Jade is one of the most common house plants associated with luck and prosperity. Besides, it is easy to maintain and care for even if you are a novice to plant care.
But, let us face the truth, though the Jade plant is easy to care for, it is equally challenging to get them to bloom.
And, it can be irksome when you do not see any flowers despite putting in tremendous effort.
Generally, Jade plant flowers often in late winter or early spring. Flowers are small and star-shaped, white or pink, and grow in clusters. Jade plants must be very mature in order to bloom.
If you are looking for tips to get Jade plant flowers, you have come to the right place.
The article will guide you thoroughly regarding how to get your Jade plant to bloom.
Table of Contents
Do Jade Plants Have a Flower?
The Jade plant is known for its lush green, glossy thick oval-shaped leaves. And, it is primarily grown for its foliage rather than its flower.
The most common type of Jade grown as house plants is Crassula ovata and Crassula argentea. Interestingly, both of these varieties are flowering varieties of Jade.
However, it is not easy to see them flower, especially indoors. The environment is highly humid and unfavorable for the plants to produce buds.
Even in its natural habitat, it grows without flowering for many years.
Jade plants produce flowers only after they reach maturity, and it takes about 3-5 years for the plant to gain maturity.
There is no precise flowering duration for this species. Hence, flowering is variable and infrequent even in plants’ native habitats.
Generally, the Jade plant will produce flowers in mid to late winter or spring.
As the primary mode of propagation for Jade is a vegetative method, they don’t need to bloom and produce seeds for reproduction.
Did you know? As per Feng Shui When a Jade plant flowers, it is considered a complement. In addition, the flowering Jade plant represents a strong friendship, bringing good fortune and success.
Jade Plant Flower Overview
Let’s look at the general overview of the Jade plant flower.
| Indicator | Identity |
|---|---|
| Structure | Star shaped flowers in cluster |
| Size | Small flower about 2 inches |
| Color | White or pink blossoms |
| Fragrance | Faint sweet fragrance |
| Blooming Season | Late winter to early spring |
| Seeds | Small capsule enclosing small seed |
| Toxicity | Mildly poisonous to both human and pets |
Getting a Jade plant flower is a challenging task as you need to force the plant to produce buds.
The Jade plant requires external pollinators for pollination. In the natural environment, bats, butterflies, winds, etc., pollinate the flower of Jade.
After opening, the pink sepals cover the buds, which bear two to three flower clusters.
Once the plant blooms, it is not difficult to take care of them, but the most challenging part is forcing them to bloom.
How to Make a Jade Plant Flower?
Plants need various criteria for them to flower and produce fruits.
For Jade, it requires a balanced combination of the dormancy period, photoperiod, and other extreme environmental conditions for them to bloom.
The key to making a Jade plant flower is mimicking its native growing environment. It requires a dry location, withholding water, and cooler nighttime temperatures for them to bloom.
The process is trickier, but you can easily play around with the growing environment and fool the plant into producing flowers.
Here is how to make your Jade plant flower.
1. Maturity is the Key to Flowers
Younger Jade cannot produce flowers no matter how hard you force it.
A Jade plant needs to be mature for at least 3-4 years to have flowers.
Don’t be dismayed if your Jade plant does not bloom every year. Blooming is irregular and unpredictable, even in the wild.
2. Keep them Rootbound
It is well-known that plants invest their energy in developing shoots and roots.
But, if you want to have flowers in your Jade, you need to limit its root development.
The key to getting Jade plant flowers is to keep them root-bound and divert the plant’s energy into developing shoots and flowers.
Hence, keep it so and avoid re-potting once your plant is rootbound.
As there is no more space for root development, the plant invests all of its energy in developing shoots, which are essential for the Jade plant to flower.
3. Force Dormancy: Let it Face Some Drought
During winter, the plant hits dormancy, but it does not go entirely dormant. It is the perfect time to play around with your Jade to force bud formation.
As September begins, the plant enters dormancy which continues till late fall and winter. At this period, let the plant experience some light drought.
Do not fertilize Jade plants while they are dormant. For 14-16 hours, place the plant in total darkness and expose the plant to daylight for 5-8 hours.
Water it only after the soil dries entirely or when its leaves start appearing shrunken.
