Last Updated on January 18, 2023 by Griselda M.
Jade plants are some of the easiest to grow in your garden. They make an excellent flower plant that you can grow in a pot indoors. What many gardeners don’t know is that it is easy to propagate a jade plant from the stem or cuttings. There are several methods you can employ once you understand how to propagate a Jade plant.
The Jade plant makes a beautiful indoor plant. Since I started growing them in the summer of 2011, and the course of this period, I have learned through first-hand experience working on cultivating some of the best Jades in my backyard. I have taken the liberty to share with you some of the best tips and tricks I know on how to root and propagate a Jade plant. You can read more about it below.
Jade Tree Propagation – The Benefits
Jade tree propagation is simple and easy and comes with several benefits. These gorgeous plants are known by many names which include, including Crassula Ovata which is their scientific name, lucky plant, money tree, and money plant. These plants are also indigenous to regions like Mozambique and Southern Africa and are extensively used as indoor plants throughout the world. It thrives in indoor environments when afforded the best Jade plant care and maintenance.
Here are the benefits of growing a Jade plant in your home:
– It is a hardy perennial shrub that is low maintenance, offering stunning white or pink blooms in the summer season.
– Some people believe that Jade plants are symbolic of good fortune.
– These perennials have exceptional air purifying capabilities and can reduce co2 levels.
– Jade plants are easy to propagate.
– You would also find an increase in humidity levels when growing them in your home or office.
– Jade plants are known for their eye-catching beauty that can enhance any indoor setting.
Can You Grow a Jade Plant from a Cutting?
So, can you grow a Jade plant from cutting? The answer to this question is yes, you can choose to grow these plants from leaf or stem cuttings. However, if you opt to grow them from leaf cuttings, you may have to wait a little longer for your Jade plant to fully develop. If you are anxious for quick growth, then your best option would be to propagate your Jade plant from a healthy stem cutting for the best results.
To do this, you have two options. The first one is to place your stem cutting in a jar of water. Alternatively, you could also grow your plant in damp potting soil or loose well-draining rocky soil if you prefer. Whether you opt for water or soil propagation, ensure that you remove any leaves from the stem, especially the ones attached to the part of the cutting that will be under the soil or water. Keep in mind that these succulents tend to do much better in water propagation than in soil.
Can You Propagate Jade in Water?
Can you propagate Jade in Water? As mentioned above, growing a Jade plant in water is the preferred method by most gardeners because it offers favorable results. It is also a much easier method as all you need is a clean glass jar filled with water. Thereafter, you can stick your plant in. I have had success propagating my Jade plant in damp soil and water. Additionally, you can also grow this succulent from root cuttings.
You would need a couple of healthy roots placed in a jar of water to start them. This can be done with root hormones or without as it will grow either way. However, it is advisable to change the water you are growing your Jade plant in at least once every week or when it has discolored. Keep in mind that this gesture will also prevent the roots from rotting. If all is well, you can expect to see adequate root development in a matter of four or five weeks.
How to Propagate Jade Plant from Stem
Learning how to propagate a Jade plant from stem would be advantageous if you enjoy the beauty that these stunning perennials emit. The propagation process is simple and easy and can be done following the steps below. This method can be used to grow any Jade plant variety of your choice.
Steps:
1. Stem Cutting
To cut a healthy Jade plant stem, ensure that your use sterilized garden shears or a sharpened knife to ensure a clean slice. Cutting off an extra large piece of stem is not necessary in this case as it may decrease the chances of successful growth. For this reason, your Jade plant cutting should be about four or five inches in length. If the bottom half of your cutting has any leaves, it is advisable to remove them before planting.
2. Setting your cuttings aside to callous over
It is important to allow your Jade plant cuttings to callous over before planting them. This is a crucial step in the propagation process and should not be skipped if you want to be successful. The callousing process is not complicated as all you have to do is leave the cut stems out to dry over the next few days. The benefit of allowing the cut-end of the plant to scab is to omit the development of root rot once it is placed in water.
