The thick-leaved plant is the most common indoor plant, and when well cared for it can become a treasure for the whole family

Back in my hometown, many of the neighbors kept a thick-leaved plant, which is known for its thick leaves, is especially easy to grow, and I have basically never heard of anyone killing one; in homes where it has grown for decades, there is no longer room for it.

Only later did I learn that it also has a name, "Jade Plant," meaning a plant like jade; but if it gets plenty of light, it really can be grown to be like uncut jade, equivalent to a treasured heirloom kept at home.

The one above looks like a Jade Plant, but it is actually a variant of it; its leaves look like round suction tubes, and in other respects it is no different from a Jade Plant. People call it the "Money-Sucking Tree."

The most critical parts of Jade Plant care are watering and sunlight; master these two points and you can basically grow it very well.

The most critical points in Jade Plant care:

1. Notes on watering

Jade Plants especially dislike being overwatered; even a little too much water can be fatal to a Jade Plant, especially in winter. When the temperature drops below 10 degrees, it does not need watering at all the whole winter. Too much water and the roots and stems rot.

Before watering, be sure to check whether the potting soil is dry; only when the soil from the surface down to 3~5 cm is dry may you water.

2. Plenty of light

The second most critical point in growing a Jade Plant is sunlight; it needs plenty of light, except in summer. If you want the leaves to grow tender and if you want it to bloom, it needs plenty of light, and it is best kept on a south-facing windowsill.

When a Jade Plant gets plenty of sunlight, its stems and leaves become thicker and firmer, and the leaf edges turn red, making the plant more beautiful.

Too much sun in summer will cause sunburn and blackening; the Jade Plant below, for example, is sunburned.

"Jade Plant leaves sunburned"

3. Soil choice

For planting a Jade Plant, it is best to choose a loose, well-drained sandy soil; it does not necessarily have to be very fertile. You can choose a general succulent mix and add a small portion of coarse sand to blend in.

4. Simple propagation

Jade Plant propagation is very simple, especially in summer and autumn. Just cut off a stem with two nodes, remove the lower leaves, let the wound dry, and insert it into slightly moist fine sand; it will quickly take root and sprout.

Of course, if your Jade Plant's roots and stems have rotted, you can also cut off the stem, remove the rotten part, let the wound dry, and insert it for propagation; it survives very easily.

It can even be propagated from a single robust leaf, but growth is very slow and it takes three months to grow into a 2~3 cm seedling.

5. Pest control

Generally, Jade Plants rarely have pests or diseases, but with too much water or an overly dry environment, there will be red spider mites or mealybugs.

As soon as I discover them, I immediately apply 75% alcohol (strong liquor also works), dabbing it on with a cotton swab, and the insects soon disappear; you must discover them early.

6. Pruning

First grow the main trunk of the Jade Plant well, remove the branches at the bottom, and keep pinching off the buds on the top branches. To get a good plant shape, you also need to pay attention to pruning and pinching off the tips.

(Jade Plant blooming)

One more point: Jade Plants are especially not cold-tolerant. In winter, above 10 degrees there is still the danger of cold damage, and above 5 degrees you can only hope for the best.