Variegated Jade Plant – Succulent plants

Variegated Jade Plant (Crassula ovata ‘Lemon & Lime’) is a slow growing, elegantly branched succulent shrub can grow up to 4 feet tall, with attractive green foliage striped in ivory and pale yellow. The succulent leaves are up to 2 inches long and are often tipped with a pink margin on the new growth and when grown in the sun. The segmented branches may be brown or grey-green in color. The white, star-shaped flowers with pink overtones grow in showy clusters at the ends of the branches from late winter to early spring.

Scientific Classification:

Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula

Scientific Name: Crassula ovata ‘Lemon & Lime’
Common Name: Variegated Jade Plant
Synonyms: Crassula ovata ‘Variegata’, Crassula ovata ‘Tricolor’, Crassula argentea f. variegata, Crassula ovata ‘Obliqua’

How to grow and maintain the Variegated Jade Plant:

Light:
It thrives best in bright light with some direct sunlight. A sunny windowsill will be an ideal position for these plants. They will not flower without sunlight and inadequate light will cause developing spindly growth.

Soil:
It grows well in well-drained soil with a neutral pH. Add coconut coir and Pine bark to make the soil more drainage friendly.

Water:
Water regularly, during the growing season (April to September), but water sparingly when dormant (autumn and winter). Allow the top of the soil to slightly dry out before watering again.

Temperature:
It prefers ideal room temperatures of around 60°F – 75°F / 15.5°C – 24°C. During winter no less than 50°F / 10°C. Cold weather and damp weather is not good for Jade. It loses its color and turns yellow and mushy.

Fertilizer:
Fertilize every two weeks during the growing season, from spring through summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half. Do not fertilize during the winter.

Humidity:
They survive well in quite humid conditions naturally, although you will please them with water misting.

Pruning:
You can prune Jade Plant in the early spring because new growth begins during the spring. See the overgrown stems and decide how you want to shape the plant. Use sharp shears to cut overgrown stems and cut out unhealthy branches completely.

Re-potting:
Re-pot in spring when the plant becomes root bound or the soil needs renewing. A good solid and heavy pot is best to use because of jade plants are well known for being top heavy. A heavy pot will prevent them from tipping over.

Propagation:

It can be easily propagated by stem cuttings, leaf cuttings or by basal offsets. The cuttings or offsets should be taken in spring.  Take 2-3 inch long stem cuttings and plant it in a 2-3 inch pot of equal parts mixture of peat moss and sand and keep it at normal room temperature in the bright filtered light.

Pests and Diseases:
Variegated Jade Plant are susceptible to mealybugs. Use a suitable pesticide. Before using a spray insecticides make sure that the product used is labeled for jade plants.