Plants need water but how often they need it varies by species. Furthermore, if you aren’t sure how much to water your plant, you can cause accidental damage. If you have a jade plant or are looking to get one, read on to find the ideal watering schedule to keep your plant alive and healthy.
Watering jade plants: During the summer, you should water your jade plants about once a week. In the spring and fall, you can water every two weeks. As for the winter, your jade plant will become dormant and stop growing, and you may be able to go up to a month without watering.
How do I know my jade plant needs water?
When the soil of your jade plant dries out, this is the clearest sign that it needs water. Don’t go too long after the soil dries, however, so check your plant once a week.
How much water do jade plants need?
To make it easier to create a watering schedule for your jade plant, you can think about dividing the year into two parts and adjusting this schedule as needed.
Spring and Summer
Jade plants are designed to hold water so use this to your advantage. When watering a jade plant, allow the water to soak deeply into the soil.
It’s best to move the plant over a sink so you can water slowly and deeply and allow any extra water to run out of the bottom holes of the container so water doesn’t pool.
Those that are new to the process should test the soil. Place a finger or a popsicle stick deep into the soil. You want to feel wet soil all way to the bottom of the container so you know the water has penetrated deeply.
After you water, allow the plant to absorb the water. Wait until the soil is dry before watering again.
Your watering schedule will vary as the temperature in your home increases. Usually, you should water your jade plant once a week but if the air temperature is controlled via an air conditioner, you might want to allow two or three weeks between watering.
Fall and Winter
Jade plants become dormant in the wintertime, which means they don’t grow. As a result, your jade plant needs a lot less water than at other times of the year.
Unfortunately, many plant owners are not aware of this fact and this is the time when jade plants can suffer. If there is too much water but the plant isn’t absorbing it, the water will pool and root rot can set in.
For best results, test the soil in between watering. You want the soil to dry out completely before you water again in the fall or winter.
The size and age of your plant are also factors for determining winter watering. If you have a large, established plant, it is better able to absorb and store water, which means you can go even longer between watering.
Newer plants that are smaller in size will have fewer leaves and thus less of an opportunity to store water. This means you should water your jade plant more often although still let the soil dry out.
When do you water jade plants
You can water your jade plant at any time of the day. However, if they are near a window that gets a lot of sun exposure, it’s best to stick to the morning or the evening.
Generally, jade plants should be watered every week or two. However, always test the soil before watering as the soil should have the chance to dry out in between.
How to water jade plants
When watering your jade plant, aim the water to cover the soil so it doesn’t hit the leaves. A slow, steady stream of water will help with this endeavor.
Unfortunately, if jade leaves come into too much contact with water, this can cause them to rot. While the odd splash won’t hurt, you want to avoid this as much as possible.
Depending on your local water, tap water may have salt particles in them. Over time, these salts can build up in the soil of your jade plant, which can cause the plant to weaken.
You may see your plant looking distressed, such as yellow color or weakened leaves. If this happens, test the water for salt content.
If you know your water isn’t the best, try to use filtered or distilled water. This way there won’t be any hidden particles in the water.
What does an overwatered jade plant look like?
Jade plants will try their best to hold as much water as possible. Therefore, the leaves are the clearest indication that your plant has too much water.
Gently squeeze the leaves on your plant. If they have a squishy texture, it means they are holding too much water and you should ease off on your schedule.
You can also check the bottom of your container for pooled water. If there is constantly extra water in the container, it means the soil is too waterlogged.
What does an underwatered jade plant look like?
There are some clear signs that your jade plant is not getting enough water. First, if the plant starts to drop its leaves, this is a major sign.
Another thing to look for is if there are brown spots on the leaves or if they look shriveled.
Immediately add water to your jade plant and be more vigilant about sticking to a schedule while monitoring your plant for signs of improvement.
Can I spray water on my jade plant?
Jade plants do not like humid conditions, so there is no need to mist the air around them. The average home is just fine although if you have humid summers and humidity comes into your home, you may want to invest in a dehumidifier.
Jade plants do not like their leaves to get wet, so avoid misting them. Too much water on the leaves can lead to rot.
Conclusion
Jade plants can go weeks at a time between watering, so always wait for the soil to dry out. Water more in the summer and a lot less in the winter.
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