When and how to repot Jade Leaf

Jade Plant is a perennial evergreen succulent plant of the Portulacaceae family. Its stems, branches and leaves are fleshy, the leaves are bright green, and the branches have a simple beauty. As time goes by, the branches of the Jade Plant will gradually become thicker, and its ornamental value will increase accordingly. Autumn is the peak growth period for Jade Plants. During this season, we can promote its rapid growth by following the maintenance principles below. Let’s learn how to repot the Jade Plant.

1. Get more sun

Strong ultraviolet rays in summer may damage the branches and leaves of the Jade Plant, so it needs to be placed in semi-shade in summer to avoid direct sunlight at noon. However, with the arrival of autumn, the sunlight becomes soft, and the Jade Plant needs sufficient sunlight to promote photosynthesis and energy absorption. If you continue to place it in semi-shade, the plant may grow slowly due to lack of light, or even become too tall and drop leaves. When caring for the Jade Plant in autumn, you should ensure that it can receive sufficient light. If conditions permit, you can place it outdoors. For indoor care, you should choose a sunny balcony or windowsill, and try to ensure at least 5 hours of direct sunlight a day.

2. Use more coarse planting materials in the soil

Jade plant needs loose, breathable and well-drained soil. Usually the soil needs to be changed every 1 to 2 years, and spring and autumn are the best time to change pots. If you haven’t repotted your Jade Plant this year, autumn is a good time. When preparing the soil, you should reduce the use of heavy clay soil and add more coarse planting materials with larger particles, such as perlite, akadama, coconut bran, bark, broken bricks or coarse river sand. These coarse planting materials should account for at least one-third of the total soil volume. You can also directly purchase special soil for succulents on the market.

3. Prune more

Jade plants are often grown as bonsai, and their shape is crucial to their beauty. Regular pruning not only maintains the beautiful shape of the plant, but also prevents excessive growth of branches, causes rapid aging of the trunk, and enhances the overall ornamental value. In autumn, the Jade Plant grows vigorously and sprouts many new buds. If these shoots are allowed to grow, they will eventually form dense clusters of small branches, consuming too many nutrients and ruining the plant's shape. Therefore, those tender shoots that may destroy the plant shape should be pruned off in time, and some should be retained to maintain the shape of the plant.

4. Use less concentrated fertilizer

The leaves and branches of the Jade Plant are fleshy and can store a large amount of nutrients, so frequent fertilization is not required. When fertilizing, only use diluted thin fertilizers and avoid using concentrated fertilizers to avoid burning the roots. It is recommended to use decomposed organic fertilizers in autumn, such as cow dung, sheep dung, bean cake or fruit peel fertilizer. These fertilizers are mild in effect and provide comprehensive and long-lasting nutrients. You can dig a few small holes on the edge of the Jade Plant pot, bury a small amount of organic fertilizer, and let it gradually penetrate into the soil with watering. Normally, fertilizing once a month is sufficient.

The above is an introduction to the key points and time for repotting the Jade Plant. Spring and autumn are the best time to repot the Jade Plant, so you can seize the opportunity.