Jade plants are famously easygoing, but October is when many of them start to struggle, as the days get shorter, temperatures drop and indoor heating dries the air. The thick, glossy leaves that make this succulent so popular store water, so the plant is far more likely to suffer from too much care than too little. A few small adjustments now will help it sail through the colder months and look just as plump come spring. Here are five easy tips, with a note for readers in warmer climates.
Your jade plant doesn’t need extra food while it’s resting. Stop feeding it from about October until early spring, then resume with a diluted, balanced fertiliser or a cactus formula when new growth appears. Feeding in winter can push weak growth and may burn the roots. A well-draining cactus or succulent mix and a pot with drainage holes will do far more for the plant’s health than any supplement.
This is the most important change. In autumn and winter, a jade plant grows slowly and uses far less water, so soggy soil quickly leads to root rot, soft stems and falling leaves. Water only when the soil is completely dry, then soak it thoroughly and let all the excess drain away. In many homes that means every three to four weeks in winter. If the leaves look wrinkled, give it a drink. If they feel mushy or yellow, ease off.