Gardening & Outdoors
Gardener shows the easiest way to turn your jade houseplant into a small tree
My mom gave me a jade plant years ago that I can't wait to start shaping after seeing this. His jade plants are gorgeous. 😍🪴
Jaclyn Abergas
06.01.23

We all love our houseplants. Every single one of them. And, while there are literally hundreds if not thousands of houseplants to choose from, there’s one plant family that seems to make it into everyone’s abode.

We’re talking about succulents.

Succulents are great for people who want indoor plants because they’re beautiful and they’re very low-maintenance.

YouTube Screenshot - Everything Plants
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - Everything Plants

When it comes to succulents, jade is king.

Jade plants, with their fleshy oval-shaped leaves, are a very popular choice among plant owners because of their many benefits.

They improve the air quality in the room and help reduce stress levels. They can help you be more productive while helping manage your allergies if you have any.

Plus, jade plants can also help you sleep more soundly at night and are even rumored to bring you wealth and longevity. What’s not to love?

YouTube Screenshot - Everything Plants
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - Everything Plants

Jade is also bafflingly easy to grow.

Remember, it may be a small plant now, but it’s going to grow into a jade tree that could get up to 3 – 6 feet tall.

That really depends on how well you take care of the plant. So, how will you take care of a jade plant?

Jeff of Everything Plants has five tips he wants to share so that you can live with your jade plant/tree for up to 70 years.

YouTube Screenshot - Everything Plants
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - Everything Plants

1. Prune downward branches

Nothing ruins a jade tree more than a branch that has grown too long downward, especially if it grew from one of the branches.

This will pull down the main branch downwards and possibly the whole tree eventually.

Prune these branches as close to the stem as possible. It’s okay not to cut off the entire branch because the end will fall off eventually.

There is also no need to throw away these branches. You can plant these branches to create a new jade plant.

YouTube Screenshot - Everything Plants
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - Everything Plants

2. Prune every year

It’s a necessary step to prune your plants every year for optimal health and growth rates. Schedule it on the same day every year.

The good news is that it’s never too late to start pruning your jade plants. You just might need a little more patience as it kickstarts its growth again.

Ideally, it’s good to schedule your annual pruning a few days before the spring season starts.

Cut off the tops of the branches so that they’ll produce more branches and become even taller.

You can also manipulate how the jade tree will look by the way you prune the branches.

YouTube Screenshot - Everything Plants
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - Everything Plants

3. Prune very long stems

Prune very long stems with lots of leaves will promote branching but there is another reason.

It will help strengthen the branch plus the main foundation of the plant. If eventually, you feel like you didn’t cut off enough of the stem, you can remedy it next time.

You just need to remember that if the stem has already developed a wooden texture, it will take longer for the new branches to develop similarly.

YouTube Screenshot - Everything Plants
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - Everything Plants

4. Defoliate lower leaves

Look for leaves that are almost snapped off. Snap them off fully so you can showcase the stem.

Just remove enough leaves to showcase the stem. Don’t go overboard with snapping them off.

YouTube Screenshot - Everything Plants
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - Everything Plants

5. Be patient

Jade plants take time to grow. You have to be patient. It will take years before it grows into a tall tree.

With proper annual pruning, lots of light, and good soil, you’ll be able to have jade trees that you can live with for years.

You can even give jade plants to your family and friends so they can have a plant that they can live with for years to come.

YouTube Screenshot - Everything Plants
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - Everything Plants

See how easy it is to grow your jade plant into a majestic tree in the video below!

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

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