Jade Plant

[poliphilo]

lblanchard sent us this Jade plant at the back end of last year.  Thank you, Laura.

Comments

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

If you give them light and a minimum of care they become small trees or shrubs. And they bloom! They're really very easy-going as plants go. I have several and in our climate they live outside.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's been living in the kitchen- but I moved it into the front room for its photo-shoot and now I think I'm going to keep it there.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

What does it take to make them bloom? My father made one bloom once, but I've never seen it.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

Blooming is triggered by the natural shortening of the days. They won't usually bloom as indoor house plants unless you keep them in a room that has no lights on at night after it gets dark.
From October on they should be in a naturally lighted place where they are exposed only to the natural day-night rhythms. That's why mine bloom every year just before Christmas, because they live outside on a porch.

I know that's not always possible because of climate but if you have a jade and want it to bloom try putting it in a dark closet when it gets dark outside and then taking it out again with the first daylight.

Feed them African Violet plant food. They seem to like it as most succulents do...water less in winter after blooming as they go a little dormant then.

I hope that helps.
:)