A jade plant, or “money plant,” is thought to bring good fortune and financial luck. Aside from being an ornamental plant that brings luck, it also has medicinal value as it treats warts, diabetes, stomach upset, and other medical conditions.
This plant also enhances indoor air quality, raises humidity, adds aesthetic value to a home, and absorbs CO2 at night.
The question is, can you grow a jade plant from a leaf? Yes! Can you grow a jade plant from a stem? Absolutely yes!
Growing a Jade Plant From a Leaf
You can easily propagate jade plants from leaf cuttings. In the wild, leaves that fall to the ground will establish roots independently without human intervention.
And if jade plants can grow that easily, how much more if human brains are involved?
1 – Find a Healthy, Well-Established Jade Plant
To start, you need a healthy jade plant from which the leaf will be removed and a pot of soil to plant it. According to Hemsley, a healthy jade plant will be plump and glossy.
On the other hand, the leaves of an unhealthy plant shrivel up, turn wilted, and become excessively leggy, which are symptoms of inadequate water or light.
While leaves from both healthy and unhealthy jade plants can propagate, choosing a healthier one is necessary.
2 – Pluck the Leaves off the Jade Plant
You can use your finger or any cutting tool, like a knife or scissors, to remove the leaves from the jade plant. After that, allow the cuts on the leaves to dry for a few days.
You can either choose to have the leaves propagated via soil or water.
3 – Propagate the Leaves Via Soil or Water
A jade plant leaf can propagate in water or soil. And while they differ in execution, the goal is the same: to produce new jade plants.
Let me explain the two.
Soil-Based Leaf Propagation
Soil-based leaf propagation is a simple process. All you need to do is ensure that the leaves come into contact with the soil, and voila!
What’s good about the soil method is that it allows you to grow many leaves in one pot for a better chance of success.
After that, place them in bright, indirect sunlight, but don’t water them too frequently. Instead, spray lightly once every few days to keep the soil moist.
You can water them frequently once the roots and baby plants appear.
Water-Based Leaf Propagation
Water-based leaf propagation is more challenging because you must keep the leaves upright. To solve this issue, you only have to use mesh or toothpicks to suspend the leaves on a small basin like a shot glass.
Place them in bright, indirect sunlight, and wait for approximately two to three weeks for the roots to appear.
4 – Take Care of the New Jade Plant
The good thing about jade plants is that they’re easy to manage. You only have to consider several factors vital to their survival: light, temperature, and soil, and you’ll be fine.
A jade plant, since it’s a succulent, loves sun exposure, so make sure to put it in direct sunlight for an average of 4-6 hours a day. Keep them dry as well and maintain a temperature of approximately 70℉.
When it comes to what type of soil to use, regular succulent soil is good enough.
Growing a Jade Plant From a Stem
Another method of growing a jade plant is from a stem or the so-called “stem method.”
Compared to the leaf method, this is often used because of the higher chance of successful propagation.
Let me show you how to do this.
1 – Choose and Cut a Healthy Stem
Pick a jade plant with a healthy stem that you can cut. While the size of the stem doesn’t matter, it’s advisable to cut larger for more successful propagation.
After this, remove the leaves at the bottom part of the stem, leaving only the ones at the top. Dry the stem for three days, allowing the cuts to heal.
2 – Propagate the Stem via Soil or Water
You can also propagate the stems via soil or water, like the leaves. And it’s possible because jade plants are resilient.
Soil-Based Stem Propagation
To do this, moisten loose soil in a pot with drainage holes. Using your finger, create a hole in the soil deep enough for the stem to stand up.
Put the stem in the hole, check if it’s firmly standing, and place it in an indirect light. Again, don’t frequently water; just spray lightly every few days.
Water-Based Stem Propagation
Many people consider water-based stem propagation more effective because it’s easier to execute. The good thing about this, compared to the soil-based method, is that progress is easily noticeable since you can see the stem from the water.
Once you have your stem, pour water into a glass or vase and put it there. Place it in indirect sunlight and wait for roots and baby plants to appear for two to three weeks.
Final Thoughts
A jade plant is simpler to grow than you imagine. You only have to understand the various approaches to doing so, wherein leaves or stems are the most common sources.
Remember too that summer is the perfect time to propagate jade plants, as cuttings need a warm, humid, and well-ventilated environment to grow roots.
If you’ve never tried propagating a plant, starting with a jade plant is an excellent decision!
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.