Plant care

Jade plant (money tree) care

Crassula ovata

Also called money tree, friendship tree, lucky plant.

Light

Jade plant is a sun-lover and needs the brightest spot in the home to thrive. At least 4-6 hours of direct sun. A south or west-facing windowsill is ideal; insufficient light causes leggy stretched growth. Indoors that almost always means a south or west-facing windowsill in the northern hemisphere. Plants moved abruptly from low light to direct sun will scorch — acclimate them over 7-10 days by giving a little more sun each day.

Watering

Water jade plant when the soil is completely dry, every 2-3 weeks. Succulents and succulent-like plants store enough water in their stems and leaves that they would rather be slightly thirsty than slightly soggy — and the most common way to kill one is by watering on a fixed weekly calendar instead of by feel. Water deeply then leave alone until the soil is bone dry. Wrinkled leaves are a thirst signal, not a panic signal.

Soil and pot

Jade plant grows best in gritty cactus or succulent mix. Two parts standard cactus mix to one part coarse grit. A small pot encourages tighter, more compact growth. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Jade plant sits happiest at around 30-50% humidity and 15-24°C (60-75°F). Dry household air is ideal. If you keep the room above 15 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed jade plant sparingly. Half-strength cactus fertiliser every 8 weeks during the growing season; not at all in winter. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on jade plant in the Growli community. Where a problem matches one of our diagnostic guides, click through for the full step-by-step recovery plan written for jade plant specifically.

Yellow leaves — Overwatering; let the pot dry out fully.
Drooping branches — Either rot from too much water or leggy growth from too little light.
Wrinkled leaves — Underwatering; a deep soak usually revives them.
Leggy stretched growth — Insufficient light; move to a sunnier spot.

Companion plants

Jade plant pairs well with Aloe vera, Snake plant, and Echeveria. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Leaf or stem cuttings allowed to callus for 2-3 days root readily in dry succulent mix. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Jade plant is mildly toxic to pets. ASPCA lists Crassula ovata as toxic to cats and dogs. Ingestion can cause vomiting, depression, and slow heart rate in cats. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Jade plant care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Crassula ovata?

Crassula ovata is most commonly called Jade plant, but it is also known as money tree, friendship tree, lucky plant. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Jade plant apply identically to anything sold as money tree.

How much light does jade plant need?

Jade plant grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). At least 4-6 hours of direct sun. A south or west-facing windowsill is ideal; insufficient light causes leggy stretched growth.

How often should I water jade plant?

Water jade plant when the soil is completely dry, every 2-3 weeks. Water deeply then leave alone until the soil is bone dry. Wrinkled leaves are a thirst signal, not a panic signal. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is jade plant toxic to cats and dogs?

Jade plant is mildly toxic to pets. ASPCA lists Crassula ovata as toxic to cats and dogs. Ingestion can cause vomiting, depression, and slow heart rate in cats.

What USDA hardiness zone does jade plant grow in?

Jade plant is rated for USDA zone 10-11 and RHS hardiness H1c (frost-free greenhouse, summer outdoors). Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Jade plant deep-dive guides

Every aspect of jade plant care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Related guides

Jade plant is also known as money tree, friendship tree, and lucky plant.