How Often Do You Water Jade Plants: Right Irrigation Schedule

How often do you water jade plants is a question you would think of if you have just gotten this plant and would love to see it grow perfectly. This is one of the main concerts that gardeners have with jade plants of the Crassulaceae family.

If you want to provide your jade plants with the right amount of water for healthy growth, this post will fill you with all the important details.

We’ll guide you to know how, when, how much, and how frequent to water your succulents.

How Often Should You Water a Jade Plant?

⚡ You should water your jade plants every 10 to 14 days. A potted jade plant should be watered every two to three weeks. Jade plants are succulents, meaning they hold water in their leaves, and they hate being in wet soil. Before watering jade plants, ensure the topsoil is dry.

Checking for dry soil more will often help you to determine when to provide your plants with water. However, the irrigation schedule would change from season to season, and this is also essential in its growth.

– In Winter

Water your jade succulent at least once every three weeks during winter. Jades don’t require much watering in winter since the plants are at rest. The rate of evaporation is also low due to cold temperatures.

You should check the soil moisture during winter and adjust your watering schedule where necessary. This gives the plants enough time for the roots and soil to dry between watering. This helps to prevent root rot.

– In Summer

Water your jade at least once a week during the hot summer months. The hot temperatures mean that your plants will take up more water. Evaporation is also high during summer, which means the soil dries up faster. This means you should water your beautiful gree plants more often when the temperatures are high.

What Are Factors to Consider When Watering Jade Plants?

The factors that you should consider when watering your plant are the potting mix, the light requirement it needs, and the temperature change it would go through. When you take into consideration these three, then it would be easier for you to water them right. 

These beautiful plants, also known as Crassula ovata, are easy growing, making them a perfect choice for gardeners who are too busy to water plants daily. However, since they require water to survive, you should consider the following factors when watering them.

– Potting Mix

The soil your green plants grow in matters greatly, and this is because these plant are ones that prefer well-draining soils, meaning the water shouldn’t stay more than the necessary amount. If your plants are growing in fast-draining soils, it means you need to water more often compared to growing them in heavier soil that holds water.

Jade plant indoor or outdoor can also determine the frequency of watering, which means that it would change. You must water your jade every 10 to 14 days if you’re growing them outside. Watch out for thinning and wrinkling leaves, as this is an indication you need to provide them with water.

Your containers must have good drainage to prevent the soil from getting soggy. Proper drainage also helps to drain excess water from the plant roots. Moist soil can easily lead to root rot.

Jade plants indoors on the other hand, should be watered every two to three weeks. Moreover, they shouldn’t be neglected as they require well-draining soil. A rule of thumb for indoor plants is that you shouldn’t overwater them. 

– Light Requirements

The amount of light your little plants get also determines how frequently you would have to be watering them. These plants require direct sunlight to grow well, as a result you should position your plant in a south-facing window to get enough light.

One of the main common problems with these plants is that they don’t get enough light is that their stems get thin and break off easily. As they would be sitting in direct sunlight should be watered every 10 to 14 days.

A 10 to 14 watering schedule can also work for plants growing indoors. If your plant sits on the kitchen counter or office desk, water every two to three weeks. Your jade will easily tell you they are unhappy about their light conditions. Hence, listening to your plant and providing the right growing conditions is important.

– Temperature Changes

Hot, cool, and dry air temperatures also determine how often you should water your plants. While jade isn’t fussy about temperatures, you should ensure the temperatures don’t drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

What you should remember is that the dry air and the heat can make the soil dry out faster, and could evaporate the water too. You should also note that cooler temperatures will keep the soil moist for a long period. Moreover, these plants rest during winter; you should only water when you notice the leaves are wrinkled or limp.

What Are the Signs Jade Plant Needs Water?

The signs that the jade plant needs water would be dry soil, and wrinkling of the leaves. On the other hand, you would also see some leaves drooping and losing their color, turning brown. These would be indicators that your plant has become thirsty. 

Most gardeners find it hard to know exactly when a jade is under watered. This is because the signs of under watering are similar to overwatering. Watch out for these signs to know that your plant needs more water.

– Dry Soil

One clear indication that your little green plant needs water is the dry potting mix/soil. Dig your finger about an inch or two into the potting mix, in this case, if the soil is dry, then you should water your plant.

However, remember that before adding more water to your plant, check the soil dryness to ensure you’re not overwatering jade, and open up another issue for you. 

– Wrinkled Leaves

Wrinkled jade leaves are another indication your plants need more water, because from the state that the leaves are in, as the skin has pulled itself up, this would show you clearly that the thirsty plant is asking for proper irrigation. 

The lack of water in these plants makes them lose their plumpness and rigidity. This isn’t a bad thing, but if the symptoms are left unchecked, it can cause more damage in the long run.

– Drooping Leaves

Drooping leaves is another indication your plants need watering. Leaves falling off from your plants should be taken more seriously, because they have been low in their nutrients and remember that they also get the right nutrients from irrigation. Quit neglecting your plant, and water as soon as possible.

