Jades are one of my absolute favorite. I had a gorgeous one when I was younger that grew quite large. To this day I wish I still had that guy. So of course as I started my plant collection it was the first one that I started with. And did he ever love it with me. Until I got a cat. She would pull it out of the pot and play with it! I’d come home from work with my little Jade Tree smack dab in the middle of the floor. Man was he tough. That incredible plant still survived. Granted, it did not grow for about a year but then it really took off again. Sadly though a year or so after that I brought it in from the harsh summer sun/heat and placed it too close to a plant light and fried it right off at the base! Jade though, she is resilient. Propagate this plant! It is one of the easiest to propagate in my experience. I took each piece , cut off the burns and put it back in the soil. Every piece was going to grow into its own new plant. Unfortunately, dear kitty did not let them all go. I was able to turn it to four more plats that are each smaller than the next, but all growing. A trip to Old Town San Diego helped me discover a wonderful sized one that was priced at a low low price that I could not walk away from. Now that it is summer for me he is living in my bedroom right at an East facing window so I get to enjoy him all day. To explain here. I live in Phoenix. SO, when my Jade leaves start to blacken I know it is time to bring it in to save it. But throughout the rest of the year he is proudly placed on a table outside that same window so I still get to enjoy it. And in spring. When it warms up and is just the perfect amount of sunny the green leaves turn a gorgeous red. Supposedly though these will bloom. I have not been that lucky yet, but here’s hoping to next year!

Jade likes plenty of sun. The more the better. When the temperature is between 65º and 75º and in full sun the leaves will turn a gorgeous red. Alternatively with temperatures I bring mine in if it drips under 40º.

Jade likes little water. Typically I water it once a week. However, it is one that can be neglected. It could easily go a month without water and be perfectly fine. Out of growing season less is more. The easiest way to kill a Jade is overwatering it.

Fast draining soil is very important for this guy. Remember too much water will cause root rot and you’ll be looking for a new Jade.

Propagating the Jade can be done in different ways. If you have a leaf simply stick that little guy in the dirt. Most instructions say to let it callus. You will probably have more luck this way, but rarely have I not seen a healthy leaf grow from this method. In a pinch if yo used the bottom of the plant dying cut the dead off and stick that piece in the dirt. Definitely let this one callus. Simply let it sit out and let the cut piece dry up for a day or two. Alternatively, I have seen people filling up a glass of water, putting seran wrap over the glass and poking holes in it. The roots will grow towards the water and you’ll have a new plant! This I have yet to try… but guess what is on my list to do next?!

Crassula Ovata is his proper name, and you will also find it called a lucky plant, money plant or a money tree.