Hobbit Jade vs Gollum Jade plants is one of the most interesting topics that jade plant lovers search for. The Hobbit Jade succulent plant and the Gollum Jade succulent plant are two of the most famous Jade plants due to their association with the “Lord of the Rings” series written by J.R.R Tolkien.
As we’ll see in this article, hobbit Jade succulent plant care can be extremely similar to Gollum Jade care, but before we begin to explore the care of these plants, we’ll need to understand each of them first.
Contents
Quick Overview
Here is a quick comparison overview of both plants.
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What Is The Difference Between Hobbit Jade And Gollum Jade Plants?
The main difference between these cultivars is that the Hobbit Jade plant shape has a flatter, more oval-shaped leaf than the Gollum Jade plant, which has leaves that are formed like fingertips.
There are some differences between the Hobbit Jade plant and the Gollum Jade plants when it comes to the appearance of their leaves, but as they are both succulent jade plants, there are more similarities than differences between them.
When exposed to enough sunlight, both plants tend to exhibit red tints at the edge of their leaves, making the Gollum Jade plant leaves look like green fingertips with red manicured nails. This particular characteristic makes the Gollum Jade plant hugely popular with many gardeners who prefer unique and interesting plants.
Both the Hobbit Jade plant and the Gollum Jade plant are succulents, which are plants specialized to store water efficiently. Cactus plants fall under succulents, which are plants that have adapted to storing water efficiently in their leaves, stems and trunks. Being succulents, both plants require similar care conditions and growing conditions, which we will explore later.
– Name Origins
The Hobbit Jade plant and the Gollum Jade plant are both under the family Crassula ovata. Both plants are so named because of their small size, with the Gollum Jade plant more misshapen than the Hobbit Jade Plant. This is in reference to the depiction of these characters in the novels by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The Hobbit Jade plant is also known as the Hobbit Fingers plant, the Finger Jade plant and the Organ Pipe Jade plant. Meanwhile, the Gollum Jade plant is known by other names, such as the Trumpet Jade plant, the Hobbit’s Pipe Jade plant and the ET’s Fingers Jade plant.
– Size
The Hobbit Jade plant and the Gollum Jade plant reach approximately up to the same size, which is around 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. Both plants are umbrella-shaped, although the Gollum Jade plant can be more distorted than the Hobbit Jade plant.
– Leaves
The leaves of the Hobbit Jade plant are thick, green and oval-shaped. The leaves are shiny, waxy, and can become marginally red when exposed to enough sunlight. The leaves of the Hobbit Jade plant can grow to around 2 inches long, making the plant lusher than the Gollum Jade plant.
The Gollum Jade plant has tubular and finger-like dense leaves. The leaves look like unopened jade plant leaves, except that they never truly open and remain long and tubular. The length of the Gollum Jade plant leaves can sometimes reach over 3 inches for truly mature plants. The tips also exhibit reddish tints when exposed to enough sunlight.
– Roots
The roots of both the Hobbit Jade plant and the Gollum Jade plant are fine and fibrous. The root system of both plants can become quite prolific upon maturity, which also stabilizes the entire plant system.
The root systems of both succulents are susceptible to overwatering. Prolonged excessive exposure to water can cause the roots to rot, which can eventually cause the plants to perish.
– Flowers
The flowers of both succulents can be white, pink or a combination of both, with striations running across the petals.
Flowering occurs during the fall and winter periods for the Hobbit Jade plant, while the Gollum Jade plant tends to blossom during the summer. Both plants can be coaxed into bloom by exposing them to shorter days and cooler temperatures.
– Habitat
The Crassula ovata, to which both the Hobbit Jade plant and the Gollum Jade plant belong, are native to South Africa. The dry and arid regions of South Africa make the perfect environment for succulents to grow and thrive profusely.
Care
Gollum Jade and Hobbit Jade care is actually quite easy as both require basically the same care. As succulents under the Crassula ovata, both plants are easily maintained, equally popular, and generally loved for their ease of growing.
Some gardeners can become extremely rattled to find plants like the Gollum Jade wrinkled, which leads them to immediately water it in abundance. Doing so can result in overwatered Gollum Jade plants, which may instead cause them to rot.
