Care guides › Indoor garden › Jade plant
Jade plant care in Melbourne
Crassula ovata · Toxic to cats and dogs
Grows into a little tree in a sunny spot. Here is how much light it wants, which windows suit it, and how often to water it through a Melbourne year.

- LightBright, out of direct sun to some direct sun
- WaterEvery 14 days in summerEvery 28 in winter. Water only once the soil is completely dry, then soak it.
- FeedEvery 2 months, Oct to MarLiquid feed at half strength. Nothing over winter.
- AirOrdinary room airNo misting needed.
Which window suits a jade plant
In Melbourne the sun sits to the north, so north windows are the brightest and south the softest. Where it does well, by window and distance from the glass:
-
North-facing window
2.5 h of sun in summer · 9 h in winterOn the sillGood1-2 m backGoodFar sideToo dark -
East-facing window
5.5 h of sun in summer · 3.5 h in winterOn the sillGood1-2 m backGoodFar sideToo dark -
South-facing window
1.5 h of sun in summer · 0 h in winterOn the sillGood1-2 m backToo darkFar sideToo dark -
West-facing window
5.5 h of sun in summer · 3.5 h in winterOn the sillGood1-2 m backGoodFar sideToo dark
A Melbourne year with a jade plant
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water every | 14d | 14d | 14d | 28d | 28d | 28d | 28d | 28d | 28d | 14d | 14d | 14d |
| Feed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| Repot check | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
If something looks wrong
Soft, mushy base or leaves
Too much water: the usual way these are lost. Let the soil dry right out, and in winter water only every 28 days or so.
Long, stretched stems
Not enough light. Give it the brightest window you have, right on the sill.
Leaning towards the window
It grows towards the light. A quarter turn every two weeks keeps it even.
Fine webbing or white fluff under the leaves
Spider mite or mealybug, most often as the weather warms. Wipe it off and check again in a week.
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