Pruning jade plants for a more regular growth For upward growth, trim all side shoots by no more than half. For outward growth, shorten the trunk by one-third. You should prune new branches only at the tips of the shoots. Relief pruning is also necessary when the branches of older trees begin to droop.
Jade plants can be propagated from stem or leaf cuttings. Keep in mind that it takes it takes a while to get a nice sized jade plant from leaf cuttings. What is this? So, if you want to get a head start, and don't want to wait so long, then I recommend propagating jade plant stem cuttings instead of the leaves.
Pruning jade plants is not necessary for the health of the plant and is done only for aesthetic reasons. Be aware that any time you prune a plant you are exposing the plant to potential bacterial damage, which could weaken or even kill the plant.
Jade plants are extremely easy to propagate. They're so eager to reproduce that often a leaf will break off and start to grow roots in the soil without any help at all. Jade plants can be propagated from stem or leaf cuttings, though it takes several years to get a nice-sized plant from a leaf cutting.
Simply remove most of the lower leaves and pinch off the growing tip. Once it starts growing and develops more branches, you can repeat the process and pinch out the growing tips or prune the branches back until you achieve the desired look you are going for.
When a jade plant becomes top-heavy, or the top becomes too heavy for the bottom stem to support it, it can fall over. When this happens, you can cut the part that fell over and repot it in a fresh potting mix that is fast-draining.
You can definitely root jade plant cuttings in water. It's a lot easier for stem cuttings as leaf cuttings are hard to keep upright and if it falls into the water it will rot. Is it better to propagate a jade plant in water or soil? You can propagate jade plants in both water and soil.
Rooting in Water
Rooting your jade leaf in water is possible, it just takes some more effort as it's difficult for the leaf to keep an upright position. It's easier to use a small juice glass for this method, and using mesh or toothpicks can help keep the leaf vertical.
Jade plants have sap inside their leaves and branches, and this is a more concentrated form of the toxin. If sap comes into contact with your skin, you may see a red rash form or in rare cases, blisters. Be sure to wash your hands with mild soap and let the area dry.
You can root your jade plant stem cutting directly in soil. Succulents are very resilient, so this almost always works. The only downside is that you can't really keep an eye on your cutting's progress, at least not until new leaf growth starts to appear.
How to Water Jade Plants. Jade plants are succulents (they hold water in their leaves), so they don't do well when sitting in constantly moist soil, so let the top 1 to 2 inches of soil dry out between waterings. Indoors, this will probably mean watering once every 2 to 3 weeks—but be sure to check regularly!
For upward growth, trim all side shoots by no more than half. For outward growth, shorten the trunk by one-third. You should prune new branches only at the tips of the shoots. Relief pruning is also necessary when the branches of older trees begin to droop.
Place your cutting in a sunny spot and change the water every few days until new roots begin to form. It may take a month or two, but after the roots emerge, you can transplant the cutting to soil. How long do jade plants live? Jade plants have amazing longevity and can live for 50 to 100 years when cared for properly.
Jade needs lots of light—at least 4 hours per day in a south-facing or west-facing window. Keep soil moist but not wet during the growing season (spring and summer) and let the soil dry out during the dormant season (fall and winter).
Simply select an area where you want your plant to branch out, and prune it off. For example, look at the photo below. Prune each branch just a little bit above a set of leaves (where the red line is). Wherever you cut it off, you will get new branches forming right underneath that point.
The trick to successfully propagate a Jade plant in water is to change the water once or twice a week, once it turns grubby. Adequate roots emerge in 4-5 weeks, which eventually reduces the risk of root rot. You can then keep your plant at the desired location where it gets bright and indirect light all day.
The wound on the jade plant cutting you have taken will be wet and will invite disease if you try to root it wet. Allow the jade plant cutting to rest in a dry, preferably warm, spot until a callous develops (in about one to two weeks).
It takes 2-3 weeks to start seeing root growth on your jade cutting. It takes 2-3 months for them to be rooted enough to be “stuck” to the soil!
Changes to the leaves are the first sign of an overwatered jade plant. Leaves can turn yellow and droop, and may eventually brown and drop off. Other signs include the leaves and stem becoming squishy and soft. The whole plant may also appear droopy.
Repot young jade plants once every 2 to 3 years to encourage growth. With older jade, repot once every 4 to 5 years or as necessary. Transplant in the early spring, just before the growing season begins. After repotting, don't water the plant for a week or so.
Jade plants lose some lower leaves naturally as part of the aging process. Those do not grow back. Some leaves lost for other reasons will grow back, slowly, if you correct the conditions that caused them to drop off.