Jade plants are beautiful succulents. Their small and fleshy oval leaves are appealing and they work well both inside and out. It should come as no surprise that many people want to learn how to grow jade plants to expand their collection!
This easy-care, low-maintenance plant is sometimes referred to as a money plant or lucky plant and is worth growing. And spreading money trees is surprisingly easy. Let's talk about everything you need to grow jade plant cuttings and how it's done!
Good products for propagating jade plants:
What is plant propagation?
It's easy to learn how to multiply jade plants! Source: ellenmac11
Propagation is the process of creating new plants. If you learn how to multiply money plants, you can grow many new plants in your garden instead of having to buy them every time in a kindergarten.
There are two ways to create plants: sexually and asexually. Sexual reproduction is a natural process that involves the floral parts of the plant and their ability to produce seeds. Most plants develop using this method. Asexual propagation involves vegetative plant parts such as stems, roots, leaves and rhizomes.
Asexual methods are usually instigated by humans. It can be an easier and faster alternative to natural plant reproduction. Interestingly, it also happens in the wild when plant stems or leaves are released and can take root themselves.
The cultivation of plants for seeds offers many advantages, because in this way new hybrids are formed and disease resistance is cultivated. However, this is a very slow process. Most home gardeners want a slightly more immediate satisfaction that the asexual method offers!
How to propagate jade plants
A single jade plant can be used to cultivate many younger jade plants. The trick in propagating jade plants is to understand the right techniques to get jade cuttings and then offer them the right growing conditions.
The best thing about propagating jade plants is that it's easy. They are one of the best plants if you have never done it before.
When is the right time to reproduce plants?
There is no right time to root jade cuttings. However, there are conditions that you want to provide for them so that they can grow.
Your cuttings must be in a humid environment and have a temperature of around 60 to 75 degrees. First of all, you don't want your jade to be exposed to direct sunlight, but it needs a lot of bright, indirect light. This means it should be next to a window or grow light where it has access to indirect lighting.
As long as you meet these conditions, you can start with leaf or stem cuttings from jade plants all year round.
Equipment and materials you need
You need the following things before you start.
How to take the cuttings
Jade plant stem cuttings are a quick way to grow multiple plants. Source: El Cajon Yacht Club
The fastest way to develop a new money tree plant is to cut stems. But they can also be cuttings from leaves. Both will take root, with a leaf it is only slightly slower than with a stem.
stem cuttings
If you prune your jade plant, you can save your stem cuttings and then replant them. Cuttings should be removed at least 2-3 days before the planned planting. This can dry out the end and form a scab or cornea over the cut surface. If you want, you can dip it in powdered root hormone before you let it dry.
Your stem should be cut just above a leaf knot and be at least 3 "-4" long. If there are leaves on the cut, remove all but the leaves at the top of the cut.
Once the end has dried, fill the pot for your cut with fresh, juicy potting soil. Water the bottom to fully wet it and drain excess water from the holes in the bottom of the pot before use. As soon as it stops dripping, you can plant.
Make a hole in your moistened potting soil with your fingertip and insert the cut into the hole. You want to make sure that it can carry itself. So plant it deep enough to stand straight. If necessary, use a chopstick, popsicle, or straw to provide extra support.
Journal sections
Leaf cuttings like this develop a plant from their base. Source: Mullenkedheim
Larger leaves removed from the base of your stem cut can also be used! You can also choose large, healthy leaves on your plants and grow plants from them. This method is slightly more likely to fail, but you can still develop a plant from just one leaf.
Choose new leaves that are healthy, plump, and show no signs of damage to their surface. Medium-sized to larger leaves are better than small, young ones. Use a knife at the base of the leaf where it connects to the stem to carefully remove it. You want to pick up as much of the stem joint as possible without damaging the main stem.
Let these new leaves dry like your stem segments. If you want to use root hormone, dip it in a powder mixture immediately after cutting. This allows the hormone to work its way into the leaf when it dries.
Once your jade cuttings are dry, which takes 2-3 days, it's time to prepare your potting soil. Follow the instructions in the stem section above to prepare your pots. If they are pre-moistened and the excess water has drained off, use a pencil or chopstick to drill a hole in the mixture. Insert your leaf into the hole and cover the stem joint completely and to the base of the leaf.
Tips and tricks for growing and maintaining the new plants
Rooting takes a while for both leaf and stem cuttings. Until they develop a new root system, you need to make sure that they stay around the leaves in moist but not damp conditions with plenty of moisture. They do not have to be exposed to direct sunlight so that they do not dry out quickly.
It is best to use a plastic or glass starter dome over your cuttings. This keeps the moisture around your jade plants high. It also reduces the amount of irrigation you need to do.
When your potting soil dries out, spray your plants and soil with a spray bottle of water. Remember the goal is to have moist soil. If water flows from the bottom of your pots, it's too much!
Now that you know how to take care of your cuttings, there is only one question left. How long does it take for a cut to take root?
On stems, you should check for about a month to see if roots have formed. You can pull the stem very carefully to see if there is any resistance. Alternatively, take the whole thing out of the pot and dust the soil to see if it is rooted.
With leaves you see new growth at the base of the leaf. A tiny little plant will develop, which means that it has successfully taken root. It can have tiny little leaves and look like a miniature jade plant.
If it's obvious that your new plant has taken root, it's time to gradually adapt it to a less humid environment. Introduce more airflow into your dome over a two-week period. Keep the soil moisture constant, but gradually let the top stand longer during the day or at night to adapt your plant to drier conditions. Your stem or leaf cuttings should adapt quickly. However, if you see signs of wilting or leaves losing their fullness, slow down the ride.
After getting used to drier air, gradually bring them into full sunlight. Just like with the introduction of dry conditions, you should make sure that your jade plants don't get too much sun all at once. When fully cured in sunny conditions, your plants can go outside!
The green thumbs behind this article:
Kevin Espiritu
founder
Lorin Nielsen
Lifetime gardener
