The Jade plant is one of the most popular indoor plants that you can put into your house.
Known also as the money plant or the lucky plant, the Jade plant is famous because of its unique appearance; it has small white and pink flowers, and is generally native to the Eastern Cape provinces.
The Jade plant requires relatively less care and can easily survive in various kinds of indoor conditions. This is an evergreen with relatively thick branches.
The leaves are generally thick and shiny, and it can easily be potted with minimal hassle. But, like all other indoor plants, you also need to care for the Jade plant.
These are succulent houseplants and have relatively thick stems. The distinctive oval-shaped leaves are also quite unique.
However, many people see that their Jade plant tends to grow rapidly, and you need to make sure that you care for it properly.
The growth rate of a Jade plant generally varies depending on a variety of factors. The growth rate is roughly 5 to 20 cm per year, though you should know that this is not set in stone.
If you optimize the care conditions, you will be able to grow the plant faster.
Depending on the level of care that you are able to provide, the Jade plant can grow as high as 5 to 7 feet.
The plant has been known to bring good fortune to their owners, and they are a popular addition to homes. But, if you want your plant to grow properly, there are a few things that you need to know.
Here are some important things that you should know about growing Jade plants.
Proper Plant Care for Growth
If you want the plant to grow bigger, you need to first choose a wide and sturdy pot.
These plants usually have a tendency to grow top-heavy, and are likely to fall over if you do not provide adequate protection. You need to make sure that you use a big and spacious pot to plant it.
More importantly, you should know that your choice of soil is also going to play an important role. You need to use a soil that is going to drain quickly and won’t hold water.
The presence of excess moisture within the soil could eventually cause the plant to succumb to fungal diseases, and can kill it in the long run.
Root rot is a major problem that might occur over the passage of time, so it’s recommended that you take appropriate steps to prevent this problem.
Ideally, you should keep your Jade plant in full sun. They need a lot of sunlight, primarily because they grow so quickly.
It’s important for you to make sure that you keep it in an area where it’s going to receive a considerable amount of light throughout the course of the day.
Also, during the night time, you should know that the plant is capable of surviving temperatures down to 50 to 55 degrees F. Anything lower, and your plant is probably going to suffer.
When it comes to the soil, you should always ensure that you plant it in heavier sand. Anchoring the plant is incredibly important, and it’s going to greatly improve its growth rate as well.
Usually, you should consider mixing in a bit of peat moss, a bit of sand, and organic matter together to create the soil for the plant.
Now, if you want the plant to grow quickly, there are several other things that you should keep in mind.
The Jade plant needs water, and it’s crucial for you to ensure that you provide the right amount of it.
During the summer and spring time, you will want to water the plant more frequently. But, in the winter months, the plant is able to retain most of it, so you should consider watering it on a monthly basis in the winter.
Also, you need to make sure that you only water the Jade plant when the soil is dry upon touch.
If the soil isn’t dry, you shouldn’t add more water to it. It’s only going to make the soil moister by the day, and eventually, your plant will succumb to root rot.
Remember, overwatering the plant is not a good idea, and you need to make sure that you avoid doing so.
Another excellent thing that you can do to ensure that the plant grows to a considerable height is to use a bit of fertilizer; not a lot. You need to make sure that you use fertilizer sparingly, because adding too much could be harmful for the plant.
Also, you should only add fertilizer to the plant when you notice signs of growth. Don’t just randomly continue to add fertilizer to the plant.
If the plant hasn’t entered its growth stage, it is unlikely to absorb the nutrients properly, and you are going to end up with a plant in seriously poor condition.
How to Keep the Plant Small
If you don’t want your Jade plant to grow to a massive height, there are several things that you can do on your own.
For starters, you should consider using a smaller pot instead of a large one. When you use a larger pot for the plant, it allows the roots to spread out considerably, and this makes it easy for the plant to grow to a bigger height.
However, when you keep the plant in a smaller container, you won’t have much to worry about. The roots will not be able to spread out in all directions, and because the roots won’t be able to form properly, the plant itself is going to remain at a smaller height.
But, you also need to understand that simply keeping the plant in a small pot isn’t going to be enough to prevent it from growing.
There are several other things that you need to do, the most important of which is regular pruning. Pruning and trimming the Jade plant is incredibly important, and if you keep it indoors, you will want to make sure that you do it all the more often.
As soon as you notice the plant growing any bigger than you want it to, you should consider calling a gardening expert or take the shears yourself and get to work.
By regularly pruning the plant, you will be able to make sure that it does not grow more than it is supposed to.
This is an important step, especially in the first few years of the plant.
The Jade plant will eventually slow down in growth with the passage of time as you continue to prune and trim the tree.
Not only that, but you should also make sure that you keep the plant a bit away from the sun.
If you want to promote growth, it’s recommended that you give it access to maximum sunlight. But, if you don’t want the plant growing all the way, you should consider keeping it in partial shade. It’s going to reduce the speed of growth and also ensure that the plant doesn’t die.
These are just a few things that you should know about controlling the height of the Jade plant.
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.