Are you growing a jade plant, but you are not happy with its growth rate? Do you want to encourage this plant to grow faster? If yes, read this article to learn how to grow this plant faster by following a few simple steps.
To grow a jade plant faster, you should mimic the environment of its native habitat. This plant is native to south African forests. Therefore, the more you provide it with sun and warmth, the faster it will grow. Additionally, you can speed up the growth rate of jade plants by fertilizing them during the growing season.
In the following paragraphs, we will show you exactly the steps you should follow to grow the jade plant faster, as well as some other tips about growing this plant.
Let’s get started!
How to Make Jade Plants Grow Faster?
The Jade plant is known to be a slow grower in the gardening community. This plant reaches full maturity after years of care. But, if you follow the proper care protocol, you can make this plant grow faster than usual.
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Here are the main steps that will help you grow the jade plant faster:
Give The Plant Enough Light
As mentioned above, the jade plant receives plenty of sunlight in its native habitat. Therefore, the more light you give this plant, the faster it grows.
Generally, plants need a lot of energy to grow. Sunlight provides the plant with this energy which causes the growth rate to accelerate.
To provide your jade plant with maximum light, try to place it near a south-facing window or balcony and let it get at least 4 hours of sun exposure every day.
If sunlight is unavailable in abundance where you live, you can substitute it with grow lights.
As far as selecting the best grow light for you, a variety of choices are available. LED lights are typically more expensive but last longer and require less maintenance. Some LEDs have more features than others, including adjustable color temperatures, adjustable power, or even the ability to track the sun and adjust the lamp’s output accordingly.
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Water Only When Needed
Jade plants are very forgiving and do not require frequent watering. In fact, overwatering is the first enemy of this plant and can lead to severe problems such as root rot and stunted growth.
You should wear your jade plant only when the soil feels dry. You should not add water to the plant if the soil feels wet. Also, when you water this plant, you should water it thoroughly so that all the excess water gets evenly distributed around the pot.
Fertilize Only During the Growing Season
Fertilizing can help speed up the growth of your jade plant, but you should be very careful about when to do it. In fact, the jade plant goes into dormancy during winter when it stops growing and tries to rest and prepare for the next growing season. If you fertilize it during this time, you will disturb its balance, impacting its growth significantly during spring and summer.
Try to fertilize your jade plant during spring, summer, and early fall, using a soluble balanced fertilizer with a 10-10-10 NPK ratio. Also, apply the fertilizer only once every one to two months. Any excessive use of fertilizers will have the opposite effect on your plant. Do Not Overdo It!
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Keep the Plant Warm
Keeping the jade plant in a warm place is very important. This will help it grow faster and keep it healthy and strong. In fact, this plant is tropical, which means that it is sensitive to cold climates.
If you grow the jade plant indoors, you must ensure that your house has a steady and stable temperature. The temperature inside the house should be maintained between 65°F to 86°F (18°C to 30°C) at all times.
You should check your indoor temperature frequently and adjust it accordingly. You can do this using heat lamps or air conditioning units.
If you grow this plant outdoors and the temperature goes below 60°F, you should bring it inside.
If you live in a cold location, cold air drafts could also slow down the growth of your jade plant. To protect this plant from these harsh conditions, you should close all the doors and windows that face the outdoors and ensure air ventilation using a fan or an air-conditioning unit.
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Repot Every Two to Three Years
To keep your jade plant healthy, it is recommended to repot it every two to three years. This will ensure that the soil is rich with nutrients and that the roots have room to grow.
Repotting allowed for better air circulation, improved growth, and a more controlled environment for the plant.
While this process should be done every two or three years for healthy plants, you can repot your jade plant anytime its root ball becomes large enough to withstand the weight of the pot. Your new pot should be deep and large enough to accommodate the root ball.
Choose a Well Draining Soil
The Jade plant is succulent, which means it does not do well in damp environments. Generally, well-draining soil will ensure that this plant won’t suffer from root rot or develop any fungal diseases that could slow down its growth.
To make sure that the soil of your jade plant will offer good drainage, you can mix it with one of the following elements or a combination of them:
- Perlite.
- Pumice.
- Organic matter like compost.
- Soil aggregates.
You should mix about three parts of perlite, one part of pumice, and one part of organic matter with four parts of soil.
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Choose a Porous Pot with Drainage Holes
Porous pots allow air and water to enter and escape freely, which helps the plant breathe easily and reduces the probability of root rot and fungal diseases. This will improve the health of your jade plant and encourage it to grow faster.
Pots made of terracotta, ceramic, and clay are the best for jade plants because they help with drainage and air circulation.
If you don’t have access to one of the pots mentioned above, you can use a plastic pot after you dig a few drainage holes in the bottom of it.
How Long Does it take for a Jade Plant to Grow?
Jade plants can grow by 5 to 20 cm every year. This plant is slow, so don’t expect it to get big within a few months. However, you can grow a giant jade plant if you are a patient gardener.
Jade plant can live up to 100 years, and if you give it the proper care just for a few years, you can expect it to attain five feet once it reaches maturity.
Growing a big jade plant also supposes choosing a stem or seed that is genetically appropriate for this matter. Generally, you should select a plant with big leaves and stems when buying a sapling from the nursery store.
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How Do I Control the Growth of My Jade Plant?
Several factors can control the growth of a jade plant. The most important of these is light. When the plant receives too much light, it will grow very quickly. However, it will grow slowly if you grow it in partial shade.
You can also control the growth of this plant by controlling its nutrients. If you fertilize it less frequently, it will grow slower. Generally, the Jade plant can grow healthy if you fertilize it only once or twice yearly.
Additionally, you can keep your jade plant small by using a smaller pot instead of a large one. In fact, when the pot is not large enough, the roots will not have enough space to spread out. As a result, the leaves and stems will not grow bigger either.
Finally, you can control the size of your jade plant by pruning the leaves and roots when it is young before it has time to grow a substantial amount of foliage.
Pruning keeps the plant from getting unruly and from becoming too large. It also helps keep the plant from becoming congested with growth.
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