– Light
The Hobbit Jade plant and the Gollum Jade plant both love bright light . The sunlight enhances the foliage color of the plants, with direct sunlight creating a reddish margin at the edges of the leaves of both plants.
Ideally, jade plants require at least 4 hours of direct sunlight. Jade plants can also be placed in a south-facing location where bright, indirect light is present throughout the day. Jade plants can also thrive in partial shade, although in this setup, the plant’s foliage may retain only the green coloring and lose the reddish margins of the leaves.
– Water
Jade plants like the Hobbit Jade and the Gollum Jade do not require abundant watering. A quick indication that the plants require watering is when the top 2 inches of the soil is dry. The plant should ideally be watered with the “soak and dry” method, which is normal for many succulents.
This method involves watering around the soil base of the plant until excess water pours out of the container’s drainage holes. Once watered and drained, the plant can be left for a few days before watering again, using the top 2 inches of dry soil as a sign to water.
In colder seasons, watering frequency should be reduced to avoid the possibility of root rot. Water the plant only to keep it hydrated during the cooler periods of the year.
– Temperature
The Crassula ovata does not tolerate cold temperatures as a general rule. Jade plants, such as the Hobbit Jade and the Gollum Jade, prefer to grow at 65 to 85 F, although they can tolerate temperatures as low as 45 F. Jade plants are not winter-hardy, and it is best to keep them in containers and inside homes in regions where cold weather is present.
– Soil
Both the Hobbit Jade plant and the Gollum Jade plant require fast-draining soil with an ideal pH level of 6. Quick-draining soil mixtures with a mix of garden soil, perlite, pumice and some garden sand can be made. Many commercial succulent soil mixes are also readily available.
– Humidity
The Hobbit Jade plant and the Gollum Jade plant prefer low humidity environments. Areas with high humidity can encourage moisture to form on the leaves, which can become breeding grounds for fungal infections. High humidity also encourages root rot, which can eventually cause the plant to perish.
– Fertilizer
Jade plants like the Hobbit Jade and the Gollum Jade do not require abundant fertilization. As succulents accustomed to poor soils, these plants do exceptionally well without any fertilizers.
Despite this, they can still benefit from occasional feedings from fertilizers that are specially formulated for succulents. Fertilizer feedings should be stopped during the colder periods of the year.
– Rest Period
The Crassula ovata family usually goes into dormancy when it encounters cooler periods. Similarly, the Hobbit Jade plant and the Gollum Jade plant can go into rest periods when they experience colder temperatures. During this time, watering should be reduced unless necessary, and fertilization should be completely halted.
Cultivation and Propagation
Succulent plants like jade plants can be easily propagated through stem cuttings and leaf cuttings. These plant parts can be calloused first, then planted into quick-drying soil and watered using the “soak and dry” method.
Alternatively, these plant parts can immediately be planted after being snipped off and watered using the “soak and dry” method.
FAQ
Can Gollum Jade take full sun?
Gollum Jade thrives in full sun, making it an ideal choice for sunny spots in your garden or indoor areas with abundant sunlight.
How often should you water a Hobbit Jade?
Water your Hobbit Jade moderately, allowing the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings, typically every 7-10 days.
Does the Gollum Jade plant like pebbles?
Gollum Jade appreciates well-draining soil, so adding pebbles or gravel to the pot can aid in water drainage and prevent root rot.
Conclusion
The Hobbit Jade plant and the Gollum Jade plant are succulents that are extremely easy to care for and propagate. Let’s go over the things we’ve learned about these two cultivars.
- The difference between the Hobbit Jade vs Gollum Jade plants is found in their leaves. The Hobbit Jade has a more regular leaf shape while the Gollum Jade plant has long, tubular, finger-like leaves.
- Both plants love lots of sunlight, quick-drying soil, warm temperatures, low humidity, and prefer to be watered using the “soak and dry” method.
- The Hobbit Jade plant and the Gollum Jade plant can be easily propagated through stem and leaf cuttings planted in quick-drying soil and watered appropriately.
Ever-growing in popularity, the Hobbit Jade plant and the Gollum Jade plant bring charm, charisma and character everywhere they are planted. These plants definitely bring fortune and fame wherever they go!
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