Dwarf jadeis asucculentperennial plant with small, fleshy, teardrop-shaped leaves and reddish-brown stems.
Read on for our care and growing guide.
Or, it’s possible for you to grow it in a hanging basket and let it sprawl.
Dwarf jade grown as a bonsaiphotohomepage / Getty Images
When the rare blooms appear, they are found at the branch tips.
Moving a dwarf jade outdoors from an indoor location requires gradual acclimatization to sunlight.
Increase the time the plant is exposed to sunlight little by little to prevent sunburn.
Portulacaria afra ‘Variegata’Elizabeth Fernandez / Getty Images
Keep in mind that even after it has been acclimated, it needs protection from direct sunlight.
Soil
Excellent soil drainage is crucial for dwarf jade.
Do not blend sand into the mix, as this is not an ideal growing medium.
Water
Indoors, dwarf jade has very low watering needs.
When watering, let the soil dry slightly out before watering again.
Again, monitor the soil moisture to determine when its time to give the plant moderate watering.
But this plant not frost-hardy and will be badly damaged or killed if merely nipped by a true frost.
Fertilizer
Dwarf jade has moderate fertilization needs.
Stop fertilizing during the winter and restart the monthly fertilizing in late winter with a 50 percent diluted fertilizer.
Wait until the soil is dry.
Even leaves that drop into the soil may sprout up as new plants.
The normal method is topropagate dwarf jadefrom stem cuttings taken during spring or summer.
It can also thrive in shallow, wide pots, as the root system is relatively shallow.
Hold off on watering it for a week after repotting.
Watering immediately after repotting can causeroot rot.
Withhold watering until the bottom leaves begin to shrivel and dry up.
As the days begin lengthening out again in spring, resume the normal watering pattern.
Feeding should also be reduced for the winter months.
Common Pests
Dwarf jade plants are rarely diseased.
However, the plants can be affected byspider mitesandwhiteflies.
Insecticidal soaps can eliminate pests.Mealybugscan be a large problem for dwarf jade plants.
But if you do want to experience what the blooms look like, here’s what you better know.
Bloom Months
This plant will bloom in late spring to early summer.
What Do Dwarf Jade Blooms Look and Smell Like?
Dwarf jade blooms with small white or pink star-shaped flowers.
The fragrance is somewhat soapy.
Dwarf jade senses this as an environmental threat and often responds by sending out flowers as a preservation instinct.
In contrast to jade plants, dwarf jade has much smaller leaves that grow closer together on thinner stems.
In addition, dwarf jade is not poisonous, but jade plants are toxic to animals and humans.
The dwarf jade (not jade!)
Elephant BushPortulacaria afra.Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension.
