If you are looking for a unique and low-maintenance plant to add to your succulent collection? Then, look no further than the botany bay Jade plant, known as the Crassula ovata 'Botany bay', a vibrant member of the Crassula genus! It's seriously one of the most widespread flowering succulents out there!  

In Chinese culture, Crassula ovata is known as the "money tree" or "feng shui money tree" and is believed to bring good luck and financial prosperity to those who grow it. This money plant is often given as a gift during the Chinese New Year or other auspicious occasions.  

It's not hard to see why it's so popular with succulent beginners! This jade plant has dark green thick oval light green - yellow leaves that can change color to red when stressed, making for a super cool and unique addition to any collection. Plus, this dwarf jade plant grows into a small tree with thick brown branches and foliage that is just begging to be admired. 

Native to South Africa and Mozambique, this evergreen beauty can grow up to 36 inches tall and 24 inches wide depending on its conditions (so make sure you give it plenty of root space!). During summertime, those glossy green tubular leaves shine brightly, but as we head into cooler temperatures, those edges start turning red - talk about stunning! 

 Let's not forget about its gorgeous star-shaped flowers that bloom in winter/spring - they start off as white flowers that create an eye-catching contrast between open blossoms and closed buds. These pollinated flowers produce seeds enclosed in these buds. Money tree plants are exceptionally easy to propagate by leaf or stem cuttings, so you can quickly grow your collection with just a few simple steps. 

So, whether you call it a jade plant, lucky plant, or money tree, Crassula ovata is definitely worth adding to your collection! 

Watering Needs 

The money plant succulent is a species that requires good drainage, enough light, and minimal watering. It's important only to water them when the soil has dried out, as overwatering can cause root rot. Succulent roots, including this jade crassula ovata, are prone to rot if their roots are constantly submerged in moisture. 

As a drought-tolerant plant, the jade plant has developed an effective mechanism for storing water in its leaves. Oftentimes, people worry about under-watering their plants when they're actually giving them too much water - succulents don't thrive well in damp soil, which can lead to root problems. 

Light Requirements 

The jade plant thrives best in bright, indirect, sunny environments. It cannot tolerate full shade or low light. These crassula succulents require at least six hours of strong light each day to survive. However, partial shade in the afternoon is often preferable - especially in hotter climates where the plant might become stressed by the intense heat of the afternoon sun.  

The red coloration on the margins of the leaves of a Jade plant is a sign of stress; it's usually not harmful to the plant and will often disappear once the plant is returned to the bright sunlight.  

When grown indoors, place it in the bright sunniest place in your house. Direct sunlight can scorch the new leaves off, so placing them near a window that receives filtered or indirect light is best. The amount of light the plant receives can affect the color of its leaves. The money tree grown in bright light will have more vibrant deep green leaves, while the foliage of those grown in lower light conditions may have a lighter, yellow-green color.  

Optimal Soil & Fertilizer Needs 

The jade plant prefers sandy, well-drained soil, as excess moisture in fresh soil or pot can promote root and stem rot. Planet Desert specializes in succulents and has specialized succulent potting soil that includes an organic substrate with mycorrhizae to help with the growth of a healthy root system to help your new plants and succulents thrive. As an okay alternative, you can create your own potting mix by combining equal portions of perlite, coarse sand, and good natural potting soil. 

When it comes to fertilizing your Crassula ovata, it only needs a small amount of fertilizer applied once a year in spring. Succulent plants prefer a fertilizer with lower doses of NPK, with a maximum ratio of 5-10-5 higher in phosphorus than nitrogen.

Hardiness Zone & More

As desert dwellers, the jade plant enjoys hot temperatures, and high humidity but can tolerate lower humidity as well. They prefer constant temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and can tolerate triple digits in the summer, so don't worry if your succulents get too hot.

The jade plant, on the other hand, cannot handle frost, cold, or freezing temperatures, so make sure it doesn't get below 45 degrees F in its environment.  If grown outdoors the money plant jade grows best in USDA zone 9-11. 

In terms of coloration, Jade plants can display different colors depending on the temperature. When the plants are exposed to cooler temperatures, the leaves may turn reddish or purplish in color. This reddish tint on smooth fleshy leaves is a natural response to cooler temperatures and is not harmful to the plant.

The jade succulents typically go dormant during winter months, from late fall to early spring. During this period, the plant will stop growing and may lose some of its leaves. This is a natural process and is not harmful to the plant. To encourage its growth during dormancy, the plant should be kept in a cool, dark location and reduced watering.