landscape stores carry Turface. You might call one of the stores in and around Louisville to see if they have any -- that is, if you should ever decide to make up some of the gritty mix. You can also use NAPA oil dry, or maybe it is floor dry, part 8822.

Farm stores carry Manna Pro granite chicken grit. It's the perfect size for the mix.

I'm sure your little jades will do well planted with your mother's plant!

Annie, this is great news. There's also a binational Turface locater service provided by their website. Check out www.turface.com and use the search function in the upper right of the page.

Another jade lover is born, and I enjoy the stories of plants handed down through generations!

ez

I loved to hear about your mother's treasured jade, Annie. I wonder how many jades you will own this time next year...

You all brightened my day with your kind comments about Mom and your supply info.

Crenda, we are from Lexington, as well. My folks moved to Louisville in the 50's, but had/have grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins there still. Small world. :)

Congrats on your new plant and hopefully the start of a wonderful jade collection ;) You'll get as much help as you can stand here.

However, you absolutely must find a way to post a photo of your mother's jade. Maybe a friend can help.

Daniel

Thank you, rooftopbklyn. I have been on GW for years and always longed to share photos, but my lousy ATT U-verse internet connection has been less than cooperative - the worst of which keeps me from uploading photos to GW even though I can do so to FB. Go figure. I'm looking into Time Warner with a better connection and as soon as this happens, I'll be sure to upload a photo of this beautiful jade. I look forward to sharing it and other garden photos. Thanks !