3. Time to plant in water
After your stem cutting has scabbed over, it is time to place it in a jar of water so it can root. The part of the stem that is free of leaves should be below water and those with leaves should be above the water line. Ensure that your plant jar is placed in a location that receives bright indirect sunlight. A windowsill would be ideal. However, exposure to direct sun will burn and flaw your Jade plant. After a few weeks, root formation should be visible.
4. Time to transfer your Jade plant
After your Jade plant has developed healthy roots in its water jar, it’s time to transfer it to a plant pot. Ensure that the roots are at least half an inch in length before attempting this step. The plant container of choice should be about four inches in size to accommodate your Jades and have ample drainage holes to get rid of excess water. Thereafter, you can use a soil mix that consists of two parts cactus or succulent mix and one part pumice to plant your Jades. Water thoroughly and only re-water when the top inch feels dry to the touch.
How to Root a Jade Plant?
As I mentioned before, there are different methods you can choose when it comes to rooting your Jade, and it doesn’t matter which one you opt for, the trick to succeeding is to know the best conditions in which your Jade cuttings can excel. You can efficiently perform cuttings on your plant with a few items you can find in your kitchen.
Propagating Your Jade Plant
You can decide to propagate your Jade from the leaf or stem cuttings. Through my extensive experience breeding the species of flower, I have found that reproducing from the stem cuttings is a quicker method compared to the leaf cuttings. So if you wish to start immediately and don’t want to wait until the plant begins flowering, you should propagate from the stem. It is worth mentioning that both methods are easy to perform and work efficiently when adequately handled.
When to Propagate Jade Plant
The best time for cultivating your Jade plant is when the weather is warm and humid, so you already know that Summer is the only season with the right conditions to support the growth of Jade. While you can certainly succeed at cultivating the plant throughout the year, it is relatively easy to do so during the warmest months.
How to Propagate Jade Plant?
With the proper household supplies, you can propagate Jade without having to spend much on any fancy equipment or hire a gardener. But before you begin, you will need to provide the following materials to make the process simple.
- Stem or leaf cuttings of a Jade plant
- a fertile potting soil
- a pair of clippers
- plant rooting hormone
- clean pots
Propagating from Stem Cuttings
Growing Jade from stem cuttings is the fastest way to yield a decent-sized plant. Propagating the cuttings is as simple as taking any size of the stem, even if it is from a broken branch or stem. You can also decide to make do with clippings from pruning your plant and use them to get the job done. But if you will need to use cutting for the sake of propagating, you can quickly get one by
Taking a Stem Cutting from a Jade Plant
You can take a cutting from a Jade plant by first deciding which part of the stem you would like to cut to make your new plant. It is best to take up to three inches of the stem cuttings so you can also have enough space to root the cuttings. You will need to use a sterile clipper to make the cuttings from the stem, so you do not cause the stem to rot. You can sterilize your clipper by cleaning it properly and dipping it in rubbing alcohol before using it.
You will need to remove some sets of leaves if you find any growing down the stem.
Preparing the Cutting for Propagation
Once you have removed the cutting from the Jade plant, you will need to let the ends with the cuttings cure first. You can do this by allowing it to dry for a few days to prevent the rotting of the cuttings. Large cuttings will need more time to cure, and if you are propagating in the cold winter months, you will need to allow it to heal for a longer time.
Propagating from Leaf Cuttings
I only try this method usually when I want to experiment with leaf propagation as I have already mentioned, this method requires a long time to grow a large Jade plant compared to stem cuttings. But if you are interested in propagating from leaf cuttings, you can do so by carefully breaking off each leaf from the bottom part. You will need to do this to prevent the leaves from rotting.
Like with the stem cuttings, you will also need to allow them to dry first before rooting them in the soil. But you want to be careful not to allow them to dry out completely, as the rooting jade plant is difficult once they are dried up.
Rooting Jade Plant Cuttings in Soil
You can easily root your Jade plant cuttings in soil by following the steps below.
