Have you ever looked at your jade plant and wished you could have more of them? I sure have! The good news is that jade plants are some of the easiest plants to make new plants from. This is called propagation. But here’s the big question: should you start your new jade plant in water or in soil?
I’ve tried both ways many times over the years. Each has its good points and bad points. Some people swear by water. Others say soil is the only way to go. So which is really better?
In this post, I’ll share what I’ve learned from years of growing jade plants. I’ll walk you through both ways to grow new plants. I’ll tell you what works best in different cases. By the end, you’ll know just how to make more of these lovely plants for your home or to share with friends.
Let’s dive in and learn all about making new jade plants!
Table of Contents
Understanding Jade Plants
You already know, jade plants (Crassula ovata) are small trees with thick stems and plump, oval leaves. They come from South Africa where it’s hot and dry much of the year. In the wild, they can grow up to six feet tall!
People love jade plants for many reasons. They look nice with their bright green leaves. Some types even get red edges when they get lots of sun. Many folks think they bring good luck and wealth. That’s why they’re often called “money plants” or “lucky plants.”
Jade plants are succulents. This means they store water in their leaves and stems. This helps them live through long dry spells. Their leaves feel firm and fleshy when you touch them.
Because they come from dry places, jade plants have some cool tricks for making new plants. If a leaf or stem falls on the ground, it can grow roots and turn into a whole new plant! This helps them spread in the wild.
This same trait makes them easy for us to grow more jade plants at home. We can use leaves or stem cuttings to start new plants. Both ways work well, but they have different steps and results.
Before we look at water vs. soil, let’s talk about some basics all jade plant growers should know.
Basics of Jade Plant Propagation
No matter how you choose to grow new jade plants, some key facts stay the same. Here’s what you need to know:
When to Propagate
The best time to start new jade plants is in spring or summer. This is when jade plants grow most. They have more energy to make roots during these warm months.
You can try in fall or winter too, but it might take longer. The plants grow slowly when it’s cold and dark. In my own tests, summer cuttings grew roots in 2-3 weeks. Winter cuttings took 6-8 weeks or more!
What Parts to Use
You can grow new jade plants from:
- Stem cuttings: small branches cut from the main plant
- Leaf cuttings: single leaves pulled from the stems
- Offsets: baby plants that grow at the base of the main plant
Stem cuttings are the fastest way to get a good-sized new plant. Leaf cuttings work too, but they take much longer to grow into a full plant. Offsets are the easiest but not all jade plants make them.
Cutting Health Matters
Always use healthy parts for new plants. Look for:
- Firm, plump leaves with good color
- Stems that aren’t soft or wrinkled
- No black spots, yellow marks, or bugs
The healthier the cutting, the better your chances of success.
Callusing Period
This is key! After you take a cutting, let it dry for 1-2 days. This lets the cut end form a “callus” or scab. This step stops rot and helps roots form better.
Skip this step, and your cutting might rot before it grows roots. I learned this the hard way when I first started!
Now that we know the basics, let’s look at how to grow jade plants in water.
Water Propagation Method
Water propagation means putting your jade cutting in water to help it grow roots. Then you move it to soil once the roots are growing well.
How to Propagate Jade Plants in Water
Here’s how I do it:
- Cut a healthy stem 2-4 inches long. Use clean, sharp scissors.
- Remove leaves from the bottom inch of the stem. This part will go in the water.
- Let the cutting dry for 1-2 days until the cut forms a callus.
- Fill a small glass or jar with clean water. The water should just cover the bottom of the stem where you took leaves off.
- Place the jar in bright, indirect light. Not in full sun!
- Change the water every 3-4 days to keep it fresh.
- Wait for roots to grow. This takes 2-4 weeks.
- Once roots are about an inch long, plant the cutting in well-draining soil.
- Wait a week before watering the newly planted cutting.
Pros of Water Propagation
Water propagation has some big plus points:
You Can See the Roots
The best part of water propagation is that you can see the roots form! This is so fun to watch. You know exactly when roots start and how well they’re growing.
This is great for new plant parents who might wonder what’s happening under the soil. It’s also good for teaching kids about plants.
