Repotting guide

When & how to repot Gollum Jade (Crassula ovata 'Gollum')

Also called Trumpet Jade, ET's Fingers.

More about gollum jade

About Gollum Jade

Crassula ovata 'Gollum' · also called Trumpet Jade, ET's Fingers · houseplant

Gollum Jade is a sculptural jade cultivar with tubular, finger-like leaves flared into suction-cup tips, often rimmed red in bright light. A slow, woody, tree-like succulent, it can bloom with starry white-pink flowers when mature. Easy and long-lived but, like all Crassula ovata, ASPCA-listed as toxic to cats and dogs.

Mature size: Typically 60-90 cm tall indoors over many years; can reach larger as a specimen.

Watch for — Stretching and leaf drop: Insufficient light. Move to a sunny window or supplement with a grow light to keep growth compact.

How to tell gollum jade needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For gollum jade, watch for these signs:

Roots growing out of the drainage holes, or the rootball lifting the plant proud of the rim.
Soil that has shrunk away from the pot sides and no longer holds water.
The pot is unstable because the plant has grown top-heavy.
Old, compacted, broken-down mix that stays wet too long — for a succulent that is a rot risk, so refresh it even if the pot size is fine.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot gollum jade

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Gollum Jade's growth habit — slow-growing, branching, tree-like succulent with a thick woody trunk and upright fingered branches; develops a bonsai-like form with age. — sets the pace. Gollum Jade is a sculptural jade cultivar with tubular, finger-like leaves flared into suction-cup tips, often rimmed red in bright light. A slow, woody, tree-like succulent, it can bloom with starry white-pink flowers when mature. Easy and long-lived but, like all Crassula ovata, ASPCA-listed as toxic to cats and dogs.

What size pot to step gollum jade up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Gollum Jade stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot gollum jade

Spring or summer, while gollum jade is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting gollum jade

Repot dry. Do not water gollum jade for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty free-draining cactus/succulent mix ready.
Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
Pot into dry mix. Set gollum jade at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep gollum jade completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for gollum jade

Gollum Jade wants free-draining cactus/succulent mix. Cactus compost or a gritty blend with extra perlite, pumice or coarse sand in a pot with drainage holes. Never let it sit in saturated or water-retentive soil. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting gollum jade — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot gollum jade?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for gollum jade. Repot gollum jade every 2–3 years into a snug pot of free-draining cactus/succulent mix, ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does gollum jade need?

When is the best time of year to repot gollum jade?

Should you water gollum jade after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot gollum jade into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise gollum jade after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting gollum jade. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.