What to Do With a Jade Plant in May – to Encourage More Growth and Glossy Foliage
Jade plants might be low-maintenance, but May is a crucial month: now is the time to create the perfect conditions for yours to thrive
Jade plants are one of the most popular houseplants you can find: they're elegant, easy to care for, and they're even believed to bring good fortune. In May, your jade plant is in its active growth period, so you'll need to water it more regularly, prune its leaves, and consider repotting.
As summer approaches, you'll also want to ensure that your jade plant receives plenty of bright, indirect sunlight to help it photosynthesize. Now is also a brilliant time to propagate it using leaf cuttings.
1. Start Watering More Frequently
'Although jade plants are slow-growing, you’ll notice some new growth in May,' says Tenielle Jordison, Gardens Content Editor at Homes & Gardens. 'For this reason, it’s important to increase watering.'
Even the most low-maintenance indoor plants get thirstier at this time of year, and jade plants will need more support as they continue to grow.
'Jade plants require more water in warmer temperatures, especially as they use more energy during their active growth period,' explains Tenielle.
Jade plants are some of the best indoor succulents you can choose, and they don't require constant attention – but you'll need to water your jade plant once the soil dries out, which happens more frequently in spring and summer.
'As succulents, jade plants don’t need consistent watering, since they store water in their fleshy leaves,' says Tenielle. 'You can allow the soil to dry out entirely between watering, but be aware it will dry out much more quickly than in winter.'
To help you identify exactly when your jade plant needs watering, you can use a soil moisture meter, like this one from Walmart.
Tenielle is a Gardens Content Editor at Homes & Gardens with over six years of journalistic experience, including previously having the role of Gardens News Writer. She holds qualifications in BA Journalism, Media and English Literature and MA Magazine Journalism. Before coming to Homes & Gardens, Tenielle was in the editorial department at the Royal Horticultural Society and worked on The Garden magazine. As our in-house houseplant expert, Tenielle writes on a range of solutions to houseplant problems, as well as other 'how to' guides, inspiring garden projects, and the latest gardening news.
2. Prioritize a Sunny Location
Jade plants thrive in sunny conditions, so if you haven't already, now is the time to move yours into a bright spot.
'These plants love around 4-6 hours of daily direct sun,' says Tenielle. 'However, be aware that too much exposure can cause sunburn, turning jade plants red as a stress response.'
To prevent scorching, you can consider investing in sheer curtains (like these from Wayfair), which will help to diffuse the sunlight.
If you notice any severely scorched leaves, it's best to carefully remove them – you can use sharp pruning snips, like this pair from Amazon.
3. Prune Your Jade Plant
Pruning a jade plant isn't restricted to the removal of damaged leaves: in fact, May is the perfect time to give yours a trim to help it thrive in the coming months.
'If you want to encourage bushier growth, use your houseplant snips to remove leggy or damaged stems,' advises Tenielle.
'This will redirect the plant’s energy into new growth, resulting in more branches and ultimately giving your jade plant a fuller look.'
4. Start to Propagate
If you're keen to build up your houseplant collection, there's no better time to propagate your jade plant.
'You can use leaf cuttings from a jade plant to propagate this month, just as you would propagate other succulents,' says Tenielle. 'Let the cuttings form a callus over a couple of days. (This is a protective layer to stop rotting.) You can then pop them in a well-draining potting mix.'
It doesn't take long to make your own succulent potting mix, but if you're short on time, you can pick up succulent and cactus soil from Perfect Plants Nursery.
Once your cuttings have been planted, bright light and moisture are both crucial to encouraging healthy growth.
'Keep them consistently moist and place them in a bright spot to encourage rooting,' says Tenielle. 'This requires some patience, as it can take 3-6 weeks for roots to form.'
5. Consider Repotting
It can be difficult to know how often to repot houseplants, but jade plants are far more forgiving than many other species: you can leave them to grow in the same pot for a while, although you'll need to repot them every few years.
'Jade plants actually like to be slightly pot-bound – it keeps them stable and lowers the risk of overwatering,' explains Tenielle. 'This means they can live in the same pot for many years.'
However, if you notice your jade plant becoming unstable or top-heavy, repotting is the solution.
'These plants should be rehomed if they start to tip over,' advises Tenielle. 'You should upgrade to the next size pot and use a succulent potting mix to ensure they have a well-draining, nutrient-rich growing medium.'
Shop Houseplant Accessories
Made from microfiber cloth, these houseplant dusting gloves are the best way to clean houseplant leaves. They'll help you reach all the nooks and crannies of your jade plant's foliage to keep it clean and healthy.
Combining style with practicality, this watering can is guaranteed to bring some elegance to your houseplant setup. The slender gold handle is a particularly eye-catching touch.
These Fiskars scissors are perfect for pruning houseplant leaves and trimming off stems for propagation – and they even come with their own chic holder.
If you're intrigued about the symbolic benefits of a jade plant, you can find out exactly where to place your jade plant according to Feng Shui. And if you're keen to invest in more hanging plants, take a look at our guide to caring for a trailing jade plant.
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