Also referred to as the money tree, the jade plant is a symbol of fortune, wealth, prosperity, and good luck.
Jade plants belong to the Crassulaceae family and are classified as succulents, featuring thick, woody stems topped with oval, fleshy leaves.
Originally from South Africa, jade plants are typically grown as indoor houseplants. They’re known to be hardy, low-maintenance plants with a particularly impressive lifespan.
This brings us to today’s question, how long do jade plants live?
Today’s article offers a detailed answer to that question along with a guide on how to determine the age of your jade plant, how to recognize a dying jade plant, and how to help your jade plant stay healthy for as long as possible.
How Long Do Jade Plants Live?
As we mentioned above, longevity is one of the most characteristic aspects of a jade plant.
Given optimal growth conditions and proper care, a jade plant can live between 50 to 70 years and sometimes even reach 100 years of age.
Due to their incredibly long lifespans, jade plants are commonly passed down along generations.
How To Tell How Old a Jade Plant Is
If you’re trying to determine how old your jade plant is, you’re probably thinking about a common way to do it like counting the rings on its stem.
Unfortunately, this method doesn’t apply to jade plants. Not only because it’d be tiresome to count the rings on a small plant (even more so if it’s an old one), but also because jade plants don’t possess annual growth rings.
So, how can we determine the age of a jade plant?
Well, the best guess you can get for the age of a jade plant will have to be based on its size.
In other words, we can estimate the minimum age of a jade plant by comparing its size against the maximum growth rate of the plant per year.
However, there are downsides to this identifying method.
For one, the size and the growth rate of a jade plant are affected by the environmental factors of the place where the plant has been growing.
If the conditions of the site are optimal, the jade plant can grow rather large. Similarly, if the conditions at the location are unfavorable, the jade plant will grow very slowly.
This makes it inaccurate to look at the size and use it to determine how old a jade plant is.
Another reason why observing the growth rate to tell a jade plant’s age can be less than precise is that a person can root a large, thick limb cutting off a jade plant. This means that the stem can look 10 to 15 years old while the rest of the plant is only a few weeks old.
For your reference, the average growth rate of a jade plant ranges between 2 to 8 inches (5 to 20 cm) a year. A jade plant can reach a height of up to 6 feet (185 cm) and a width of up to 3 feet (95 cm).
How To Tell if a Jade Plant Is Dying and How To Prevent It
The following are the most common symptoms of a dying jade plant, what causes them, and how to resolve these issues:
1 – Shriveled and Falling Leaves
If the leaves of your jade plant are getting wrinkly and crisp then they fall off, the plant is most likely dying due to drought resulting from underwatering.
Your jade plant may also be parked in a too-hot location or in a spot that’s too close to a heating vent.
To fix this problem:
- Water the plant more frequently and thoroughly.
- Check that the soil is soaked by observing water coming out of the pot’s drainage holes.
- Use well-draining, loamy soil to ensure that the water reaches the roots.
Keep in mind that it’s natural for lower leaves to fall because it’s the oldest foliage.
2 – Limp and Mushy Leaves
If the leaves of your jade plant are getting squishy and shriveled, the plant may be dying due to overwatering, overfeeding, cool temperatures, or insufficient light exposure.
To fix this problem:
- Water the plant less frequently.
- Move the plant to a warmer spot that receives enough bright, indirect sunlight.
- Cut back on fertilizing and stop it during the winter.
3 – Yellow or Brown Leaves
If the leaves of your jade plant are turning yellow or brown with dark spots and a droopy appearance, the plant is most likely dying due to excess moisture resulting from overwatering.
Additionally, the soil may be slow-draining and the pot may lack drainage holes.
To fix this problem:
- Water the plant less frequently.
- Allow the soil to dry out before rewatering.
- Stop watering during the winter.
You should also use well-draining soil and a pot featuring drainage holes.
4 – Black Leaves
If the leaves of your jade plant are turning dark brown or black, the plant is most likely dying due to excess moisture from overwatering and lack of exposure to sunlight.
To fix this problem:
- Cut off any damaged leaves.
- Water the plant less frequently.
- Provide the plant with a sufficient dose of indirect sunlight.
5 – Plant Not Growing
If the jade plant is growing too slowly (size remains unchanged for weeks/months) or not growing altogether, it’s most likely dying due to excessively low temperatures and low light levels.
Additionally, the plant may be located inside a pot that’s too large for its root ball.
To fix this problem:
- Make sure the environment is sufficiently warm; the temperature is no lower than 50 degrees F (10 degrees C)
- Move the plant to a spot that receives enough bright, indirect sunlight.
- Choose a suitable pot size.
6 – Stretched and Lanky Plant
If the leaves, stems, or entire plant is growing elongated and leggy, the jade plant is most likely dying due to lack of light exposure or overwatering.
To fix this problem:
- Move the plant to a spot that receives enough bright yet indirect sunlight.
- Water the plant less frequently and allow the soil to dry out before rewatering.
7 – Crisp and Blemished Leaves
If the leaves of your jade plant develop crisp brown or black spots, the plant is most likely dying due to sunburn resulting from too much exposure to sunlight.
To fix this problem:
- Move the plant to a spot away from direct sunlight.
- Pick a location that receives bright yet indirect sunlight.
8 – White Spots on Leaves or Entire Plant
If the leaves or the entire plant develop white spots, the plant is most likely dying due to excess calcium minerals resulting from watering with hard water.
To fix this problem:
- Use filtered water instead of tap water.
- Don’t wet the leaves when watering.
9 – Pest-related Symptoms
Jade plants are vulnerable to pest attacks, including:
- Mealybugs: produce cotton-like patches on the leaves and stem joints
- Spider mites: turn the leaves pale and yellow.
- Aphids: produce a sticky film on the leaves and stems.
To fix such problems, wipe the leaves with rubbing alcohol and use water to deter the pests.
Final Thoughts
So, how long do jade plants live?
A jade plant can live between 50 to 70 years or even 100 years provided that it receives ideal growth conditions. Longevity is characteristic of this plant, and you can easily enjoy that if you learn how to care for your jade properly.
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.