Marianne's Response

Old and very large jade plant/tree

My 50+ year old jade plant/tree is looking a bit needy. He’s too big to re-pot. Should I top-dress it? Fertilize? Please advise. It has lived happily in a Southeast facing window setting for decades (upstate NY near Ithaca). I take him outside for the Summer in dappled shade and bring him in (a LOT of weight) in the Fall before frost. Any advice is. welcome.

Posted by Sue Pearce-Kelling on August 24, 2021

Marianne's Response

Wow - congrats on growing an impressive old plant. I do think the plant is pot bound and would like a larger container but I know that transplanting a jade can be risky. To perk up your plant add some Osmocote on top of the soil but use only one fourth of a teaspoon. Work this into the soil gently with a plastic fork. Add one half inch of top soil over the Osmocote and water in. You should see signs of healthy new growth in a month or so. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti