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Jade Plant care guide

Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) is a succulent that likes very bright light or direct sun and water every two weeks. Here is everything you need to keep it healthy.

Botanical nameCrassula ovata
Also known asMoney Plant, Lucky Plant
Plant typeSucculent
LightVery bright light or direct sun
WateringWater every two weeks
FertilizingFeed about every two months in the growing season
GrownIndoor
Type of plantOrnamental

How often to water Jade Plant

Water Jade Plant every two weeks as a baseline. Treat that as a reminder to check rather than a rule to follow blindly — push a finger an inch or two into the soil and water only if it feels dry at that depth.

Expect to water more often in warm, bright, or dry conditions, and noticeably less in winter when growth slows. A pot with drainage holes matters more than the exact interval: standing water is the most common way houseplants are lost.

Light requirements

Jade Plant prefers very bright light or direct sun. It needs as much light as you can give it, including several hours of direct sun. A south-facing windowsill or a sunny patio is ideal.

If growth becomes stretched and leggy with long gaps between leaves, it is reaching for more light. Pale or bleached patches usually mean the opposite — too much direct sun.

Feeding and fertilizer

Feed Jade Plant about every two months through the growing season using a balanced liquid fertilizer at half the strength on the label. Pause over winter — an unfed plant recovers far more easily than one with fertilizer burn.

Care notes

Thick, coin-like leaves store water — let the soil dry fully before watering. Bright light keeps the stems compact.

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Frequently asked questions

How often should you water Jade Plant?

As a starting point, water Jade Plant every two weeks, then adjust to your own conditions. Check the soil first: push a finger an inch or two down and only water if it feels dry at that depth. Most Jade Plant problems come from watering on a fixed schedule rather than watering when the plant actually needs it.

How much light does Jade Plant need?

Jade Plant prefers very bright light or direct sun. It needs as much light as you can give it, including several hours of direct sun. A south-facing windowsill or a sunny patio is ideal.

Should you fertilize Jade Plant?

Feed Jade Plant about every two months during the active growing season (roughly spring through early autumn) with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Stop feeding in winter, when growth slows and unused nutrients build up in the soil.

Is Jade Plant an indoor or outdoor plant?

Jade Plant is grown as an indoor plant. It does best in stable room temperatures, away from cold draughts and radiators.

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