The jade tree is a succulent plant with evergreen foliage, native to South Africa. This plant is especially suitable for people who do not have a green thumb. Its cultivation is indeed easy, because the Jade tree does not require much watering and its lifespan extends over several years.
The Jade Tree grows according to a very simple mechanism: the larger the space it has, the more it will expand and will grow.
Typically, this plant is sold in small pots and is very small in size. If you want to see it grow, repot it in a larger pot: this will allow the plant to grow and its roots to spread.
The best time to repot is certainly the early spring when, with rising temperatures, the plant prepares to grow.
When repotting, always be careful not to damage the roots of the plant: if they are broken, they take a long time to grow back.
1 – Fertiliser
Nothing better than good fertilization to help our Jade Tree grow very large!
But what is the most suitable fertilizer for this plant? Surely those specific to succulent or succulent plants, with a good balance of the substances that compose it, that is to say, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (the ideal ratio is 30:30:30).
If the fertilizer is liquid, never apply it to completely dry soil. Also, regarding quantities, always follow the instructions on the product packaging.
If you wish, you can also fertilize the plant with a natural fertilizer: coffee grounds. Simply crumble and scatter them in the soil to ensure that over time they release a high concentration of nitrogen. This method is very easy to use and you can also follow our advice for other uses in the garden.
Caution : however, it is important not to overdo it otherwise you will change the pH of the soil .
2 – Put it in the correct position
Keeping the Jade Tree on the balcony seems to be the ideal solution: in reality, you have to be very careful about the exposure to promote the growth of this plant and make it bushy and bushy.
Do not place it in direct sunlight which, if too intense, could burn the leaves of the plant, turning them black and causing them to wilt.
A good position is the indirect sunlight which should “illuminate” the plant for at least half a day to ensure optimal growth. Give it a few hours of direct light every now and then.
In winter, the plant itself tends to grow more slowly: the ideal is to bring the plant indoors if, on the balcony, the temperatures are too low or constantly below 10°C.
Caution: If your jade tree seems to be suffering, always ask your trusted florist or gardener for help.
3 – Take some cuttings
If your jade tree is growing too slowly, you can create a bush by growing cuttings in the same pot.
Take cuttings by cutting a stem with healthy leaves using well-sterilized shears. Then bury them in the ground in the same pot, at a distance of at least 4-5 cm to prevent the roots from intertwining and choking each other.
NB: before burying the cuttings, it is useful to immerse the cut part in a compound rooting in order to accelerate the birth of new roots.