Jade plants require healthy, loose, and well-draining soil composed of 2 parts houseplant, cactus, or succulent soil; 2 parts coarse sand; and 1 part perlite or pumice.
Perlite or pumice are light volcanic rocks. Their purpose is to loosen the soil and allow water to enter through them to reach the roots.
In addition, the soil must only be slightly acidic to neutral (with a pH of 6 to 7) since basic soil can cause jade plants and other succulents to die.
Also, it’s great that jade plants can be grown in less soil in potted containers or shallow dish gardens. Make sure to water them only when the soil becomes dry to the touch.
Signs You’re Using the Wrong Soil for Your Jade Plant
A jade plant is a type of succulent that retains a lot of water and moisture. These are stored in their leaves so the plant can withstand periods of dry spells.
With this in mind, the soil it has to be planted on must be light and rocky, similar to its native habitat. Otherwise, it can hold too much water and become soggy as a result.
Now, a soaked jade plant isn’t healthy, as it can suffer from one to multiple health issues that will eventually cause it to wilt and wither.
Among these symptoms are:
- Brown and pulpy roots (root rot)
- Weak stem
- Soggy soil
- Falling leaves
- Saturated leaves
- Yellow leaves
- Pest infestation by scale, spider mites, mealy bugs, mealy root bugs
How to Water Jade Plants Correctly
In order to prevent the symptoms indicated above, you have to water your jade plants correctly.
Upon establishing the plant, don’t water it right away, but wait till the soil has become dry before doing that.
Most people keep their jade plants indoors because these areas have excellent conditions for light, humidity, and temperature.
In this case, the person must water his jade plants every one to three weeks. However, you may have to do this more often if the weather is unbearably hot—so make it a point to check the plant.
What are the best pot containers for jade plants?
Apart from the soil, the choice of pot containers will greatly affect the health of the plant. The best pots to use are clay and terracotta pots since they’re porous and can let excess moisture out easily.
However, ceramic and plastic pots will also work for the plant. Ceramic looks attractive to the eye, while plastic is light to carry.
Whichever you choose, just keep in mind that the pot must have drainage holes.
With these containers, the jade plant will get maximum airflow, helping it to grow beautifully and healthily at home. You can also gift someone a lovely jade plant gift in these containers.
What soil should I use for transferring or breeding a jade plant?
Breeding or repotting a jade plant needs the same type of soil: 2 parts of succulent or cactus soil mixed with 1 part of perlite.
Both of these procedures present an opportunity to renew the soil.
As to when you should do them, repot when the jade plant becomes too big for its home in early spring, and propagate it in late fall or anytime during the winter.
Remember, though, that you should let the jade plant adjust to its new soil or environment first to prevent plant shock. Also, hold off your watering until a week has passed and water it like normal.
What soil components do I use for my jade plant?
You’re not limited to only one or two options as to the soil components of a jade plant. There are plenty more you can use besides perlite or pumice.
We will now list and define the basic ingredients of a good jade plant soil mixture and give you a sample pot medium recipe.
- Potting mix – The base ingredient of your jade plant soil. As we said, this has to be loose and well-draining as opposed to being hard and dense.
The best ones, as we already mentioned earlier, are cactus, succulent, or houseplant mix. Organic and aged natural matter must also be combined with them to benefit plant roots and soil.
- Coarse sand – Not all kinds of sand should be used for your soil but only agricultural sand. This special sand type consists of crushed stones such as sandstone, granite, and quartz.
- Pine bark fines – These are very small barks derived from evergreen pine trees and shrubs.
Pine bark fines contain lignin, a shape-retaining substance, that increases air passage and prevents soil compaction for the jade plant.
- Sphagnum peat moss – A reliable ingredient, sphagnum peat moss is composed of extremely small particles and yet has a coarse texture.
Given this, it helps the plant get more nutrients from water and allows the roots to “breathe” more air.
- Coco Coir – As the name hints, coco coir is made from coconut husks. It’s similar to peat moss in terms of texture, but it hardens more in the soil.
- Perlite and pumice – They’re types of expanded volcanic rocks that feel soft to the touch. They’re excellent ingredients since they also increase the aeration and don’t hold water in the soil.
Jade Plant Soil Mix Recipe
Now you know the components making up a ready-to-use jade plant soil. So keep this jade plant soil recipe in mind:
- 2 parts of potting mix with compost
- 2 or 3 parts of horticultural sand
- 1 part of perlite, pumice, coco coir, peat moss, or pine bark fines.
Bear in mind that there’s no need to add water at all for the recipe shown above.
The potting mix serves to keep the plant healthy and stable as it grows. The sand keeps the soil well-drained, and the perlite or other ingredients you see with it further improves aeration and drainage.
Alternatively, you can just buy a special soil mix for your jade plant from your nearest garden center, nursery, or florist.
However, you may have to supplement them with perlite and sand to improve aeration or drainage. Also, check that the soil or potting mix has been combined with compost for the plant’s best interests.
How to Mix the Ingredients of the Jade Plant Soil
With regard to mixing them, you can use a gallon of a bucket, a measuring cup, or a spoon. Here are the instructions for doing that:
- Pour all of the ingredients into a potting tray or bucket.
- Stir them using a hand trowel or shovel thoroughly and evenly.
It’s up to you whether to use the finished jade plant soil right away or store them for later. To store it, place it in an airtight plastic container or a sealed bag.
FAQS about Jade Plant Soil
- Is it okay to put a jade plant in regular houseplant soil?
While using regular houseplant soil works fine, it’s not the best soil you can use. Because it can retain a lot of moisture, there’s a chance you may overwater it.
At best, we highly recommend using a cactus or succulent potting mix because this soil type is lighter and less dense for the water to pass through it at a good rate.
- Can you use cactus soil for jade plants?
Like succulent soil, cactus soil has the right acidity, drainage, and nutrients for jade plants, making it very suitable for them.
Though, if you have purchased it from a store or merchant, you may have to add more compost or organic matter.
- Is sand good for jade plants?
Sand is one of the essential ingredients making up a good jade plant potting mix. The reason for this is it helps water to drain out faster.
However, this should not just be any kind of sand. Go for coarse horticultural sand rather than fine sand.
Otherwise, you can use a great substitute for coarse sand such as poultry grit or Turface.
- Can jade plants grow in gravel?
Interestingly, jade plants can grow in gravel too. In fact, in South Africa, their native home, they grow on gritty soil other than on sandy slopes and open forests and fields.
The benefit that gravel provides jade plants is it increases their drainage, keeping them from becoming soaked all the time.
But do note that gravel must be mixed into the base soil, not applied directly above the soil in the potted vessel.
- Do jade plants like small pots?
In general, small pots are more conducive to their healthy growth since the soil wouldn’t absorb plenty of moisture, which its leaves store plenty of already.
That said, the container’s top portion diameter should be no more than an inch relative to the stalk of the jade plant.
- Should I change the soil when repotting a jade plant?
The newer the soil, the better for your jade plant, especially if you plan to repot it. Since there’s a chance that the soil may have become poor due to hardening, disease, or fungi.
You should, therefore, aim to repot your young jade plant every two to three years. Not only will it also encourage new growth, but it will also keep the plant looking new and healthy.
By following our advice and suggestions in this guide, you should be able to grow the plant without any problem. It will look lively and incredible in your house or as a gift, and most of all, you can make them last for many years.
More Resources on Gift Delivery
If you do decide to give a jade plant to a friend or sibling, here are some gift delivery shops that can help you with that. You can accompany your green gift with other goodies.
