The jade plant (Crassula ovata) is a popular succulent houseplant with fleshy green leaves that sprout from woody branches and sturdy stems. The tropical succulent is slow-growing and easy to care for—as long as it isn't exposed to cold temperatures.
Jade plants adapt well when grown indoors as houseplants, and when they are cared for properly, can grow to be between three and six feet tall, and live to be anywhere between 50 and 100 years old. And while jade plants are primarily known for their bushy branches of glossy green leaves, they also produce beautiful, star-shaped flowers. Getting them to bloom isn't always easy, however.
Here's what you need to know about how to get a jade plant to bloom indoors.
Do Jade Plants Flower?
Jade plants, sometimes called money plants, can grow for many years without ever flowering. But in the perfect conditions, healthy jade plants will grow small, star-shaped, white or delicate pink flowers. In the northern hemisphere, this usually occurs sometime during late winter to early spring, usually between late December and February.
Flowers are rarely seen on tropical plants that are grown indoors, but that doesn't mean it's impossible to get one of your jade houseplants to bloom.
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How to Make Jade Plants Bloom
Jade plants bloom annually in their native habitat, but like many other plants that are grown indoors as houseplants—including snake plants, Christmas cactuses, and African violets—flowering indoors either occurs randomly or must be encouraged.
To get your jade plants to bloom, you first need to recreate an environment similar to its native habitat—which requires a good bit of work. While they can survive in most homes, jade plants need the perfect conditions in order to thrive and produce flowers.
If you want your jade plant to produce flowers, you need to neglect it a bit. The goal is to create a little bit of stress, which will encourage it bloom. Remember, plants generally produce flowers in an attempt to create the next generation of plants.
Maturity
In general, younger jade plants are less likely to bloom. Jade plants need to be at least three to four years old in order to produce flowers. So if your jade plant is still relatively young and small, give it time to mature before you encourage it to blossom.
Humidity
The jade plant is native to South Africa, where the weather is hot and dry during the day, and cool during the nights. Typically, indoor conditions are often too humid for the plant to blossom, but there are ways to check humidity levels in your home to determine which room or area has the lowest levels for your picky jade plant.
Water
If you're trying to get your jade plant to produce flowers, reduce how much water you give it. You should always let your jade plant dry out between watering, but when you're trying to get it to bloom, you want to let it stay dry. So water it sparingly.
Sunlight
Jade plants need a lot of light in order to thrive and produce blossoms. To encourage it to flower, move your jade plant to a south-facing, dry location where it will receive around eight to 12 hours of bright, direct sunlight.
Temperature
To get it to produce flowers, keep your jade plant in an area that is around 60 degrees Fahrenheit during the fall. Avoid exposing it to temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which could kill it before it ever gets the chance to flower.
If you provide it with all the right conditions, including cool nighttime temperatures, your jade plant should be covered in blossoms by December.
FAQ
What does it mean when a jade plant flowers?
Jade plants are often associated with prosperity, luck, and friendship. A flowering jade plant is said to symbolize good friendship and positive energy.
Is it rare for a jade plant to flower?
Jade plants bloom regularly in their native habitat, in South Africa, but they rarely bloom when kept as an indoor houseplant.
How often does a jade plant bloom?
Under the right conditions, a jade plant will bloom annually during winter months—between December and February in the northern hemisphere.
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