Can Jade Plants Be Grown Outside in the Summer?

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When it starts to warm, put your Jade plants outside to enjoy your yard’s fresh air, but you’ll want to ensure you select the right spot for your Jade plant since it could be harmed if placed in the wrong location.

Ensuring that your Jade plant is growing in ideal conditions will lead to better long-term health outcomes for the plant.

What Are the Ideal Conditions for Growing a Jade Plant?

Jade plants need full sun to thrive, six or more hours of direct sun daily. However, direct sun for the Jade plant is best in the mornings and evenings since these plants are very susceptible to sunburn and should be shielded from the intense afternoon sun. An area with the most sunlight during the morning but transitioning to a shadier spot during the afternoon is ideal for Jade plants.

The optimal temperature for Jade plant growth is above 65°F but below 90°F. However, the temperature can exceed that without killing the plant if its other needs are adequately met. 

If the sustained temperature gets below 50°F, the plant could become leggy or die. Leggy plants may droop, grow fewer flowers, and eventually perish if not given more optimal growing conditions.

The humidity of the area you grow your Jade plant should be around 50%, but the plant will not suffer significantly if the humidity is higher or lower than that as long as it’s getting enough sun and isn’t too cold.

Whether you have an outdoor spot that allows you to move your Jade plants outside will depend on where you live. Still, most Jade plants can be moved outdoors in late spring or early summer.

It’s worth noting that Jade plants generally prefer to stay untouched and don’t need to migrate or move for their health. If your Jade plant is happy and healthy where it is, it might be wise to leave it there. While the temptation of the great outdoors might seem healthy on paper, your Jade plant probably wants to be left alone.

When Should I Move My Jade Plant Outdoors?

Determining when to move your Jade plant outside will be based on the temperature of your surroundings. If you live in a warmer climate, you can move your Jade plant outside sooner. Ideally, you want the temperature to be stable above 50°F before you move your Jade plant outside. This plant is biologically designed to thrive in tropical environments and won’t do well if too cold.

How Can I Protect My Jade Plant from Sunburn?

Jade plants are best protected from sunburn by not exposing them to harsh sunlight. While these plants require full sunlight to thrive, they do not need to be in the sun all day, and the direct sunlight during the afternoon — when the sunlight is most intense — can burn the leaves and even kill the plant. 

If your Jade plant gets sunlight all day, it’s best to give them filtered sunlight through a sheer curtain or partial sunlight with enough shade to keep the leaves from burning.

What Does a Sunburned Jade Plant Look Like?

You can tell if the leaves become discolored and wither if your Jade plant has been sunburned. Usually, the discoloration will begin in the areas that get the most direct sunlight, and they may turn white or yellow and slowly change to a reddish-brown color.

Usually, the discoloration will start on the edges of the leaves because this is where the sunlight first hits the plant. However, if the sunlight hits the plant at unusual angles, you may see sunburn in all sorts of places, even the underside of leaves.

What Do I Do If My Jade Plant Is Sunburned?

You cannot salvage the affected leaves if your Jade plant is sunburned. Sunburn destroys the tissues of the affected leaves, and they will eventually wither, die, and fall off. If your plant is already showing signs of sunburn, you’ll want to prune off the sunburned leaves to help the plant on its road to recovery.

Before pruning your Jade plant, ensure the scissors you intend to use are sharpened. It’s best to wear something to protect your eyes when pruning a Jade plant since it is toxic, and its sap can hurt your eyes. You’ll want to thoroughly wash your hands once you’ve finished pruning the sunburned leaves to avoid getting sap in your eyes or mouth.

How Can I Move My Jade Plant to a Better Location?

Jade plants are sensitive plants that may go into shock if moved too suddenly from one location to another. You’ll want to move your Jade plant to its new location gradually over a week so that it has time to acclimate to the changing environment. 

If you’ve found a good location for your Jade plant, moving it to that location for a few hours each day will give the plant time to acclimate to the new environment while keeping it in its regular controlled environment. 

You’ll want to slowly increase the amount of time your Jade plant spends in its new environment each day, and after 5–7 days, you can let it get a few hours of morning sun in its new home. The rest of the time, move the plant to a shady spot.

Place the plant in and out of the morning sun for a week. It allows the Jade plant to get accustomed to the conditions of its new home. After this, sitting in its new home day and night should be fine.

