Can I Prune My Jade Plant?
- Prune your jade plant with a sharp knife or pruning shears. If you desire a taller plant, remove branches flush with the main trunk area. Leave stubs or short branches on the trunk if you want a fuller, more dense plant. Once the stubs start sprouting, new growth forms multiple branches. Trim the jade plant wherever you desire to give it a pleasing shape. Share the cuttings with friends and family so they can grow their own plants.
- Allow the cuttings to dry for two or three weeks in an area without direct sunlight for the best results. The cuttings will develop a callused area. Plant the cutting in a pot with well-drained soil or a cactus mix. Since the plant is a succulent, it is advisable to water it well, pour off any standing water and not to water it again until the soil is almost completely dry. Use this method for young or mature plants.
- As with most succulents, jade plants prefer full sun or bright, filtered light. South-facing windows are an ideal location. The plant grows best with at least four hours of direct sunlight. Jades grown in full sun tolerate warmer temperatures than those grown in less light.
- One of the most common problems with jade plants is over-watering, according to The Cactus Collection. Root rot is the result of too much moisture. Soils that become extremely dry cause leaf drop. Mealybugs look like little cotton puffs on the plant and they are the most common pests to bother jades. Treat them by moistening a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol and wiping the leaf areas.
