Seasonal Fertilizing of a Jade Plant
A jade plant (Crassula ovata, also called C. argentea) can be a majestic sight, with stout trunk and branches bearing rounded, glossy, green succulent leaves, often rimmed in red. It is easy to grow a jade plant to specimen stature if a few basic guidelines are followed and you observe your jade consistently for signs of developing problems. A common mistake is to overwater and overfertilize jade plants, which often proves fatal rather than beneficial.
When to Fertilize
A good rule of thumb for any plant, including jade plants, is to avoid giving fertilizer when the plant is not growing. For a jade plant, this is roughly from November to March. The plant is not in nutrient-uptake mode then, and the fertilizer remains in the soil and can build up to amounts that can harm roots. Wait until you see signs of new growth, such as new leaves beginning to form at the ends of branch tips. Jade plants usually grow in spring and summer months, so give them fertilizer then. If you are fortunate enough to have a jade plant that flowers during winter, give a dose of fertilizer in advance of flower formation.
Chemical fertilizers come in liquid, water-soluble, and controlled-release formulations. Some people prefer to use organic products, such as fish emulsion, blood meal or bonemeal. It's appropriate to use any of these for jade plants provided you read the product instructions first and determine the correct rate and method of application. Use a balanced formulation such as 10-10-10. Some growers prefer fertilizers with higher amounts of phosphorus and potassium and lower amounts of nitrogen, so look for higher values in the last two numbers of the fertilizer formula. An example would be 7-15-12, standing for the percentage weights of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, respectively.
There are two schools of thought on timing and amount of fertilizer. One is to feed a jade plant every three months, or once a season, during the plant's active growth period, with a liquid fertilizer at the strength recommended by the manufacturer. Another approach favored by cactus and succulent specialists is to reduce the fertilizer strength and feed more frequently. Most cacti and succulents grow more slowly than the leafy plants most fertilizers are formulated to feed, and they respond well to lighter, more frequent fertilizing. Some recommendations are to water weekly or as needed with diluted fertilizer to as low as one-tenth the recommended strength.
Apply fertilizer solutions to the soil rather than on the plant, because minerals in both the water and the fertilizer can cause spotting on the leaves. Give sufficient quantity so that the fertilizer solution runs out through the drainage holes. For bonemeal and blood meal, mix recommended amounts into the potting mix before using it. Controlled-release fertilizers should also be mixed with potting soil in advance of repotting the jade plant. Note the active life of the controlled-release product, as printed on the label, and don't apply other fertilizers until that period has passed.
Soil Mixes and Fertilizers
Jade plants prefer a potting soil with about half organic content, which helps fertilizer uptake. Nutrients attach to organic substrates so that they are available to plant roots rather than getting washed out when the plant is watered. The soilless potting mixes jade plants grow best in don't contain many nutrients, so choose a fertilizer that contains trace elements. Several times a year, or at least once a season, flush out extra chemicals that remain in the potting soil. Put the jade plant in an area where you can let clear water run through the root ball for the equivalent of 10 times the volume of the soil in the pot. Let the potting mix drain, and apply fresh fertilizer.
- Clemson Cooperative Extension: Jade Plant
- The Complete Guide to Keeping Your Houseplants Alive and Thriving; Sandy Baker
- North Dakota State University Extension Hortiscope: Questions on: Jade Plants
Cathryn Chaney has worked as a gardening writer since 2002. Her horticultural experience working in the nursery industry informs her garden articles, especially those dealing with arid landscaping and drought-tolerant gardening. Chaney also writes poetry, which has appears in "Woman's World" magazine and elsewhere. Chaney graduated from the University of Arizona in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in English.