The Jade plant has beautiful dark green glossy round leaves. This succulent plant also has a sturdy brown trunk.

The formal name for Jade plant is Crassula Ovata. A native to South Africa and Mozambique. It’s also known as the lucky plant, the dollar plant, and the money tree.

Looking for a housewarming plant? This is a favorite plant to gift new homeowners. In many cultures it is considered a plant that will bring good luck to the new home.

Jade plant Crassula Ovata — houseplant Crassula ovata jade plant money tree in white pot with small white rock on top to show it off.

I love this plant for beginner succulent plant parents. The Crassula Ovata is a lot more forgiving than most succulents.

The money plant has a strong upright growth pattern with a thick trunk. This plant is popular for Bonsai pruning. It makes a lovely table top focal point.

The greatest enemy to any succulent is overwatering.

Give this plant plenty of bright indirect light , a well drained pot and a good watering schedule. You will have a happy and thriving house plant.

Close up of Jade Plant leaves — Jade plant (Crassula ovata) with red tips

This plant can change to red on the tips of the leaves depending on the light index. If the plant receives lots of bright direct light, the plant will produce pigment on the edges of the leaves.

Succulent sunburn can also happen to the Zebra Plant. These succulents do not need super intense light.

If you don’t want your plant to have red tips, move the plant to a lower light area.

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More Beginner Houseplants

ZZ plant on desk with watering can — ZZ Plant

I received my first money plant as a cutting from a friend. I propagated it in water for 5 weeks and now it’s ready to plant! Propagating this plant is very simple.

Jade Plant Care guide:

If you want to propagate Jade plant use stem or leaf cuttings. Simply take a cutting and place it in either moist soil or water for a few weeks.

In the video at the bottom of our plant care guide I show you how to plant a stem cutting.

Yield: Printable Care Guide

Jade Plant Care Guide

Crassula Ovata plant is commonly known as the Jade plant or Lucky plant.

This plant has glossy dark green leaves, and a brown trunk and stem. The Jade plant is often considered a beginner succulent plant.

This Care Guide will teach you how to keep this houseplant happy all through the year.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Difficulty easy

Materials

Tools

Pot (ceramic, plastic, or terra cotta)
Potting medium (perlite, and soil)
Scissors
Rubbing Alcohol

Instructions

Soil Preference:

Jade plants prefer well draiing soil. The roots will rot quickly if they sit in moist soil.
A mix of cactus potting mix and perlite will keep the roots happiest.
Make sure your pot has drainage at the bottom. Do not use a pot with no drainage hole for this plant.
A heavy soil potting mix is not recommended for Jade plants.

Pot Size and Type:

The Jade plant can grow in many different kinds of pots, I like to plant mine in ceramic pots with a drainage hole.
Repot every second year or when roots come out the drainage holes on the pot bottom To the next pot size up. Don't jump to a huge pot from a small one. Just go to the next size up pot.

Lighting:

The Jade plant will grow best in bright indirect light.
If this plant recieves too much direct light, the leaves may start to change to a red color.
Make sure the Jade plant isn't sitting in constant direct sunlight, the leaves can get burnt.

Watering:

Water your Jade plant when the soil is dry at least an inch down. These plants are typically drough resistant and can withstand longer periods of dryness compared to other houseplants.
Watering is best done on a regular schedule so the plant is not over or under watered. Both can cause stress on the plant.
The recomendation for watering is every 2-3 weeks.
In dormant winter months reduce watering to when the soil is dry.
Never let this plant get wet feet. Wet soils attract Fungus Gnats and cause root rot.

How to Fertilize:

Apply a good quality fertilizer (linked in materials) monthly through Spring and summer.
Decrease feedings by late Fall and allow the Jade plant to rest through the winter months.

Temperature:

The Jade plant will do best in temperatures between 55-85 degrees Farenheit.

Pests:

The Jade plant is a hardy resilient plant. However all plants can get attacked by pests.
Stress by longterm overwatering, poor light, extreme temperatures and soil conditions are contributors to plant stress..
Spider mites, mealy bugs, scale, thrips and whitefly are the most common houseplant pests you will see.
Read our post on How to get rid of aphids and other pests with our homemade pesticide soap recipe or neems oil.
To minimize the possibility of pests be sure to check all nursery plants before bringing them home.
Quarantine all new plants until you are sure no pests live in them.

How to Propagate:

Cut stem off the plant using sterile scissors
Place stem in water cut side down
Place near a window with bright indirect light
After several weeks roots will grow
Plant in soil when roots are 2-3 inches long

Notes

The Jade Plant is a rewarding and perfect plant for a beginner succulent parent. This plant will grow bushy and beautiful with just a little bit of care.

The jade Plant Is extremely TOXIC to cats and dogs. Keep this plant away from pets.

The Jade plant in only mildly toxic to humans but keep your kids out of this plant.

The jade plant is an air filtering plant. The jade plant is especially effective in eliminating Toulene pollutants from your indoor air.