A Detailed Guide to Growing and Caring for the Mini Jade Plant (Portulacaria afra 'Himekoumatsu')
When it comes to succulents, everyone loves them, because succulents are generally very small and compact, and especially endearing. There are many kinds of succulents, and the mini jade plant is a fairly common one. Let's learn about how to grow the mini jade plant together below!
How to grow the mini jade plant
1. You can use a vigorous leaf 5-6 cm long grown in the current year, remove 1 cm from the tip of the branch, insert it 1 cm deep into the potting soil, firm the soil to steady the cutting, spray water to moisten the soil and the cutting, place it in a plastic bag and seal the opening, and put it in a semi-sunny spot. After that, open the bag often to check the conditions inside; when the soil dries out, spray water to moisten it. As long as the branches and leaves remain green and upright, it will take root in two to three weeks. After the seedling has taken root, open the bag and let the plant slowly adapt to the outside environment; after one week, remove the plastic bag and carry out normal care.
2. You can cut off a branch 2-3 cm long, insert it in pure perlite, put it in a bottle with water added (the water must not soak the branch; it is best if the water just reaches the bottom of the branch), then seal the bottle opening, keep it moist and give it diffused light. After that, occasionally open the cap to let it breathe; it will root in one week. Pot it up immediately, water it every day, and after one to two weeks switch to normal care, watering again when the soil surface is dry.
Growing methods and care notes for the mini jade plant
1. Watering requirements. When growing the mini jade plant, be careful not to water it too much. Its roots are fleshy, and waterlogging easily causes root rot. In spring and autumn, water once every three to four days; in summer, when temperatures are high and water evaporates quickly, water twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. In winter, when temperatures are low, you can water once every seven to ten days, using warm water at about 15°C; do not water with very cold water, water at noon on a sunny day, and water thoroughly.
2. Fertilizing requirements
During the growing period in spring, summer and autumn, apply liquid fertilizer once every seven to ten days. Liquid fertilizer is a high-concentration fertilizer made by fermenting and decomposing animal and plant residues with water; before use, dilute it with water at a ratio of 1:5-10 and then apply.
3. Pruning methods
The mini jade plant should be pruned often: cut back overly long branches, leaving two to three pairs of leaves; remove branches that are too dense; and pinch off root suckers. It needs to be repotted and have its soil changed every year. After three years, the roots of the mini jade plant will reach a pleasing size.
How to water the mini jade plant
1. Better dry than waterlogged
Generally speaking, for a plant with fleshy roots like the mini jade plant, being a little dry is no problem, but waterlogging can easily kill it. So it is better to let the soil dry out than to water too much. Ha ha, though that is not to say it should be taken that far; of course, keeping just the right humidity and dryness is best. I just want to tell everyone that you can reduce how often you water the mini jade plant; do not worry, it generally will not lack water.
2. How to water at different times
Although the mini jade plant has no obvious dormant period and keeps growing all year round, the climate and humidity differ from season to season after all. In spring and autumn, water once every three to four days; in summer, water twice a day, preferably once in the morning and once in the evening, because high temperatures make water evaporate quickly. In winter, you can extend it to once every seven to ten days, but use warm water at about 15°C, and it is best to choose noon on a sunny day; remember to water thoroughly. Overall, in summer evaporation is fast, so water more; in winter evaporation is slow, so water less.
3. Soil properties affect watering
Soil with good air permeability and drainage lets water evaporate quickly, while some soils do not, so different soils require different watering frequencies.
Main value
Its roots were once thought to contain yeast and were used to ferment bread and beer. Its leaf shape and leaf color are rather attractive, giving it some ornamental value; as a potted plant it can be placed beside a TV or computer, where it can absorb radiation (not recognized by physicists), and it can also be planted indoors to absorb substances such as formaldehyde and purify the air.
From the above, I believe everyone now has some understanding of the mini jade plant. The mini jade plant is very simple to care for; as long as you do not water it too much ordinarily, there generally will not be any problems, and it can be grown for a very long time, staying evergreen through the four seasons and looking very beautiful!