Variegated jade plants are a variegated cultivar of the common Jade plant or Money tree. Variegated jade plants sport cream, yellow, or white stripes or margins rather than the plain solid green of a regular jade plant and this stripy contrast will ensure they catch your eye in any collection.
However, just like any other type of succulent plants, variegated jade is an easy to care and may be grown as indoor-only for beginner gardeners. In this extensive guide on Variegated Jade plant, you can find everything online about how to grow variegate jade plants at home. Let’s know the overall terms!
What are Variegated Jade Plant?
The variegated jade plants are also referred to as the Crassula family succulent that awakes from South Africa. This relative of the old-fashioned jade plant is just as simple to keep alive and incredibly long-lived. And a variegated form will have creamy, yellow or white stripes on its leaves along with some red or pink flecks on the edges when grown in good sun.
Jade plants are said to be lucky and represent good fortune, this is why they have the nickname money plants. They are drought-tolerant and hardy, making them a popular plant for indoor gardens, office plants etc.
Variegated Jade Plant Growing Benefits
Variegated jade plants come with a range of benefits, from the aesthetically-pleasing to those meant for actual use around your home-
- Appearance
The one-of-a-kind, marbled leaves of the variegated jade are speckled in cream and green shades which make it a perfect statement piece for any room. The color combination makes for a more exciting, graphic statement of the plant than its all-green cousin.
- Easy Care
Variegated jade plants, like most succulents are also low maintenance and need to be watered only lightly. These are ideal for the time poor and garden gurus alike.
- Purify The Air
Jade plants have good amount of clean air capacity, they absorb toxins for you and purifies the air making your home a healthier place to be in.
- Symbol of Good Luck
In Feng Shui, jade plants are believed to bring wealth and prosperity so you will always find them at the front entrance of homes or offices.
Taking Care of a Variegated Jade Plant
These succulents are very hardy and work great as indoor plants; however they have certain care requirements. Jade plant will look great if you can get it best light, water and appropriate soil. To help you maintain the health and beauty of your variegated jade plant, read this care guide carefully, step by step-
1. Light Requirements
The variegated jade plant has a mild preference for bright, indirect sunlight. This plant loves an east or south window where it can receive some partial sun throughout the day! This will make the leaves retain their variegated shade and may even turn red around its edges near the tips when exposed to bright lights.
Underperforming lighting leads to the leaves will lose their bright variegation and revert back completely green. However, do not expose it to direct sunlight for more than a few hours at once because your plant will end up with sunburned leaves that scorch and turn brown from the tip.
2. Watering
The best part about a variegated Jade plant is that, like all Jades they are drought tolerant and do not require frequent watering. Jade Plants are prone to root rot, so the biggest L you can take when growing indoors is over-watering.
Ideally, the top couple inches of soil should dry out between watering. Allow water to run out the base of pot. In the heat of spring and summer growing months, you may need to irrigate every 2-3 weeks while in winter irrigation can be reduced down to once a month or even less.
3. Soil
Well-draining soil is essential for avoiding waterlogging and root rot a common problem in jade plants. A succulent cactus potting mix is great because it gives that good drainage. You should mix potting soil with sand, perlite or pumice to improve drainage system.
The container should have holes in the bottom for water drainage as well. Terracotta pots work especially well since they naturally absorb moisture from the soil and provide some root aeration.
4. Temperature and Humidity
In general, optimum temperatures for variegated jade plants are the normal household range: 65°F to 75°F. These plants are tolerant of slightly lower temperatures, but keep them out of drafts and away from cold windows or air conditioning vents as drastic temperature changes can have a negative effect on the plant.
Jade plants handle low humidity well because they are from a dry environment. Provided your home isn’t too sweaty, you’re plant will be happy. If the air in your house is very dry during winter, you can also mist the plant every now and again.
5. Fertilizing
Pelican plants are not heavy feeders, but a little pelleting fertilizer should be done on this bush every few months especially during their growth season in the spring and summer. Apply a half-strength, balanced water-soluble fertilizer every four to six weeks.
When the plant is not actively growing, such as during winter months when growth slows to a standstill, do not fertilize at all. Too much fertilizing can cause the soil to become salty and able to harm the roots of the plant.
Variegated Jade Problems
Overall, variegated jade plants are relatively easy to take care of but few things can go wrong if they needs not fulfilled. All things considered, this may assist you to understand and repair a few of the most typical issues-
- Leaf Drop
Your variegated jade plants will drop leaves either from too much water or not enough. To avoid this, stick to a regular watering routine, the soil should be able to dry out between watering. If the leaves are turning yellow and falling off, it means you have been overwatering. Shriveled, dry leaves are a sign of under watering.
- Pests
Jade plants are typically bothered by common houseplant pests like mealy bugs, spider mites and aphids. Check the plant for pests regularly. Gently wipe off leaves or spray with insecticidal soap if you see pests.
- Root Rot
Root rot develops when a plant is overwatered or if it’s planted within soil that drains poorly. Root rot is manifested in blackened roots, wilting and mushy stems. If you suspect a root rot problem, remove the plant from its plastic container so that you can check for soggy or rotted roots trim away any affected parts before repotting it into fresh media.
- Reversion to Green
Too little light can cause variegated jade plants to revert back to solid green. If you see that variegated leaves start to revert, try relocating your plant somewhere with better light so the white returns.
How to Propagate a Variegated Jade?
One of the benefits that come from propagating variegated jade plants is how simple it is. It is possible to propagate new plants from cuttings of stems or leaves, so that you can increase your stock and pass on friends your alum-
1. Stem Cuttings
Cut just below the leaf node of a healthy stem with a few leaves. Let the cutting dry 2-3 days to a week, hardening off the cut end. Once the lower part end of stem dries out plant it should be well-drained and water gently. Set the cutting in a bright spot, but not full where it will be direct sunlight until rooted. Then, in a few weeks roots will start to grow and there you have it -a new jade plant!
2. Leaf Cuttings
One more method of propagation is leaf cuttings. Take a healthy leaf from the stem and give it a gentle twist. Let the leaf dry for 3-4 days to create a callous. Gently push the leaf into moist soil. Spray the leaf once every couple days to ensure that it remains as moist. In time the small roots and eventually a new plantlet will grow from around the base of that leaf.
Conclusion
The Variegated jade plants are one of the most attractive and easy to take care of indoor plants. Because of their beautiful, multi-hued leaves and straight forward care instructions they are a favorite among gardeners from content-green-thumb-wannabes to experienced horticulturists.
If you take good care of it by following the easy guidelines listed in this manual, then your variegated jade plant will grow beautifully and pristine adding a touch of elegance to where it lives.
