How Long Do Jade Plants Live  – Lifespan of Jade Plant


Jade plants follow a slow and steady approach toward its growth, but they can live for many decades, almost close to a century. So, offer them the required care and maintenance, and you can easily pass this beauty to your children.

Jade Plants Live

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Botanically called the Crassula Ovata, Jade plants are fast-growing houseplants and are tagged as one of the most popular beginner-friendly plants. These can be the best first succulents, especially for someone new to gardening.

 

They are not fast-growing plants and grow a maximum of two inches annually. The plant only gets to a six feet height with a three feet width. They need little maintenance and continue looking lush around the year.

 

That’s not all. Jade also has a decently long lifespan. But how long do jade plants live? Native to Mozambique and South Africa, Jade plants will live long enough to survive several decades if you take good care and offer them the necessary conditions.

 

So, what is stopping you from growing jade – the good luck and fortune plant? Read below as we discuss the lifespan, pros and cons, and some effective care tips.

 

How Long Can A Jade Plant Live?

Jade Plant Live

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The jade plant’s longevity is one of its primary benefits. They have a long lifespan and may live between fifty and a hundred years, sometimes even more. It is why people believe that if you take good care of this plant, you can pass it to many generations and grow it as a beautiful specimen plant.

 

However, the actual lifespan also depends on the kind of care your plant receives. If you provide all the favorable conditions and give the plant what it needs, your jade plant might live for many decades.

 

Naturally, given its long lifespan, it has a slow growth rate. So, you cannot expect your Jade plant to develop big overnight. Thus, have patience and grow it as a long-term plant.

 

How Do You Care For An Old Jade Plant?

Old Jade Plant

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Jade tree lifespan will only be long enough if you offer the proper care that jade plants need. Here are some care instructions to follow for an old jade plant:

 

  1. Jade plant varieties thrive in a lot of light. Ideally, ensure that the plant receives at least six hours of indirect, bright sun every day. In addition, you must ensure that you keep your jade plants near a south-facing window. A west-facing window can also offer decent light.
  2. Jade plants thrive at room temperature from sixty-five to seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. However, at night they like slightly colder temperatures. In winter, they are ok with temperatures down to fifty-five degrees.Jade plants winter care should be a priority whether placed indoors or outdoors.
  3. But Jade is not frost-tolerant. Hence, if you keep your Jade outdoors during the summers, you must bring them inside when the temperature drops to fifty degrees in autumn. In the winter, the Jade must be protected against cold windows. If exposed to cold temperatures for a long, they may drop their leaves.
  4. Overwatered jade plants tend to develop root rot. So, water sparingly. Even though Jade plants require more water in the summer and spring, you do not need to water more than once a month.
  5. To assess whether your plants need water, you can poke your fingers into the soil and water only if the topsoil feels dry.
  6. An essential factor that may impact how fast the Jade plants grow is the feed it receives. So, curtail its feeding schedule strictly to the growing season from early spring through summer and into the fall.

 

Because the plant does not grow during the winters, you should not feed it then as it may be harmful to the plant.

 

On the contrary, in the growing season, you must fertilize the jade plants at least once every one to two months with a water-soluble, balanced houseplant fertilizer. You need to apply the fertilizer at fifty percent of its recommended strength.

 

How Long Can A Jade Plant Go Without Water?

Jade Plant Go Without Water

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Jade plants are one of the most forgiving plants. So, if you are a forgetful parent, you do not need to worry, as Jade does not mind dry soil. Its stout branches and thick leaves function as water reservoirs, so they can go for two or more weeks without water if grown outdoors.

 

Yes, you heard it right! That’s how long do jade plants live without water. However, an indoor plant can survive for one to three months sans any watering because they are not exposed to outside elements like sunlight and wind that tend to dry the soil faster than indoors. Moreover, on cooler winter days, Jade can survive sans water for an extended duration.

 

Related: Jade plant propagation in water

 

Jade Plant Disadvantages and Advantages

Jade Plant Disadvantages and Advantages

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Jade plants may be toxic to your pets. So, if you have furry friends or small children at home, you must place the plant away from their reach.

 

Beyond that, there are no serious concerns with the Jade plant. In fact, Jade plants have many advantages associated with them. A few of the pros include:

 

1. Jade plants can improve air quality

Like most indoor plants, even Jade plants can better air quality. To purify the indoor air around the house, you can move the plant to different rooms and ensure that your place has good ventilation.

