The jade tree or crassula ovata is a succulent plant belonging to the Crassulaceae family. This plant can be grown in pots and requires little care. It is perfect for people who don’t have a green thumb. On older plants, star-shaped flowers, colored white or pink, appear in autumn or winter. The growth of the jade tree is slow, find out how to accelerate and stimulate it using these simple actions.
Crassula ovata is a perennial succulent plant with evergreen foliage. Many crassulas live for several years. Their flowers appear late. In fact, these crassulas only flower when they are old, when they reach 9 or 10 years old. That said, to boost the growth of your plant and accelerate its development, certain actions are required.
How to accelerate the growth of the jade tree?
The jade tree grows very slowly. Its growth rate is 5 to 20 cm per year, but by providing your houseplant with the right conditions, you can accelerate its growth.
- Repotting the jade tree
To stimulate the growth of a plant, it is important to repot it into a larger pot. This way, you provide it with enough space to grow. Repotting the jade tree into a larger pot encourages its roots to develop. That said, it is important to transplant your plant, at the beginning of its growth, every two to three years, taking care not to damage the roots. They may take even longer to grow if you break them. Later, when your crassula becomes large enough, you can repot it every 5 years. After repotting, wait 4 months before fertilizing your plant, because the roots, being still sensitive, risk being damaged by the salts that make up the fertilizers. Be careful not to transplant your plant in winter. During this period of vegetative rest, the crassula ovata barely grows.
- Fertilize the jade tree
Fertilizing a plant provides it with the necessary nutrients to promote good growth. To boost the growth of the jade tree, it is important to fertilize it, during its growth period, once a month, with a fertilizer for cacti. Fertilizer can be applied between April and September. Do not fertilize your plant in winter, as it enters a dormant period.
Tip: To fertilize your perennial plant, you can also use natural ingredients like coffee grounds. To do this, simply spread it on your plant’s soil.
- Choosing the Best Location for the Jade Tree
To encourage vigorous growth of the crassula, it is important to place it in a bright location. Indeed, this undemanding plant appreciates light. On the other hand, avoid exposing it to direct sunlight which risks burning its foliage. An exposure to partial shade is recommended. That said, keep your plant in a bright, warm place, at a temperature around 20°C, such as near a window. Also, avoid damp places. In winter, keep your plant away from heating, and keep it in a cool place, at a temperature of 10°C.
- Cutting the jade tree
If you notice that your crassula is growing slowly, you can plant cuttings from your plant in the same pot. Cuttings are a method of propagating certain plants, such as crassula, which consists of taking a plant fragment from the mother plant, called a cutting. Transplanting the cuttings will allow you to obtain new shoots. To propagate your crassula, cut off a short piece of stem, just above a bud. The tool used must be well disinfected. Keep the cutting in a dry place so that it can dry and heal. The larger the stem, the more time it will need to dry. Then apply a little rooting hormone to the end of the stem which will be planted in the ground. These promote the rooting of the cuttings. Next, make a hole in the soil and plant the stem, making sure the cutting hormones are covered. Keep a distance of 4 to 5 cm between the mother plant and the cutting, to avoid intertwining of the roots. Note that it is not recommended to water the cutting while it is rooting. It would thus risk rotting. Keep your pot in a bright place. New shoots should appear between 3 to 4 weeks at the top of the stem.
Thanks to these practical tips, you will accelerate the growth of your succulent plant with decorative foliage and obtain a vigorous crassula.
