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Q. I had a beautiful dense jade plant that unfortunately got left outside during a sharp frost, and died. However, shortly before, I took a small cutting, and this has grown to about a foot high, but is very stringy/straggly, i.e. it is growing tall, but not spreading out. My question is, what is the best way to ‘train’ my plant to grow outwards and spread, becomeing more ‘bushy’ - can I save the one I have, or would it be best to take a cutting from this and start from scratch.
United Kingdom
A. I have had lots of jade plants over the years and am sure you were sorry to lose a special one. All is not lost however. If you pinch the plant back, it will branch and get fuller. My guess is that it might like a bit more sun too. A bright window with indirect sun would be good. Hope this helps!!
Barbara Emerson
Have Green Thumb
Manchester, Massachusetts
A. Under the right conditions Jade plants will thrive; under the wrong conditions they’ll decline. It sounds like the cutting you took from the Jade you lost to the frost is not getting enough light. Jades require at least four hours of direct sun per day. This keeps them compact and branched. If the plant you have is well rooted and generally healthy I’d start by cutting it down to just above the first or second node (the point at which the leave meet the stem is a node; the stem between the leaves is the internode). Don’t over water, Jades are succulents and like well drained soil that is permitted to dry out between watering. And by all means get the plant into the light. If it hasn’t had high intensity light introduce it slowly, over a week or two to the direct sunlight to avoid sunburn. You can also consider rooting the cuttings you’ve taken. You can probably root several new plants from the part you cut off your current plant.
Hope this helps. Happy gardening.
Drew Effron
Ball Horticultural Company
www.wave-rave.com
A. I am sorry you lost your large Jade plant, but should be able to grow another from the cutting you took. I will assume the ‘new’ Jade is growing in a flower pot using a well drained soil. Stringy growth usually will occur when the plant is not getting enough light and is being watered too often. My suggestion would be to keep the plant in as bright an area you have if indoors and if it is out doors keep it where it gets some sunlight during the day – all sun should be OK in the UK. Water the Jade only when dry, and if not sure, wait a day. Jade’s can take dryer conditions better than wet. If your plant only has a single stem reaching upwards you may want to cut it in half. Branches will grow out of the ‘node,’ this is where a leaf is or was on the stem. You may be able to root the stem you removed and start another plant as you did with the first.
I have a jade planted with several other succulents on my patio outdoors. I was worried earlier this spring since Chicago area had so much rain, but it is doing very well now. Mine is in full sun.
Philip Schaafsma Sr.
Sid’s Greenhouses and Garden Center
Palos Hills, IL
Bolingbrook, IL
