Watering Jade Plants: A Complete Guide

The outcome is one of the first things that cross your mind when tending to a garden. The process might not be the fairytale that some of us dream of. The remedy? Get into it with an open mind and be ready to roll up your sleeves.

You can water your Jade plants once every two to three weeks if you keep them indoors and more often if kept outdoors or in the summer season. Since they are succulents, they can keep water from their leaves for quite a while.

Jade plants are slowly but surely becoming the center of attention because of their evergreen and excellent appearance.

No one can stand the sight of withering plants that look like they’re already dead or headed there. Gardening enthusiasts will do all it takes to ensure they never encounter dull and drab-looking plants.

Watering them is one of the most standard ways to keep not just jade plants but all plants from withering and wilting. If your specialty is jade plants, watering them is a rewarding venture.

How Can You Water Your Jade Plants Effectively?

First off, it helps to know your jade plants’ moisture needs and content before you get to it. One way to do this is by checking the soil that accommodates it.

If it dries up pretty much faster, it’s clear that you have so much work to do in keeping your jade plants watered. The season you plan to undertake this project also contributes to your watering schedule.

Summer is the hottest and leaves nothing but severe scars for plants that appear to be neglected.

Watering During Winter

Seasons come and go, so it’s up to you to stay connected with your plants and keep them lively. Winter means temperature deterioration, which might take a toll on jade plants. Ensure you go easy on your watering schedule during winter since not much water is lost. Watering too often causes root rot, which comes about due to saturated soils.

Every devoted jade plant gardener knows the importance of a drainage hole. It helps keep a stable moisture balance and keeps you from the blunder of over or underwatering your jade plants. The drainage hole also gives the soil breathing space by drying out and making room for a fresh pour. Your watering schedules during the winter boil down to the general appearance of the soil.

Drying out means a refill, while wet soil means you must give your jade plants a break. Watering your jade plants from the base once every three weeks is enough to keep it going through the winter season.

Watering During Summer

The slow growth rate of jade plants could make you think they are stunted or even dead. Fact check; Jade plants grow slowly but live longer than most when accorded befitting growth requirements. Tending to them during the summer doesn’t have to be a nightmare. On the contrary, this could be among your most treasured seasons once you grasp what you need to do. 

First, understand that your jade plants could succumb to high temperatures and place their growth patterns on hold. Their demand for moisture becomes higher than usual and will keep you on your toes. When you notice this, take it easy on the water. 

Jade plant roots might take longer to absorb water, and adding more on top of it could only lead to root rot. Slowing down their growth patterns is a survival technique for jade plants. The growth process requires plenty of water which may not be available when temperatures peak.

The leaves of your jade plants should be your guiding factor in case you lag on your watering schedules. Succulent leaves mean they have sufficient water.

On the flip side, signs of shriveling should get you back to your watering duties. However, don’t wait until your plants reach this state before doing something.

How Much Is Enough?

Now that the tricky part is over (almost), you might as well get it straight on how much water is enough to maintain your jade plant’s glow depending on several factors, such as temperatures, climate, and humidity. Remember the drainage hole we mentioned earlier; it is handy now because it determines whether your jade plant has had enough to drink.

Water your plant until the pot drains at the base to give you clues on how much moisture the soil has managed to grasp. Moreover, it ups the jade plant’s succulent game and never leaves it looking wilted. Sufficient water gives your plant security and enables it to survive and keep standing tall despite drought. Shriveling is a sign of both succulent and underwatered jade plants.

It may sound confusing, but there’s a way to tell the difference between the two and find out where your plant lies. The soil sustaining your plant should be your guiding factor. When an element of dryness is detected, shriveling will come calling. At the same time, you can tell an overwatered jade plant through the soil, which leaves no room for more water (overwatered).

Reviving Shriveled Jade Plants

Thankfully there are ways to revive your jade plants at their worst. Keenness on your watering schedules is one way to do this.

Don’t go under or overboard, as your plants depend on you. There is hope for a jade plant undergoing shriveling when you keep it close and identify the cause.

For instance, it’s easier to revive it when you realize you’ve exposed it to excess or insufficient water.

When under-watered, be generous in your watering sprees and give them time to revive. You should see results in about a week or so when you keep track of the soil’s moisture content. 

Keep track of your watering episodes using an app on your phone or note down your plant’s progress in a notebook. As stated earlier, the three determining factors, temperature, humidity, and climate, remain relevant.

