For many gardeners, indoor plants provide an opportunity to interact with plants during the winter, when most outdoor gardening activities are on hold. What starts as a small collection of a few plants can quickly turn into a winter utopia of houseplants. While I'm always on the lookout for new and different types of houseplants, some of my early successes remain favorites.
Jade ( Crassula ovata ) is definitely one of the best houseplants for beginners, and our 15-year-old plant is probably my favorite example. However, this was not my first jade factory and I have learned a lot through trial and error over the years.
Although jade grows best in full sun, it can also survive in low light conditions and tolerate fairly heavy water before becoming stressed, making it an excellent starter plant. In my experience, one of the most common mistakes when growing jade and many other houseplants is overwatering. A colleague of mine often says that these waterlogged plants suffer from "too much love".
As gardeners, we all want to take good care of our plants, including proper watering and care. This is why we sometimes tend to pull houseplants out of the water simply out of love and a desire to please them.
On the other hand, the ability to survive on little water is another quality that makes jade an excellent houseplant. This is a great plant for beginners to test their patience and how long to wait between waterings. It is helpful to know how dry the pot is by observing the plant for signs of stress. Jade will handle this difficult love very well as she will show some signs of stress before it is too late.
When plants become waterlogged, they develop flat or wrinkled leaves and begin to suffer. But if you pay attention and add water right away, they should be cured. Healthy leaves that receive enough water should be firm and plump. I check my plant regularly by pinching a few leaves in different parts. If they look firm, the plant is getting enough water. If I see wrinkles on the leaves or they look smooth, they probably need water.
Plants that are overwatered will also have soft leaves, but they will look almost watery rather than wrinkled and dry. Plants showing these symptoms are at risk of root rot, which can lead to plant death if left untreated. When overwatered, leafy tomatoes cannot quickly release water that is absorbed by the roots. That is why the surface of the leaves looks wet. Since these leaves are constantly pumping water, small white spots can form, which are actually minerals in the water that accumulate on the surface of the leaves after they leave the stomach. These white spots should disappear easily if caught early.
Chronic overwatering can cause blisters on the leaves that eventually turn into brown fungal spots. At this stage, the plant is already suffering from root rot, which will eventually kill it. If you notice signs of overwatering, it's a good idea to carefully remove the plant from its container and remove as much soil as possible. This will help check for root damage and drying things out. Replace the old soil with new soil and repot the plant. Jade works best in a succulent mix, with additional materials added to improve drainage. I added even more perlite to the succulent mix to improve drainage.
Jade plants grow well in four to six hours of direct light per day, but can also tolerate bright, indirect light. I prefer a more compact growth habit that requires lots of direct sunlight or supplemental lighting in less than ideal conditions. If you don't have ideal light, your jade bush may lean towards the sun, creating more space between the leaves on the stems, but still remain happy and healthy.
There are interesting varieties of jade that have purple, pink or yellow tints on the leaf edges, but I find that the regular green leaves of our old jade stand out for their tree shape and larger size. Although they may not seem like the latest and greatest trend, jade plants can become spectacular specimens over time and are very durable. Just make sure your copy doesn't get too many likes.
Ryan Pankau is a horticulture educator with UI Extension serving Champaign, Ford, Iroquois and Vermilion counties. This column also appears on his Garden Scoop blog at Go.illinois.edu/GardenScoopBlog.
