Succulents have recently boomed in popularity among both backyard gardeners and houseplant enthusiasts—for good reason! These plants are beautiful and unique, with minimal watering needs. One of the most popular succulents of all is the jade plant. Learn more about growing this beautiful plant in your Arizona yard.
Soil and Planting
One of the most important considerations when planting jade—or any succulent—is drainage. Jade should be planted in soil with plenty of drainage to prevent root rot. Purchasing pre-mixed succulent soil or using a 50/50 combination of potting soil and perlite is ideal. You should also choose the planter carefully. It should have a drainage hole and only be slightly bigger than the jade plant’s root ball. An oversized planter will take longer to dry out after watering, leaving your jade plant susceptible to rot. While jade plants are not commonly used for landscaping in Arizona, you can try experimenting with planting them in the ground—just be sure to consider their sunlight needs and be prepared to protect your plants from frost.
Watering and Fertilization
You should only water your jade plant when its soil is completely dry. When you water the plant, do so thoroughly—you should continue until you see water draining out of the bottom of the planter. Plan to feed your jade plant a couple of times in the spring and summer. You can use a fertilizer made specifically for succulents.
Sunlight
While jade plants do well in bright sunlight, the intense light and heat of the Arizona sun can result in damage to these plants. Instead of keeping your jade plant in an area with full sun, look for a spot with dappled sunlight or morning sun and afternoon shade. If the jade plant is kept in an area with too little light, you may notice that the leaves turn a dull green color, and that the plant’s growth becomes stretched as it searches for light.
Frost
Jade plants are not frost hardy. You may want to consider bringing your plant inside for the winter, or at least overnight when the temperature will drop to near or below freezing. If you want to keep the plant outside, be sure it is in a covered area, such as under a tree or on a covered patio. During hard freezes, you should keep the plant covered with a cloth that goes all the way to the ground to trap heat.
Propagation
While you can grow jade plants from seed, you can also propagate these plants from cuttings. This means that you can receive a cut branch from a friend, plant it in soil, and soon have your very own thriving jade plant.
No matter what types of plants you want to add to your yard, you can receive expert advice and services from Complete Landscaping. Our Tucson landscaping company has been serving local residents and business owners for over 30 years! For more information, call (520) 323-8918.