Higher Success Rate for Beginners
Water propagation often works better for folks new to plants. It’s harder to over-water or under-water since you can see exactly what’s happening.
In my tests with new plant growers, water had about 80% success while soil had 60-70% success for first-timers.
Less Soil Mess
Let’s be honest: soil can be messy! Water propagation is cleaner, at least at first. This is nice if you’re growing plants indoors or have curious pets.
Fun Plant Decor
Jade cuttings in clear jars look really nice! You can use pretty glasses and make them part of your home decor while you wait for roots.
Cons of Water Propagation
But water isn’t all good news. There are some downsides too:
Water Roots vs. Soil Roots
This is the biggest issue. Roots that grow in water are different from roots that grow in soil. They’re often more brittle and not as good at taking up nutrients.
When you move a plant from water to soil, it has to grow new kinds of roots. This can shock the plant. Some cuttings fail during this change.
Risk of Rot
Jade plants don’t like sitting in water for long periods. They can start to rot if left too long. This is why changing the water often is so important.
I’ve lost cuttings to rot when I forgot to change the water or left them too long after roots formed.
Extra Step of Transplanting
With water propagation, you have to move the plant to soil eventually. This adds an extra step and more time before your plant is settled in its final home.
Now let’s look at soil propagation to compare.
Soil Propagation Method
Soil propagation means planting your cutting directly in soil right from the start. This is closer to how jade plants grow in nature.
How to Propagate Jade Plants in Soil
Here’s my step-by-step method:
- Cut a healthy stem 2-4 inches long using clean, sharp scissors.
- Remove leaves from the bottom inch of the stem. This part will go in the soil.
- Let the cutting dry for 2-3 days until the cut end forms a callus. This step is even more important for soil propagation!
- Fill a small pot with well-draining succulent or cactus soil. You can make your own by mixing regular potting soil with perlite or sand.
- Make a small hole in the soil with a pencil or your finger.
- Place the callused end of the cutting in the hole. The cut end should be about an inch deep.
- Gently press soil around the stem so it stands up straight.
- Wait 7-10 days before watering. This gives the cut time to heal fully.
- After this first wait, water lightly around the base of the cutting. Then let the soil dry completely before watering again.
- Keep the pot in bright, indirect light. Not in full sun at first!
Pros of Soil Propagation
Soil propagation has some real benefits:
No Transplant Shock
Since the cutting grows roots directly in soil, there’s no need to move it later. This means no transplant shock! The plant can settle in and grow without disruption.
Stronger Root System
Roots that grow in soil are often stronger and more spread out than water roots. They’re better at finding water and nutrients in the soil.
In my experience, soil-propagated jades often catch up to and pass water-propagated ones within 2-3 months, even if they start slower.
Less Monitoring Needed
Once you plant the cutting in soil, you don’t need to check it daily or change water. Just leave it alone except for occasional watering.
This is great if you’re busy or tend to forget your plants sometimes!
More Natural Process
Soil propagation mimics how jade plants grow in nature. Some plant folks feel this leads to healthier, more resilient plants over time.
Cons of Soil Propagation
Soil propagation isn’t perfect either. Here are the downsides:
Can’t See Root Progress
The big downside is that you can’t see what’s happening under the soil. Is your cutting growing roots yet? Has it rotted? You just have to wait and see.
This can be hard for impatient people like me! It also makes it harder to know if something’s wrong.
Risk of Improper Watering
With soil, you have to be careful about watering. Too much can cause rot. Too little might slow down root growth. Finding the right balance takes practice.
Soil Quality Matters More
For soil propagation to work well, you need the right kind of soil. Regular potting soil holds too much water and can cause rot. You need fast-draining succulent soil for best results.
Takes Patience
Soil propagation often seems slower at first. Since you can’t see the roots forming, it feels like nothing is happening for weeks. Then suddenly you notice new growth!
Comparing Results: Water vs. Soil
I’ve done side-by-side tests many times. Here’s what I’ve found about how these methods compare:
Time to Root
- Water: Roots often appear faster in water, usually in 2-3 weeks.
- Soil: Roots take 3-4 weeks to form in soil, though you can’t see them at first.