Ensure that the plant receives bright sunlight and no other alternative form of the light source.
The long night, optimal daylight, and water withhold force the Jade plant to produce buds.
4. Keep the Temperature Ideal
You need to maintain moderately warm temperatures to encourage blooms in the Jade plant.
Bring the plant indoors during frosty nights as temperature extremities can be detrimental to them.
Maintain a temperature range of about 60 degrees Fahrenheit (12°C) during fall and protect Jade plant from cold stress and drafts.
The Jade plant will start producing buds around the shortest days of the year and flowering from late winter to early spring.
During this period, maintain the temperature around 50-60°F (10-15°C).
5. Provide Ample Sunlight
The flowering habits of any plant are directly proportional to the amount of sunlight it receives.
So introduce your Jade plant to 7-9 hours of bright indirect sunlight and a few hours of direct morning light or afternoon shades.
Protect the plant from the scorching midday sun of summer as it burns foliage.
The best location is an eastern-facing window or a southern-facing window reflecting afternoon shades.
Moreover, if your Jade plant has started turning red, it is a good indicator of flower production.
Read more to find out light requirement for Jade plant.
6. Move Your Jade Plant Outdoors
Since light sunlight is vital to your plant’s flowering, it is beneficial to keep your Jade outdoors.
Indoor light is insufficient for your Jade plant to bloom. Besides, ample light also helps to keep the plant healthy and happy.
If you live in USDA Zones 10-11, it is ideal for keeping them outdoors. However, ensure to bring them indoors during frosty nights.
7. Regulate Fertilization
Fertilization is key to encouraging blooming in Jade. However, you need to avoid fertilizing them when the plant enters dormancy.
Provide your Jade plant with phosphorous-rich fertilizer to encourage blooming.
You can use NPK in the ratio of 10-30-20 in the growing season. Dilute the fertilizer to 1/4th of the strength and apply monthly.
You can also feed your Jade with banana peel as it is rich in potassium that helps bloom.
Dry the banana peels and grind them to make a fine powder. Mix 1-2 teaspoons of powder in 1 liter of water and apply it to the plant once a month.
Alternatively, tomato fertilizers are also helpful in encouraging blooming.
What Should you do With Jade Plant Flower?
It is rare to see a Jade plant flower. The plant produces tiny flowers in clusters that accentuate the Jade plant’s looks.
Besides, Jade plant flowering is considered a good sign of luck, fortune, bond, and friendship. Hence, you can keep them blooming.
So, I recommend you to let them flower.
Prune the Jade plant only after the flower stops blooming, and the stalks turn brown.
However, if you think that flowers engulf the plant’s energy, you can always toss them off.
Use sharp and sterilized instruments while pruning Jade plant flowers.
You might be interested in reading Why is my Jade Plant Turning Purple?
Uses of Jade Plant Flowers
The Jade plant flower yields seeds, apart from its cultural or mythological value of luck and prosperity.
You can harvest its seeds to multiply the Jade plant and gift those new plants to your friends and loved ones.
Besides, the sweet fragrance of its flower helps to soothe the mind and calm nerves.
Read more: 8 Amazing Jade Plant Benefits
Health Considerations to Keep in Mind
Do you have small kids and pets at your home? If so, you need to be cautious and should not let them play around with Jade.
The plant is toxic and is listed by ASPCA as a poisonous plant.
However, it is unknown what makes Jade toxic. All parts of the Jade are poisonous, and especially its flowers are highly toxic.
Ingestion of the Jade plant causes symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, stomach irritation, burning sensation, and vomiting.
Similarly, in pets, it causes drooling, vomiting, irritability, pawing at the mouth, etc.
Contact local veterans, or you can dial up ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center helpline tel: 8884264435
Besides, its sap might also irritate your skin. Hence, always put on gloves while pruning or propagating them.
So if your pets or children have accidentally nibbled on Jade, you need to take health assistance.
Conclusion
Although Jade plant flowers are pretty and desirable, getting them while growing indoors isn’t easy.
But, do not get scared; the process is challenging but equally adventurous. The satisfaction you get after seeing the Jade plant bloom bests none.
Hence, follow all of the suggestions mentioned in the article and enjoy your Jade plant blooming.