Jade plants use a room temperature setting to explore their natural strengths. Humidity on the higher side can only stretch your plant’s moisture needs.

A consistently hot climate will cause irreparable damage to jade plants when precautions are not taken. It’s a different story when a jade plant is out in drought-prone areas fending for itself.

While it’s under your care, you might want to extend a fair amount of tender loving care and ensure it’s never short of water and other requirements for it to thrive.

How To Drain After OverWatering

One mistake that first-time gardeners are likely to make is overwatering their jade plants. On the bright side, it’s possible to right this wrong and gets your jade plant project back on track.

You can drain the soil first to avoid the harsh effects of root rot that might take over when you fail to act fast. Draining works best when yours is an indoor potted plant.

Pay attention to the soil type you use, too, as it might support or destroy your project. Sandy soils are best suited for growing jade plants because they don’t retain excess moisture and only hold enough to keep them going rather than cause root rot.

Since some might not be sure about their potting preferences, they choose potting mixes that seem effective in their duties.

Potting mixes are beneficial as they are big on the drainage needs of a jade plant. They follow the specifics and requirements to sustain jade plants in their natural surroundings.

No Potting Mix? No Problem

Supposing you fail to land a potting mix for your jade plant project, what next? Again, the drainage hole on your original potting saves the day. Place a saucer or tray underneath your pot to avoid making a mess in case of an overwatering episode.

Drainage holes on pots are advantageous because they allow excess water to flow from the base. If you prefer gardening your jade plants outside, there’ll be no need for trays or saucers. When you notice a pool of water still lingering even when using a pot with a drainage hole, it could be one of two reasons. First, the roots may have grown wildly at the base, leaving little room for drainage.

Check thoroughly from the pot base to be sure rather than jump to unfounded conclusions.

Two saucers and trays we mentioned earlier could be getting in the way. If this is the case, transferring your jade plants to the garden area might be time. You won’t have to worry about spillages and messes when watering here.

Check The Nature Of The Water You Use

When exposed to saline moisture, Jade plants are sensitive to salty water and develop various defense mechanisms. It’s not advisable to use salty water due to white spots on the leaves during transpiration, and freshwater always does the trick since it keeps the plant revitalized for longer hours.

Other Ways To Check Moisture Content

Aside from monitoring the appearance of the soil, the leaves can provide all the answers you need on the water content of your jade plants. Brown spots are common on some jade plants, and most people seem to think this is normal.

Well, it’s not. On the contrary, it’s only an indicator that your plant is deficient in water and needs a refill as soon as possible. On the other hand, squishy leaves send the message of a heavily watered plant that doesn’t need more water.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should you place a jade plant in your house?

By the same logic, you should place jade plants as close to the entrance of your home as possible. Additionally, the southeast is the best direction to keep this plant. However, keep it in the southeast corner of your living room; this plant is not beneficial when kept in the bedroom or bathroom.

Can jade plants grow from cuttings?

You can propagate Jade plants from stem or leaf cuttings also. Remember that getting a lovely-sized jade plant from leaf cuttings takes a while.

Does the jade plant need fertilizer?

Fertilize your jade plant about once every six months for proper care. An important thing to remember is to regularly water your jade plant and then water it with fertilizer. Never fertilize your jade plant when the soil is dry; this will damage the roots.

How do you make Jade grow faster?

Jade plants grow fastest in a temperate environment of about 65-86°F (18-30°C). If you have indoor plants, try to always keep temperatures in this range. Try to move it indoors during winter for an outdoor plant if your climate is not suitable.

How do I make my jade plant bushy?

Prune the jade plant just above one of the brown rings around a stem, called a leaf scar, with sharp pruning shears or a sharp knife. Two new stems will sprout at the pruning site, so select the stem to prune based on where you want the jade plant to be thicker and fuller.

Conclusion

Caring for a jade plant through watering has never been crucial in gardening. Paying attention to your jade plants’ moisture needs helps keep track of their overall progress. Please pay more attention to the surrounding factors, as they may also eventually contribute to your plant’s outcome. Both indoor and outdoor plants require just as much care to thrive.

Check on them repeatedly to ensure you don’t miss a beat to make it easier to salvage a problem that might arise along the way. Remember to always water at the roots to avoid moistening the leaves further. Besides, this goes a long way in ensuring your plant retains as much water as possible to see through the drought. Watering the roots also makes it easier to keep track of the soil.