Once you’ve moved your Jade plant to its new home, watch it for any signs of stress. If your plant appears stressed, move it back into the shade and repeat the process of acclimating the plant to its new home. If your Jade plant seems happy and healthy, you can leave it in its new outdoor home!

How Can I Select a Good Location for My Jade Plant?

Light is the first key to selecting a good location for your Jade plant. Jade plants thrive in bright light, even though they don’t like direct sunlight. You’ll want to ensure your Jade plant can get at least four days of bright light a week in its location. A south-facing window or area can help get your Jade plant the sun it needs without worrying about the harsh afternoon sunlight.

Suppose you don’t have a spot where your Jade plant can get morning and evening sun without fear of an afternoon scorching; use a sheer curtain to protect the plant from the harsh sunlight. The sheer curtain will dissipate the light and protect anything from the direct sunlight underneath it.

Secondly, you’ll want to consider the temperature of the area. Jade plants aren’t meant to survive extreme temperatures on either side of the spectrum. So, ensuring your site isn’t getting too hot or cold will ensure your Jade plant has space to thrive. If you need to monitor the temperature to decide if a place is suitable, use an outdoor thermometer and keep a temperature chart as the day progresses.

Lastly, consider the humidity of the area you plan on keeping your Jade plant. Jade plants are native to the desert and prefer arid, dry climates. A humidity of 30–50% is ideal for Jade plants. Keep them away from areas that will get more humid, such as near-standing water.

How Do I Care for an Outdoor Jade Plant?

Jade plants kept outdoors may need to be watered more frequently than indoors. Always check your Jade plant’s soil before watering it. While Jade plants are desert plants that don’t need wet soil to thrive, they need moisture to keep them going. 

You want your Jade plant’s soil to be lightly moist, dry or wet. While you check on this, ensure that your Jade plant isn’t showing any signs of pest infestation. Indoor Jade plants don’t generally have to worry about pests, but outdoor plants may become infected more easily.

Fertilize your Jade plant roughly once a month during its growing season. Doing this will help ensure that it meets all of its nutrient needs during the height of its growth. Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer, and only water your plant with fertilized water after you’ve watered it with regular water. Fertilizing a Jade plant with dry soil can damage the roots and harm the plant’s growth in the long run.

You can fertilize the plant less frequently outside of the growing season, taking up to six months between treatments if necessary.

Can Jade Plants Survive the Winter?

Jade plants can survive some mild winter conditions. Harsh winters like those in the Northeastern United States will kill these tropical plants, but a milder winter in the South should be fine. Keep an eye on your Jade plant to ensure it doesn’t show signs of stress or damage from the cold.

While Jade plants can survive in temperatures between 35–55°F, consistent temperatures below freezing kill the plant. If you live in a climate with cold winters, bring your Jade plant inside to protect it from the cold, or set up a greenhouse where it can spend the winter in luxury.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does a jade plant flower?

The imposing succulent, which he started from a single leaf, has increased its circumference by 4 inches and blooms every year, November through February.

How much light does a Jade plant need indoors?

Jade needs lots of light—at least 4 hours daily in a south-facing or west-facing window. Keep soil moist but not wet during the growing season (spring and summer), and let the soil dry out during the dormant season (fall and winter).

Can jade plants live in the bathroom?

The Jade plant is a trendy housewarming gift in Asia as it brings positive financial energy into the home. This plant thrives and brings good energy when located at the front of a house but avoid placing it in the bathroom as this is too closed off to survive.

How do you know when to re-pot a jade plant?

You might think of repotting jade plants if they’ve stopped growing or appear too crowded. Overcrowding in the container is not bad for the plant, limiting more growth. Jade plants grow to the size their root system allows, often reaching three feet.

Do jade plants attract bugs?

Only four insects seem to infest Jade plants (Crassula argentea) regularly. They are mealy bugs, mealy root bugs, scale, and to a lesser extent, spider mites. Mealybugs will be evident by their white cotton-like covering.

Conclusion

With more people replacing babies with plants, we have to do what we can to ensure our plants have long, healthy lives with us. Jade plants are suitable indoor and outdoor plants, climate depending, and can live happy lives whether you want to keep them indoors on your desk or let them flourish outdoors in the fresh air.

If you’re worried about your Jade plant’s growth, seek guidance from a horticulture specialist who can assist you in finding the best plan for your plant!