Best Fertilizer for Jade Plant

The jade plant (Crassula ovata), also known as the money plant or lucky plant, is a popular succulent prized for its glossy, fleshy leaves and low-maintenance nature. Native to South Africa and Mozambique, jade plants have become household favourites in Australia for their symbolic value and adaptability to indoor conditions. They can live for decades, develop thick woody stems, and even produce clusters of small, star-shaped flowers under the right conditions.

As a succulent, the jade plant stores water in its leaves and prefers well-draining soil, bright but indirect sunlight, and minimal overwatering. While hardy, jade plants benefit greatly from occasional fertilisation to encourage vibrant leaf colour, compact growth, and flowering during late winter or early spring. Proper feeding also helps prevent dull, shriveled leaves and promotes the plant’s overall health, especially in indoor settings where natural nutrient cycling is limited.

Understanding the jade plant’s growth cycle is essential before feeding. These succulents are most active in spring and summer, slow down in autumn, and become nearly dormant in winter. Matching your fertiliser schedule to this rhythm ensures healthy growth without causing fertiliser burn or forcing weak, leggy shoots.

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How to Fertilize Jade Plants for Strong, Healthy Growth

Jade plants are light feeders, and overfertilising can damage their roots or promote excessive soft growth prone to breakage. The key to success is using a balanced, succulent-friendly fertiliser at the right strength and timing.

Choose the Right Fertiliser: Use a low-nitrogen, succulent-specific liquid fertiliser like a 2-7-7 formulation. This ratio supports sturdy stems, vibrant leaf colour, and root strength without forcing oversized, weak leaves.
Dilution and Application: Always dilute liquid fertiliser to half strength. Apply directly to moist soil during active growth in spring and summer, typically every 4–6 weeks. Avoid fertilising dry soil to prevent root damage.
Seasonal Feeding: Pause or reduce fertiliser in autumn and winter when growth slows. This natural rest period allows the plant to conserve energy and prepare for the next growing season.
Micronutrient Support: Succulents like jade benefit from calcium and magnesium for strong cell walls and healthy leaf colour. These micronutrients also help prevent pale or patchy foliage.

Following a light, consistent feeding schedule encourages steady, compact growth and helps older jade plants develop their iconic tree-like form. If grown outdoors in Australia, fertilising after summer rains can also replenish washed-out nutrients.

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Seasonal Care, Common Fertilising Mistakes, and the Best Jade Plant Fertiliser

Proper seasonal care goes hand-in-hand with fertilisation to maintain a thriving jade plant. Position your plant in a bright location with several hours of indirect sunlight, rotate it monthly for even growth, and use a fast-draining succulent mix to prevent root rot. Water deeply but infrequently, allowing soil to dry between waterings.

Common Fertilising Mistakes:

Using high-nitrogen fertilisers, which cause soft, leggy growth that can snap under its own weight.
Fertilising too often during dormancy, which stresses roots and leads to leaf drop.
Applying fertiliser to dry soil, increasing the risk of root burn.
Neglecting micronutrients, which can cause dull, yellow-tinged leaves over time.

For reliable results, we recommend feeding jade plants with CompleteGrow Cactus Succulent Plant Food Fertiliser Concentrate (2-7-7). Its gentle, balanced formula promotes compact, vibrant growth while protecting against nutrient burn. Apply at half strength every 4–6 weeks during spring and summer for lush, healthy jade plants.