- Dip the cutting in the rooting hormone – You will need to do this to speed up the rooting process. These hormones are engineered explicitly to increase rooting time, and you should find one made from entirely organic materials.
- Fill your pot with the right soil – Jade plants grow better in sandy soil with a light texture, and a mixture of perlite, coarse sand, and potting soil.
- Drill a hole in the soil to hold the stem – You can do this by using your finger or a garden spoon to make a little hole in the middle of your potting soil for the Jade cuttings. You will not need to make a hole if you are rooting a leaf cutting, you can place the leaf on top of the soil and cover the cut end with fresh soil.
- Once you have successfully rooted your cuttings, you can now move your pot to an area where it doesn’t get damaged from direct sunlight.
After successfully rooting your plant, you will need to wait for two to three weeks for the cuttings to form a root. You can tell once you start to notice a growth on top of the Jade plant cuttings. You can follow the simple steps and procedures above on how to propagate a Jade plant, even if you have not done it before.
If you have any questions or would like to contribute to the topic, feel free to do so in the comment section. We will love to hear from you.
FAQs
Can you root jade plant cuttings in water?
Today's technology makes it possible for people to take cuttings from jade plant and root them in water if they want to propagate the plant or if they want to grow more plants at home. But can you root jade plant cuttings in water?
The answer is yes, but it will be important to remember that jade plants need sunlight and warmth from the sun or other sources of heat so ensure the roots get good light and air circulation.
How do you propagate jade plants from stems?
Propagating jade plants from stems is not as easy as it sounds, and you may not be able to propagate jade plants from stems in your living room (or wherever you live).
If you are interested in propagating jade plants from stems, there are things to consider. The process is lengthy and may require a lot of patience. There’s no guarantee that your plant will turn out just the way you want if you take the time to propagate them from stems. For this reason, it is recommended that even beginners buy seedlings instead of propagating their own jade plants from stems.
Doing it yourself could be a rewarding experience but also difficult if done improperly or without enough preparation!
How do you propagate a jade plant from a leaf?
Propagating a jade plant from a leaf can be done in two ways. The first way is by taking the leaflet from the back of the plant and placing it in water. The second method is to place it near or under bright light for about ten days or so until you see new growth on the stem of the leaflet.
What kind of soil is best for Jade?
The best kind of soil for Jade is well-draining, neutral, and light.
A well-drained soil is one that allows freedom of movement so that the plant can grow easily without any restrictions. Neutral soil has a pH level of 7 to 8, which means it won't affect the plant's growth too much and will not burn them like alkaline soils would.
Light soils are those that are rich in minerals and nutrients, such as sand or compost.
Here are some soil types that Jade can thrive in:
1. Sandy soil
2. Clay soils
3. Loamy soils
Do jade plants like small pots?
They prefer small pots because they help the roots grow bigger, and this is beneficial for the plant.
A Jade plant's love for small pots is not only due to its preference but also because they need a lot more light than other types of plants do. This is why some people use square pots instead of round ones, so that the light can reflect off their surfaces and reach their leaves better.
Can we keep Jade plant in kitchen?
Most people would want to keep a Jade plant in the kitchen because it looks beautiful and is a great addition to any home. However, there are some people who strongly believe that Jade plants should only be kept outdoors and not inside the house.
Jade plant's delicate leaves and smooth green stem make it an important plant in the home. Its long-lasting flowers make it an essential part of celebrations such as weddings, births, and funerals. The presence of these flowers can also help with anxiety or depression.
The jade plant is so much more than just a decorative item for your home or office - it has medicinal properties too! It helps with stress, depression, and anxiety.
Tony Manhart is a passionate gardener who has been tending to gardens for over 20 years. He takes pride in creating beautiful outdoor spaces with plants, trees, and shrubs that can thrive in any environment. He loves to share his knowledge with others and has taught classes on gardening basics and advanced techniques. He is committed to sustainability, using natural and organic methods to create and maintain gardens. He also works with local organizations to create green spaces for communities. When he’s not gardening, Tony enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with his family.
