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Jade plants are considered safe houseplants that anyone can grow. They do not require much attention, they usually stay in one place, and their leaves tend to be thick and glossy-looking.
Jade plants have stems that tend to multiply and offset over time, sometimes creating many leaves at the tips of the stem. You can use these excess leaves to grow Jade plants from cuttings by repotting the cutting and growing them indoors.
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Taking care of jade plants is easy, but propagating them can be tricky, especially when taking your first steps into plant propagation. Jade plant propagation requires some patience but is not difficult. You can propagate jade plants by taking cuttings, planting seeds, or dividing the plant.
1. How To Take Cuttings Of Jade Plants?
One way of propagating jade plants is to take tip cuttings. When stems become too crowded, cutting them and propagating new jade plants is best.
- Take tip cuttings between 3 – 5 inches long from healthy stems, and remove all the leaves except the top 2 or 3.
- Make a planting tray by filling it with a mixture of 50% potting soil and 50% peat moss.
- Insert the jade plant cuttings approximately one-third of their length in this mixture, making sure you keep at least one good leaf on each cutting.
- Place the covered tray in a well-lit place, but not directly in sunlight, and make sure the soil temperature is 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit before moving your jade plant cuttings.
- After ten days or so, you should have roots sticking out of the bottom of each cutting. At this stage, carefully separate the cuttings and transplant each one into a separate pot filled with regular potting soil.
- When you have transplanted all your jade plant cuttings, place them in indirect sunlight for a few days before moving them to an area with full sun.
In two or three weeks, you should see signs of growth in your jade plant cuttings. They should form new branches and small clusters of leaves but will require patience before they are ready to be transplanted again.
2. How to Plant Jade Tree Seeds From Cuttings
Propagating jade plants by seed is another option for anyone with a larger jade plant. To do this, you must wait until the jade plant from your cuttings flowers usually happens when you are around 5 or 6 years old (but sooner).
Once you see this happening, it is time to collect the seeds. The berries should be allowed to dry out entirely before collecting the seeds, so the best time to do this is right after they have turned from green to brown.
- Start shaking or knocking each berry until all the seeds fall onto a paper tablecloth you have placed on the ground below.
- After this, thoroughly wash away all the fruit pulp and spread the seeds out to dry completely.
- The next step is to store your jade plant seeds until it is time to plant them in trays (you should only keep the seeds for about a month before planting). Some people like to store them in sealed jars or plastic bags in the refrigerator until they are ready to plant.
- If this is done, ensure they are placed in an area where the temperature stays close to 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
- When ready to plant the seeds, mix equal parts peat moss and sand for your potting soil mixture (about 50% of
- each). Fill your planting trays with the mixture and plant the seeds about 1-inch deep.
- Cover the tray with a sheet of glass or plastic to raise humidity levels and place it in an area that gets indirect sunlight.
- Keep the soil moist at all times, but be careful not to overwater it, as this can cause problems such as mold and fungi.
After ten days or so, you should see signs of sprouting in your jade plant seeds, and they will soon develop their first set of leaves.
Once this happens, it is time to carefully transplant them into pots filled with regular potting soil before the roots become too entangled in the peat moss mixture.
When handles are placed in the bottom of each pot, they can be transplanted once again right away.
3. How To Plant Jade Tree Seed Cuttings Indoors?
The best way to successfully grow a jade tree indoors is by taking cuttings from an existing plant which can be done at any time, but winter is the best time because the plant will absorb less water when its leaves are dormant.
- Start by ensuring your mother jade plant from which you are taking your cuttings is growing well.
- To do this, look for dark green leaves without any scars or holes (if the jade plant has suffered through insect damage, it may not be a good idea to take your cuttings).
- Once you see that the jade plant is healthy, remove 10 of its newest shoots from the tip of a stem using sharp, clean shears.
- They should be about 2 to 4 inches long and have at least 3-4 leaves on them.
- Place the cuttings into a bucket filled with water and let each one soak overnight before planting it in new potting soil (this step must be done).
- When ready to plant your new jade cuttings, fill a pot with regular potting soil and slice the bottom off each cutting.
- You can then place it into one of the drainage holes that have been made in the pot and pack some soil around its roots. Water it well after planting and place it to get indirect sunlight.
Once your jade plant cuttings have become established and are growing well, they will need to be repotted every 18 months or so (if you see new shoots coming from the center of the leaves, it is time to transplant them again). Use a pot with drainage holes and fill it with regular potting soil.
4. Jade Tree Planting Tips: When To Report a Jade Plant Cutting?
Jade tree plants are generally pretty hardy and easy to care for, but it is still essential to know when the best time is to transplant one.
Before deciding if their jade plant needs repotting (such as its age and growth pattern), one must consider several factors, but the leading indicator is when it has stopped growing.
When this happens, one can expect new roots from the soil near the repotting tray’s drainage holes.
If they are thick enough to hold up a pencil point, it is probably time to transplant (it is important to note that the roots only need to be as thick as a pencil as jade tree plants can develop strong roots quickly).
It is also possible to transplant your jade plant at other times of the year. Still, winter is one of the best times because its leaves are usually dormant after you have transplanted your jade plant into a larger pot, water it well, and place it in an area that will get indirect sunlight.
FAQs about Jade Plants
Conclusion on 4 Ways To Grow Jade Plants From Cuttings
Jade plants can grow quite large, so it is essential to know the size of their ideal pot before purchasing one.
They are relatively easy to care for and can survive in most conditions with little maintenance (other than routine watering), making them an excellent houseplant option for anyone who wishes to add some color with minimal effort.
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