Repotting guide

When & how to repot Jade plant (Crassula ovata)

Also called money tree, friendship tree, lucky plant.

About Jade plant

Crassula ovata · also called money tree, friendship tree · houseplant

Jade plant is a tree-like South African succulent grown for its plump glossy leaves and easy-going temperament. It tolerates drought brilliantly, dislikes overwatering, and prefers more direct sun than most houseplants. Mildly toxic to pets.

Crassula ovata is a succulent native to the rocky hillsides and semi-arid valley thicket of South Africa's Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, where it grows alongside aloes, euphorbias and Portulacaria afra in winter-rainfall conditions.

Its rot-prone succulent roots require a high-porosity, well-drained cactus or succulent mix, or standard soil amended with extra perlite or sharp sand to mimic its native mineral hillside substrate.

Mature size: 60-150 cm tall over many years

Watch for — Yellow leaves: Overwatering; let the pot dry out fully.

Sources: hort.extension.wisc.edu, pza.sanbi.org, en.wikipedia.org

How to tell jade plant needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For jade plant, 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 jade plant

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Jade plant's growth habit — tree-like succulent with woody stems — sets the pace. Jade plant is a tree-like South African succulent grown for its plump glossy leaves and easy-going temperament. It tolerates drought brilliantly, dislikes overwatering, and prefers more direct sun than most houseplants. Mildly toxic to pets.

What size pot to step jade plant up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Jade plant 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 jade plant

Spring or summer, while jade plant 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 jade plant

Repot dry. Do not water jade plant 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 gritty cactus or 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 jade plant 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 jade plant 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 jade plant

Jade plant wants gritty cactus or succulent mix. Two parts standard cactus mix to one part coarse grit. A small pot encourages tighter, more compact growth. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting jade plant — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot jade plant?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for jade plant. Repot jade plant every 2–3 years into a snug pot of gritty cactus or 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 jade plant need?

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

Should you water jade plant after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot jade plant 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 jade plant after repotting?

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