Propagating jade plants is a beautiful experience. When you get to see the younger ones of your jade plant, it gives a feeling of tranquility, as if the meaning of life has just been found.
The art of jade plant propagation is not that hard, you can achieve this by following the simple instructions that I’ve presented below in this article.
There are some essentials you need to have by your side before you begin to propagate your jade plant. Make sure to equip yourself with a clean and sharp cutting tool such as pruners.
Further, you will also need some water and a suitable container filled with potting mix. A jade plant can be propagated from both stem and leaf using water or soil.
Good luck with this rewarding experience!
Propagating jade plant with the help of a stem cutting is one of the best approaches you can adopt, ensuring a larger plant within a very short period.
Once equipped with the essential materials, you can make a clean cut of the chosen stem. Make sure to use a clean, sterilized, and sharp cutting tool to cut just below a leaf node where the leaf meets the stem.
After that, you may need to remove some lower leaves from the stem that might touch water or soil while propagating.
Once you cut the stem, you need to allow it to dry under warm and indirect sunlight before proceeding to propagate it, which is also termed a stem callus. This way, the wounded stem is prevented from rotting.
Stem Callus: The Stem callus of a jade plant is the process in which soft tissue is formed over a cut surface of the stem indicating a healing aspect of the wound.
Finally, you can plant the cut stem in your chosen container or pot filled with the potting mix that has drainage holes, and make sure to water it thoroughly.
Jade plant leaf propagation can also be achieved from a single leaf but it requires immense patience from you. If the chosen leaf is completely healthy and unharmed in every way, it can be used to multiply your jade plant.
Begin by choosing a matured leaf with no signs of damage. Remember not to pick dry or brittle leaves. You can gently twist the leaf from the stem, making sure it has been detached from the base with a little pointed end.
After you’ve picked the chosen leaves, you need to let the leaf dry out for a few days. This will help to form a callus at the cutting, minimizing the risk of leaf rotting. Besides that, allowing the leaf to form a callus encourages root development more readily than the fresh-cut tissue.
In the meantime, you need to prepare soil for the jade propagation. It has been suggested to use a mixture of potting soil, sand, and perlite which should meet the well-draining mix requirement. Once the required soil is ready, you can fill your container with it.
You then need to place the leaf on the soil. It would be best if you make a small hole in the middle of the soil using your finger and try inserting the cutting into the soil if you have chosen a stem to propagate. In the case of a leaf, simply lay the leaf on top of the soil!
Moisture is crucial for your jade plant, especially when they are growing. You have to make sure the leaf gets sufficient humidity, avoiding dark and dry locations.
Some professionals prefer misting your plant but good watering practice also won’t harm your plant either. Thorough watering and allowing the soil to dry before another round is an ideal approach to watering your jade plant.
Propagating jade in water is not highly recommended, you may want to choose this approach at the last. This might be because in most cases, water propagation has been found to increase the risk of stem rotting.
Besides that, the roots grown in water can have a harder time transitioning to soil later on.
Step 1: Once you’ve cut the chosen stem, you need to let the stem-cutting dry for a couple of days to form a callus over the wound.
Step 2: Look out for the leaves on the cut stem, if necessary you need to remove the leaves from the stem that can potentially touch the water.
Step 3: Pick a container or vase of your choice and make sure to fill it with clean water.
Step 4: Place the calloused end of the cutting into the water, making sure the leaves are untouched.
Step 5: After some weeks you can see the development of the root. Keep in mind to change the water regularly if are planning to keep cutting in the water for longer days.
You should know that jade is a resilient plant and there is no such thing as bad propagation timing for your jade plant. But still, if you choose the warmer months of their active growing season, you can expect quicker and better results.
During the summer and spring, your jade plant is full of energy, and the warmth of the environment further helps to direct its energy toward root development.
Once you’ve successfully propagated your jade plant, you still have some things to look upon as a post propagating care. Below is the guide for you on how you can care for your jade plant after propagation:
Location, light, and moisture level are crucial for healthy jade propagation. You’ve to make sure your jade plant is placed in a moist environment with indirect light. Your jade plant will thrive in such ideal conditions.
Improper watering practices may make your jade plant susceptible to pests and disease.
It has been suggested to avoid overwatering and make sure you water your jade plant only after moderate soil dryness.
Further, proper air circulation is what your jade plant often requires for healthy growth. Place your plant in a location where it receives fresh air from all sides.
If you find pest infestation or any fungal disease in your jade plant, you’ve to take action right away by eliminating and disposing of the infected parts.
If necessary try using insecticidal soap or essential oil sprays for severe infestations.
It would be best if you repot your jade plant once it reaches the stage of maturity. If you let your jade plant grow in a thriving environment, its root system will grow larger over time.
You may need to replant your jade in a new pot. While repotting or planting jade plants, it has been suggested to take your time and choose a perfect container or pot. If you jade has grown big, you should prune jade plant for more bushier leaves.
Well, choosing a container is very crucial while propagating your jade plant. The size of your new pot has a lot to say and it would be best if you choose a larger-sized pot for repotting.
Further, it has been suggested to go for pots that will help to maintain good air circulation in the soil allowing a natural respiration cycle.
Remember to pick a container with a well-developed drainage system!
Plastic pots for your jade plants can work to some extent but try to avoid it as much as possible. You should know that plastic does not readily permit the moisture of the soil to escape.
Thus, the soil inside the plastic can not perform a natural respiration cycle, causing your jade plant to suffer from root rot and waterlogging. This is not a good environment for your plant.