 

2. It is a low-maintenance plant

Jade plants are low-maintenance, which makes them the perfect choice for home growers who do not have ample time to look after their plants.

 

3. It absorbs CO2

Jade plants absorb carbon dioxide at night, improving the indoor air and helping you enjoy a good night’s sleep in clean air. Hence, it helps to keep your Jade plants indoors.

 

4. They have several medicinal benefits

Some people use Jade plants for treating wounds. In addition, Jade can also help relieve issues like diarrhea and indigestion. Jade plants also cure warts. In China, people use Jade plants to keep diabetes in check.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques 1. Why are the leaves of your jade plant falling off?

Ans. In the Jade plants, leaf drops might occur because of several reasons. However, stress is the biggest trigger. Resolving the reason for the stress can be the simplest way to prevent leaf drops and bring your plant to the best of its health.

 

Typically, the leaves may fall because of

 

A. Lack of sunlight

Even though jade plants can handle low light for a brief period, they thrive in bright areas and enjoy the direct sun in the morning. So, if you spot a leaf dropping, assess its location. If it is a spot where it does not get ample light, you must move it away from the low-light areas and put it in a place that receives good sun daily.

 

B. Moisture stress

Typically, over or underwatering might also be the reason for leaf drops. Because Jade is drought-tolerant, overwatering is more likely the reason for the moisture stress. You must water the plant only when the soil has dried completely. It can help prevent further stress and improve drainage.

 

C. Temperature drop

A sudden drop in temperature might also trigger leaf drops in the Jade plants. Jade plants thrive in warmer regions. Hence, you must ensure the temperature stays above 40 degrees Fahrenheit around the year to avoid any temperature-related issues.

 

If you do not want to cease the lifespan of jade plant, you must be cautious of the above issues and solve them immediately anytime you see the plant losing leaves.

 

Ques 2. Where to place the jade plant in the home for a long healthy growth?

Ans. You can place your jade plant in the following places:

  1. The most effective and favorable position for placing the Jade plants is near the home entrance. It is symbolic of welcoming good luck, wealth, and prosperity. It also triggers continued growth and encourages high-spirited, well-rooted energy.
  2. As per Feng Shui, you must position the Jade plant in the hall or drawing room’s southeast direction. It welcomes luck and wealth because the planet Venus rules the southeast, which is known to increase wealth.
  3. To encourage harmony, health, and thriving business, keep the Jade plant in the east direction or the west.
  4. Keeping it on your desk or room’s southeast corner is also auspicious and favorable.
  5. Feng Shui practices also recommend the dining area as another excellent location to place the jade plant. It can attract auspicious chi energy.
  6. Keeping the healthy Jade plant in the eastern corner of the house is vital to keep the plant in its best health.
  7. Lastly, because the Jade plant symbolizes wealth, you must not put it in your bathroom.

 

Ques 3. What happens when the jade plant dies?

Ans. When the jade tree lifespan has peaked, here are some dying signs that you might notice:

 

A. Leaf drop

Leaf drop is one of the first signs of a dying Jade plant. Of course, at times, it may be a routine leaf drop, but other times it may indicate something grave. For instance, if you shift your outdoor jade plant inside, it will cause a temperature drop, seen as a leaf drop. After the plant adapts to this new temperature, the falling will stop. But if the branches fall frequently, it might indicate a severe condition or a dying Jade struggling for revival.

 

B. Leaves turning brown

When the leaves turn black, red, yellow, or brown, it might also indicate a dying Jade plant. The plant’s color does not change overnight. It happens gradually and is primarily because of general neglect.

 

Aging often results in the yellowing of the jade leaves. It is normal and ok, but if younger leaves turn brown or yellow, you must start looking for plausible reasons and act immediately.

 

C. Wilting plant

A drooping, limping, or wilting plant might indicate its poor health. In a wilted Jade plant, the leaves have a shriveled appearance, which is often very evident. In addition, it has soggy leaves that may be because of overwatering, over-fertilizing, and exposure to freezing temperatures.

 

If the plant shows only one of the above signs, please do not panic. Instead, get into action and start figuring out the reason for the dying plant because you mostly have a chance to save your plant and bring it back to life.

 

Ques 4. How fast do jade plants grow?

Ans. Jade is a slow-growing plant that grows only one to two inches per year.

 

Ques 5. How big will a jade plant get?

Ans. Jade plants usually grow as groundcovers or rise up to five feet tall.