Growing a Jade Tree

10 years ago

I've grown this from one leaf :) I love it so much!

Anyway, I found a Jade TREE when I was in Long Beach and was inspired to get it like that. I can't seem to add more than one image so I'll post in the comments the one I found. .

I googled and found YOU! Wow! An entire group just about succulants and jades. #heaven

I got it to this size by pruning it but I'm stuck with where to prune now to get it to grow thicker and bigger. The base is maybe 3/4" thick.

I have a bigger pot to transplant it. .. and I'll repot the branches I take off. After reading through some of your threads, I had no idea there was special soil, etc.

I'm in Kona, Hawai'i so it is in heaven with the sun where I live. Grows fast but I'm just not sure where to cut it...

And what is this talk about letting it dry out? I water mine a lot.. The sun is strong so the pot dries out quickly.

Thank you for any upcoming advice! I am all ears!

Featured Answer

ehuns27 7a PA

10 years ago

The best way to achieve a larger trunk is to sort of allow the plant to grow wild. The more leaves, the more roots. With more roots your plant will require a larger trunk to carry water and nutrients to its leaves. In my opinion it is still okay to occasionally prune or pinch back leaves, which I believe helps the overall appearance of the plant.

I do not have experience with jade plants in your climate but a general rule of thumb is to always allow the soil to dry out completely (top to bottom) before watering. Jade plants are drought tolerant so they do not need to be watered immediately once the soil dries. If you notice the leaves are thinning and shriveling it could mean it's a but dehydrated. Once you water it they will bounce right back.

I would not pot into a larger pot. The smaller the pot, the less potting mix there is that can remain wet for extended periods of time. More potting mix will take longer to dry out leaving the roots resting moisture for too long, which will lead to root rot.

Congratulations on growing this from leaf! That means you are definitely doing something right!

Happy growing :)

-Erica

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Comments (14)

tashmgh
Original Author
10 years ago
Ok I can't get the image to upload. .. it's so beautiful!
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kaktuskris
10 years ago
How much sun do you give it? I would acclimate it to full sun, if it were mine, in a heavenly place like yours. I like my leaves to get red edges. Being in such a warm place, it can handle more frequent watering, I am sure. Here is one of my beauties...

Christopher
tashmgh
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Christopher -- yes, it has full - all day - sun! and it's hot! yes, i have to water it almost every day because it's so hot.
yours are lovely!!

Erica --- thank you for your helpful response! :)
mesembs
10 years ago
Yes, jade trees are quite beautiful, but keep in mind that it will take a long time to get to that stage! (maybe not so much with your weather)

It looks good so far!

~palmsandsnow
tashmgh
Original Author
10 years ago
Oh is it too hot?
kaktuskris
10 years ago
These are native to South Africa, where it is hot, but also has cooler night temperatures at certain times of the year, unlike Hawaii. I don't know how it would affect the growth, but it may affect blooming.

Christopher
mesembs
10 years ago
I think pretty much the hotter and sunnier, the better, except, of course, very extreme heat.
kaktuskris
10 years ago
Cooler night temperatures trigger bud formation, so they like a little cool period also.

Christopher
tashmgh
Original Author
10 years ago
we do have cooler nights in the winter, especially when there is snow on mauna kea. i have seen them grow bigger up the mountain a little more so, maybe not as cool down by the sealevel as we are.
thank you :)
Tamiya #1 (AU, SG, MY & ZZZzzzz...)
10 years ago
These crassula jades are funny things... seems to grow well in temperate zone downunder but this past hot summer I suspect they've gone dormant (and even got sunburnt!) during the hottest weeks after Xmas, now only just waking up. Never freezes here in oz so they're still active over winter afaik

I'm told they don't do too well in the tropics, even though you'd think being hot all year round they'd never stop growing.

Short of being flooded & drowning the roots, I can't see much difference between regular watering & just ignoring them between rains - they don't seem to grow any slower nor faster :)

stuffing multiple stems into 1 pot seems to make it grow more leaves faster compared to rooting single cuttings (of same size) in individual pots.

big pot or little pot, or direct into earth... their roots stay pretty shallow so there's no huge difference IMHO

ive run out of ideas how to make it grow out its stem thicker... methink the only way is time :( 15, 20, 25yrs trunk will become fat as adult's forearm

if its in a pot just remember to turn pot regularly if you don't prune; else they'll grow lopsided & topple over
tashmgh
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for your comment and insight, Tamiya :)
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
10 years ago
I would let it grow as it is, just tip-prune here and there. Do not cut off lowest branches, they will help trunk to thicken and can be pruned eventually. Plant seems to be growing more to one side - the branch on right in the first photo, and there are side branches growing of it. Do you want a 'tree' look - straight up, with a 'canopy'?
tashmgh
Original Author
10 years ago
I moved it and turned it so it got more sun on the other side. I've been trying to upload this photo I took off a Jade tree I saw in long beach but it's not working. Yes, that describes it well.

I'll try to upload it again. ..