Temperature
55–80°F
Keep away from winter window glass and heating vents.
Jade plant
Crassula ovata
Jade plant wants direct light and water every 14 to 28 days, once the leaves feel slightly soft rather than firm. Toxic to cats and dogs.
Light
Direct
LowMediumBright indirectDirect
A south or west window, within two feet of the glass. Any further and the stems stretch and the leaves lose their red edge.
Water
Every 14–28 days
Baseline for a 6-inch pot indoors. Check first: water when the leaves feel slightly soft rather than firm, not on a schedule.
Humidity
20% and up
Fine in normal household air. Prefers 40%.
Difficulty
Easy
Scores 2 of 5: Scores 2 of 5: thrives on neglect and lives for decades. Loses points because it needs genuinely direct sun, which most rooms cannot supply.
Habit
Upright
Grows to 12–48 inches. No support needed.
Toxic to cats and dogs
The toxic principle is not identified by the cited authority. Reported signs include vomiting, depression, incoordination.
If a pet has chewed a leaf, rinse the mouth with water and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Full detail for cats → Full detail for dogs →
What each authority says
- ASPCA — entry under a synonym: Crassula argentea
- Toxic to cats and dogs
- NC State Extension
- Entry exists and records no poison data.
Light
Direct light. A south or west window, within two feet of the glass. Any further and the stems stretch and the leaves lose their red edge.
Water
Every 14 to 28 days in a 6-inch pot, when the leaves feel slightly soft rather than firm.
Treat the interval as a starting point and the test as the actual instruction. Pot size, light level and season all move the number.
| Method | soak and dry |
|---|---|
| Test before watering | the leaves feel slightly soft rather than firm |
Soil and potting
Two parts cactus mix, one part coarse sand or pumice.
Repot roughly every 3 years, or when roots come through the drainage holes and water runs straight through without absorbing.
Common problems
Ranked by how often each turns out to be the cause for this species. Each links to a diagnosis page with the causes ranked for this species.
- Leaf drop this week
- Root rot act today
- Leggy growth monitor
Pest and disease guidance for this species consulted at the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, checked 2026-09-11.
Pests
Recorded for this species. Each links to identification and treatment.
- Mealybugs this week
- Scale insects this week
Propagation
Leaf cutting in soil. Roots in 14 to 35 days.
| Preferred method | leaf cutting |
|---|---|
| Medium | soil |
| Time to root | 14–35 days |
| Node required | No |
| Best season | Spring and summer |
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Crassula argentea Checked 2026-09-11.
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Crassula ovata (consulted; entry exists and records no poison data.) Checked 2026-09-11.
- Wikidata entity Q157299 — taxonomy and entity identity.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — Crassula ovata Accepted name; family Crassulaceae. Checked 2026-09-11.
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Crassula ovata Pest and disease guidance. Checked 2026-09-11.
- Photograph: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 2.0.
Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-02
Tony Valcarcel is the editor and publisher of this database, not a horticulturist
or a veterinarian. Every fact above is drawn from the sources listed, and
toxicity severity is reported only where one of them stated it.
How this is sourced.
Last updated 2026-09-02