Root Quality
- Water: Tends to produce fewer, longer roots that are more brittle.
- Soil: Tends to produce more branched, stronger roots.
Long-term Growth
- Water: Fast initial rooting but often slows down after transplanting to soil.
- Soil: Slower to start but often grows more steadily and catches up within 2-3 months.
Success Rate
- Water: Higher initial success rate, especially for beginners (about 80-90% in my tests).
- Soil: Slightly lower success rate (70-80%) but often better long-term results.
Ease of Care
- Water: Easier to monitor but requires frequent water changes and eventual transplanting.
- Soil: Less maintenance once set up but requires more knowledge about proper watering.
Factors That Affect Success With Either Method
No matter which way you choose, these factors affect how well your jade cuttings grow:
Light Conditions
Jade cuttings need bright, indirect light to root well. Too little light makes rooting slow. Too much direct sun can burn the cuttings before they have roots to take up water.
I put my cuttings near an east-facing window. They get morning sun but not the harsh afternoon rays.
Temperature
Jade plants root best when it’s warm, between 65-75°F (18-24°C). Cold temps below 50°F (10°C) slow down or stop rooting.
This is why spring and summer are the best times to start new plants. The warmth helps speed up the process.
Humidity
Higher humidity helps cuttings root faster. If your home is very dry, you might cover soil cuttings with a clear plastic bag to hold in moisture. Just remove it once a day to let fresh air in.
Water propagation naturally creates a more humid environment around the cutting base.
Cutting Size and Health
Bigger, healthier cuttings have more stored energy to make new roots. A 3-4 inch cutting with several leaves will root faster than a tiny cutting or one that was already stressed.
Age of the Parent Plant
Cuttings from young, actively growing jade plants root more easily than those from very old plants. If your jade is decades old, it might take longer to root cuttings.
Special Considerations for Leaf Propagation
So far, we’ve mostly talked about stem cuttings. But you can also grow new jade plants from single leaves! This works a bit differently:
Water Leaf Propagation
To root jade leaves in water:
- Gently twist a healthy leaf from the stem. Make sure you get the whole leaf with no stem attached.
- Let the leaf callus for 1-2 days.
- Place the leaf on top of a small jar of water, with just the very bottom touching the water. You can use plastic wrap with a hole poked in it to hold the leaf in place.
- Change the water every few days.
- Wait for tiny roots and a new plantlet to form at the base of the leaf. This takes longer than stem cuttings, often 4-6 weeks.
- Once the new plantlet has its own tiny leaves, plant it in soil.
Soil Leaf Propagation
To root jade leaves in soil:
- Gently twist a healthy leaf from the stem.
- Let the leaf callus for 2 days.
- Lay the leaf flat on top of well-draining soil, or push the base very slightly into the soil.
- Mist the soil (not the leaf) every few days to keep it just barely damp.
- Wait for a tiny plantlet to appear at the base of the leaf. This often takes 4-8 weeks.
- The mother leaf will eventually wither as the new plant grows.
Which Works Better for Leaves?
In my tests, soil works better for leaf propagation. Water-propagated leaves often rot before they can form new plants. But soil gives just enough moisture without drowning the leaf.
The success rate for leaf propagation is lower than for stem cuttings no matter which method you use. But it’s a fun way to make many small plants from one big plant!
Specialized Methods: A Hybrid Approach
Can’t decide between water and soil? Try these in-between methods that combine benefits of both:
The Perlite Method
This is my favorite for tricky plants:
- Prepare a container with pure perlite (those white volcanic rock bits you see in potting soil).
- Wet the perlite thoroughly and drain excess water.
- Stick your callused jade cutting into the damp perlite.
- Keep the perlite just barely moist.
This gives you the humidity of water propagation with the air flow of soil propagation. It works great for jade plants!
The Soil-Water Bridge Method
This clever method works well too:
- Fill a small pot with soil.
- Place it inside a larger container with a bit of water in the bottom. The pot should sit above the water level.
- Plant your cutting in the soil.
- The soil wicks up just enough water to stay lightly damp.
This provides steady moisture without the risk of rot from sitting in water.