– Browning Leaves

Browning leaves of your beautiful green plant could indicate that your plants are under watered. If the leaves are crispy or turning brown, you should water your plants right away, because they are parched and as thy are losing chlorophyll, they would change their color and start to become dull.

Once you determine your jade is under watered, the best remedy is to provide it with water. Water your plants carefully to make sure water gets to the roots. Jade plant care requires that you avoid flooding the plant with water. Rehydrate the plant by providing water gently.

What Are Signs of Overwatered Jade Plant?

Signs of overwatered jade plant are brown spots on leaves, and drooping leaves, root rot. On the other hand, they would be developing mold on soil, and having pale foliage, with a mushy look, yellowing of leaves, and branches starting to fall off. 

Knowing the signs of overwatered jade will help to ensure you prevent the plant from dying or dealing with pests and diseases.

– Brown Spots on Leaves

Browning under the jade leaves is a sign the plants are experiencing edema. This is a condition where the plants take up more water than is required. When they are absorbing too much water makes the leaves swell and turn brown. Fortunately, you can still save your plant at this stage.

– Drooping Leaves

Drooping leaves on most succulents can be a sign of overwatering or under watering. Check whether the soil is dry before watering to ensure you don’t get confused between the two symptoms. Which means that in this case, if they are overly watered, the leaves falling would be more healthy looking. 

– Root Rot

Overwatering also leads to root rot, and in this case moist soil prevents roots from getting oxygen. What this would indicate is that your plant roots can easily get overwhelmed and die, because the roots have grown and developed fungi.

Any signs of root rot from your jade and green plants should be removed quickly. This is because root rot can spread to other parts of the plant. It could also be a breeding ground for pests and diseases.

– Mold on Soil

Mold on soil is a tell-a-tale sign that you might be providing your plants with more water than is required. Usually, this happens when the soil gets soggy and waterlogged, and this would become a medium where they would be prone to grow.

Since little air gets into the potting mix, it causes the soil to ferment. Take this sign seriously, as it’s a severe indication of overwatering.

– Pale or Limp Foliage

Pale or limp jade foliage is a sign your jade is overwatered, because it has so much moisture trapped in the leaves. When plants become pale, it also means they’re not getting enough nutrients from the soil to the leaves. In some cases, your plants can become pale because of bad soil composition or poor application of homemade fertilizer for jade plant.

– Mushy Appearance

Overwatering jade will make the root swell and eventually rot. As a result, there is a poor water flow within the plant. The plant leaves will lack enough nutrients and water, making them appear mushy, due to the excess water that has been transported through the vessels.

 – Yellowing of Leaves

If you notice that your jade leaves are not as green as they were before or are gradually turning yellow, you’re overwatering them. Although yellowing of leaves can also mean the plants are underwatered. Therefore, check the soil before cutting back on water or providing more water.

– Branches or Leaves Falling Off

It’s a common thing for the jade to shed their leaves. But when the branches and leaves constantly fall off, it’s a sign of overwatering. This happens because overwatering leads to root rot and poor water supply to the leaves. In turn, the leaves and branches weaken, making them fall off.

How Do You Save an Overwatered Jade?

You can save an overwatered jade by allowing the soil to dry well, and the remove the dead or diseased parts that have been effected by the plant. Make sure you would also repot it, and try to propagate the parts that haven’t been damaged. 

– Allow the Soil to Dry

A quick remedy to save an overwatered little succulent is to allow the soil to dry. Confirm that your container allows for proper drainage, and then you must wait for a time period to let the excess water dry, and then start watering properly. If you have a saucer below your containers, remove it to allow water to drain away.

– Remove Dead or Diseased Parts

In case your plants are severely affected by overwatering, remove dead or diseased parts. For instance, overwatering can lead to root rot and damage to the leaves. To prevent further damage to your plants, remove the dead or diseased parts.

– Repot

Waterlogged parts of the plants can affect soil composition. Too much water will dilute the soil nutrients, losing their value. Growing the jade with the same soil will only make the plant suffer more. Which means that you must repot your plant if you realize that your plant has been overwatered for quite some time.

– Propagate 

If you’ve tried everything to revive your overwatered jade and nothing seems to work, propagating jade will help. Cut off healthy parts from your plant. Repot your containers with the right soil mixture. 

For Jade plant care indoors, you should realize that your plants require ideal growing conditions to become healthy. So, ensure you place the containers where the plants will get ample sunlight.

Conclusion

How often do you water jade? Well, you now know that these plants dislike wet feet, and you should only water them when they require water.

Here’s what you need to remember:

• Check the soil to determine whether it’s dry before watering your plants.
• Water your plants at least once a week in summer and once every three weeks in winter.
• You can save your waterlogged plant by allowing the soil to dry, repotting the plant, or propagating it.

Essentially, plants require water, just like any other plants. Therefore, use this plant care guide to ensure you provide your plant with optimal growing conditions.