Red on the edges usually indicates it is getting a good amount of sun. Slow growth when it is very hot is normal. However, hot beating sun can damage roots if the soil gets too hot. Protect the pot itself from the sun if possible. I arrange my plants so that the branches of one shade the pot of the next. Some people put pots inside of larger pots, and put some mulch in as insulation.

I water when a wooden skewer inserted into the soil for 10 minutes comes out just a little moist, and then I water thoroughly to the point of saturation. If it comes out wet enough to have fine bits of bark/grit stuck to it, then no need to water.

ez

Where it is at the moment it gets a few hours direct sun in the morning and then spends the rest of the day in the shade from the house, i tend to move it into the shade if it's going to be a real scorcher with no clouds because i dont want it to burn.

Do you think that as the summer gets hotter with more cloud free days i should move it inside near a window so it can get light but nothing direct?

oh also, it's only in a little plastic pot, should i get a clay one that'll stay cooler better?

thanks for the watering tip! i didnt think about using a skewer or anything but i'll definitely use it now!

Plastic tends to heat up pretty fast. I prefer clay. In my experience, plants do better outside with sun, wind and rain. I only bring them in when forced to by cold temps. Afternoon shade is a great idea to keep plants from becoming heat-stressed.

ez

i havent even considered the pot material to be a factor really but i'll try to get my hands on a clay pot, do you think i should go for bigger to give the roots space or is it fine for now in its little pot until it grows big?

i'm a bit worried for it, knowing that summer here is dry and still and rockets up into the 40's (104+ in american) but i'll try my best to keep it out of direct sunlight on those hot days. will i need to water it more on hot days, owing to the heat from the sun sucking all moisture out, do you think?

(i have like, no knowledge of plants aha whoops!)

Shannon, hello there. Please take a pic so we can see the plant and advise you further regarding the pot choice. Also one showing the soil mix may help too. What did you use for planting it in please?

What area are you in? Have visited my relies in Rockingham and Safety Bay several times and have travelled down to Albany. Very Nice!

Gill

Yes, take a pic.

Josh

i'm down in the bunbury area :D it's a mediterranean climate here so it gets real humid aha

I don't grow this plant, but I believe you have a Portulacaria afra, not a Crassula ovata (jade plant). It is sometimes called dwarf jade or elephant's bush. Cute!

Yes, what you have there is not a Jade at all, but rather a Portulacaria afra, sometimes called "Elephant['s food] Bush." Definitely don't let it dry out as much as one would a Jade plant. I water mine copiously during the Summer, and very consistently during the Winter, too.

Josh

Also called spekboom in Afrikaans, it is a very important plant in several ways, not the least of which is carbon uptake from the atmosphere.

Article

ez

i did think it looked a lot different to all other jade plants i've seen, i just thought it was a different type or maybe it was just small!

ahh this is so cool!

Do you guys have any tips now that we've identified my little plant, should i keep treating it how i have been with lots of sun and the occasional watering?

man i feel kind of silly now, looking at pictures of other portulacaria afras (im gonna call it my baby jade aha)

I'm in a similar zone to yours. My potted succulents get morning and afternoon sun. I'm just lucky an umbrella happens to be in a position to block midday sun. I also put something in front of smaller pots to shade them.

your plant does not need a bigger pot.

They do like lots of sun. And I would follow Josh's advice.

ez

Thanks, Ez.

Yes, keep it watered regularly, and fertilize lightly.

Josh

hey guys, it's been a while and it's gotten a whole lot hotter, i'm just mentioning this as i dont think my plant has had any growth since summer started. My other little succulent, a type of echeveria i think (or related to it) has been growing and shooting out lil buds left and right like mad, but little baby jade has been the same.

i was just wondering if this is fine, do they slow growth to help conserve water and energy in hot weather maybe? i've been trying to give it plenty of sun but not too much so it doesn't get burnt because it does get really, really hot in the sun.

also (sorry for all the questions, im new to this) are there any signs for overheating? i was looking at the leaves today and there are a bunch of very tiny, fine lines on em, i wasn't sure if this is normal or not but im probably just overthinking it!

Yes, they will often go semi-dormant during the heat of Summer. Many of us have observed this.

Josh

Hey guys long time no see and im back for your help! my little baby jade has started to get little brown spots? they kind of turn into little black bumps and i knocked one off with my nail to see if it was like, a wound on the leaf but it didn't really leave a mark. is it getting sunburnt maybe?

Please take another picture for us, close up of the spots if you can. It may be edema or it may be the dreaded scale. But neither is fatal, so we'll figure it out together.