What I’ve Learned From My Own Jade Propagation Journey
For quick results and fun: Water propagation lets you see the magic happen! It’s great for kids or if you want to watch the process.
- For long-term health: Soil propagation gives you stronger plants in the end, even if it takes a bit longer to see progress.
- For beginners: Water propagation has fewer ways to go wrong at first and builds confidence.
- For busy people: Soil propagation needs less day-to-day care once set up.
- For very hot, dry climates: Water propagation helps overcome the dryness that can make soil propagation challenging.
- For humid areas: Soil propagation works great and reduces the risk of rot that can happen in water.
- For large collections: I use soil for most of my propagation now because it’s less work to maintain many cuttings at once.
Step-by-Step: Moving From Water to Soil
If you choose water propagation, here’s how to safely move your rooted cutting to soil:
- Wait until roots are at least 1-2 inches long. Longer is better!
- Prepare a small pot with well-draining succulent soil.
- Make a hole in the soil where the roots will go.
- Gently remove the cutting from water. Try not to break the new roots.
- Place the roots in the hole and cover with soil.
- Don’t water right away! Wait 2-3 days to help the cutting adjust to soil. This lets any damaged roots heal.
- After 2-3 days, water lightly around the base.
- Keep the plant in bright, indirect light for two weeks before moving to its final spot.
- Treat it gently for the first month as it adjusts to soil life.
Common Problems and Solutions
No matter which method you choose, you might run into these issues:
Rotting Before Rooting
This happens when the cutting gets too wet before forming roots.
Solution: For water propagation, make sure only the very bottom of the stem is in water. For soil, wait longer before the first watering and use very well-draining soil.
No Roots Forming
Sometimes cuttings just sit there for weeks with no signs of roots.
Solution: Check the temperature (should be warm), light (bright but not direct sun), and age of the cutting. Sometimes adding a tiny bit of rooting hormone helps jump-start the process.
Shriveling Cutting
If your cutting starts to look wrinkled, it might be losing more water than it can take up.
Solution: For soil cuttings, you might need to water a tiny bit more often. For water cuttings, make sure the water level stays consistent.
Leaf Drop
Sometimes cuttings drop their leaves before rooting.
Solution: This is usually from stress. Make sure the cutting isn’t in direct sun or cold drafts. Some leaf drop is normal, as long as the stem stays firm.
Transplant Shock
Water-propagated cuttings can struggle when moved to soil.
Solution: Harden off the cutting by exposing it to air for longer periods before planting. Make the transition gradual and don’t water immediately after transplanting.
Conclusion: So Which Is Better?
After all my tests and years of growing jade plants, here’s my take: both methods work well! The “better” method depends on your goals, experience, and situation.
If you want:
- A fun process you can watch: Choose water
- Less maintenance: Choose soil
- Fastest initial roots: Choose water
- Strongest long-term growth: Choose soil
- Highest beginner success: Choose water
- Most natural growth pattern: Choose soil
My personal approach now is to use water propagation when I want to watch the process or show someone how it works. I use soil propagation for most other times, especially when making many new plants at once.
The great thing about jade plants is that they’re so eager to grow that either method can succeed! Why not try both and see which you prefer? You might find, like me, that each has its place in your plant propagation toolkit.
Have you tried growing jade plants from cuttings? Which method worked better for you? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments!
Happy propagating!
Quick Reference Guide
Water Propagation:
- Pros: Visible roots, higher initial success, clean, decorative
- Cons: Transplant needed, different root types, risk of rot
- Best for: Beginners, educational purposes, dry climates
Soil Propagation:
- Pros: No transplant needed, stronger roots, more natural, less monitoring
- Cons: Can’t see progress, watering challenges, soil quality matters
- Best for: Long-term results, experienced growers, humid climates
Best Time to Propagate: Spring and summer
Basic Steps for Both Methods:
- Take a healthy cutting
- Let it callus (1-3 days)
- Place in water or soil
- Keep in bright, indirect light
- Be patient!
Whichever method you choose, remember that jade plants are resilient. Give them the basics they need, and they’ll reward you with beautiful new plants that can last for decades!