The Jade tree is an evergreen succulent plant native to South Africa. This plant is particularly suitable for people who do not have a green thumb. Indeed, its cultivation is easy, as the Jade tree does not require much watering and its lifespan extends for several years. Find out how to propagate the Jade tree from a leaf.

The jade tree or Crassula ovata is an easy-care succulent plant that is grown in pots as an indoor plant. This plant from the Crassulaceae family is also nicknamed the lucky tree or friendship tree.

How to propagate the jade tree from a leaf?

Jade tree reproduction is by cuttings. This technique consists of taking a fragment of a mother plant that we will transplant into a pot or into the ground to have a new plant.

The jade tree can be propagated by leaf or stem cuttings.

• leaf cuttings

Stage 1 :

Take leaves from the mother plant, cut them off at the base with a sharp knife and wipe them with a clean cloth. Then, let them air dry to allow them to cure   and prevent rotting.

2nd step:

Choose small terracotta pots and fill them with potting soil up to 2 cm from the edges. Use a special substrate for succulents or make your own by mixing perlite, sand and compost. Adding sand is important   because it promotes   soil drainage  .

Step 3:

Make small holes in the substrate and place a leaf in each hole. Space the leaves so they do not touch each other.

Step 4:

Cuttings do not need watering. Just spray them with a little water every 3 or 4 days.

Step 5:

Keep your pots in a bright place, in partial shade. After a few weeks, you will notice the appearance of new leaves from the base of your cuttings. At this time, transplant the new shoots in threes, into a sufficiently large pot.

• stem cuttings

Stage 1 :

Using pruning shears, remove a thick stem with tough leaves and allow it to dry to promote healing.

2nd step:

Pour some cinnamon on a plate and wrap the stem in this spice. This encourages rooting. In fact, cinnamon acts   as a natural rooting hormone.   This step is optional, as the jade tree can be taken from cuttings without using hormones.

Step 3:

As with leaf cuttings,   choose a terracotta pot   and fill it with special succulent potting soil.

Step 4:

Make a hole in the soil and plant the stem in it. Its rooting hormone, natural or artificial, must be covered. Close the gap around the stem, without compacting the soil too much   so as not to reduce drainage.

Step 5:

Keep your pot in a bright room, but not in direct sunlight so as not to burn its leaves. You will notice new growth at the top of the stem after 3 or 4 weeks. This means   your cutting has successfully rooted.

Avoid watering the cutting while it is rooting, as this could cause it to rot. Please note that you can only transplant your plant into a larger pot after it has rooted.

How to maintain the jade tree?

• irrigation

The jade tree does not require much watering.  Its very thick leaves allow it to store water   and therefore limit watering. In addition, all succulents have fleshy tissues rich in water. Therefore, they have the ability to retain water and can therefore   survive in arid climates or in dry soils.

After transplanting the new leaves, monthly watering is sufficient. Do not wet the foliage while watering and remove any standing water from the saucer to   prevent root rot.

• Exposure

The jade tree needs light and sun, but exposure to full sun all day can burn it. It prefers partial shade exposure.

• Transplant

You don’t have to repot your jade tree, as long as you don’t overwater it and it’s not overcrowded. On the other hand, it’s important to change the soil after 2 years to   give your plant a drier, fresher environment.

• Fertilizer

Choose a nitrogen fertilizer to fertilize your tree and promote its flowering. Crassula produces small white or pink flowers in early spring.

• Parasites

The pests feared by the jade tree are mealybugs. These pests wreak havoc on the crassula, especially when watered excessively. If an infestation occurs  , wipe the leaves with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol.

With just the leaves or a stem of the jade tree, you can multiply this plant to keep it as long as you want.