Propagating jade plants from leaf or stem cuttings is very easy, and it’s a great way to expand your collection. I’ve had my plant for over 20 years, and I’ve multiplied it many times. It’s so much fun, and I love sharing the babies with friends.
In this post I’ll explain exactly how to do it. I will give you detailed step by step instructions to guide you through the entire process – from taking and preparing the cuttings, to potting up your new plants.
You’ll learn when and how to propagate your jade plant, get my expert tips for the best success, and I’ll even share some simple hacks I’ve learned over the years.
Jade Plant Propagation Methods
There are two main ways you can propagate a jade plant (Crassula), either from cuttings or by division. However, you can only divide them if there is more than one stem coming out of the soil.
So the most popular method to use is rooting stem cuttings, and that’s the technique I will focus on in this guide.
While it is also possible to propagate a single leaf, it will take much longer to get a full-sized jade plant that way. It’s fun to experiment though, so I’ll also include details about that.
Related Post: Plant Propagation: A Detailed Guide For Beginners
When To Propagate Jade Plants
The best time to propagate a jade plant is during the warmest months of the spring and summer. They will root faster in a warm, slightly humid, and well-ventilated environment.
In fact, it’s so easy that sometimes a branch or leaf will break off and start to root on its own without any help from you. But, with the right conditions, you can do it any time of the year.
Propagating Jade Plants From Cuttings
You can propagate any size stem from your jade plant, even huge ones. So, if a branch broke off or you find a severed piece, then try rooting it.
You can even save your clippings after pruning your jade. Otherwise, below I will show you the correct way to take cuttings and prepare them for propagation.
How To Take Stem Cuttings
You can take cuttings from anywhere on your jade plant, so find a firm, healthy section. Don’t worry about hurting your plant, new leaves will grow just below the cut in a few weeks.
The section you choose should be at least 3-4 inches long, and have a few leaves on top. Use a clean pair of sharp clippers, and make your cut at a 45° downward angle.
Preparing Your Stem Cutting
Before you try rooting it, there are a few things you should do to prepare your jade plant cutting for propagation.
First, if it’s completely covered with leaves, remove the lowest ones to expose a few inches of the stem. The roots will form out the leaf nodes, so try to get a couple on there. Don’t remove all of the leaves though.
It’s also important to allow the wound to cure (dry out and callus over) for a few days. This will help prevent rotting. The larger and thicker the stem is, the longer you should let it cure.
This isn’t as much of a concern in the summer months, but definitely something you’ll want to do if you’re propagating succulent plants during the winter.
Tips For Propagating Jade Plant Leaves
To successfully propagate your jade plant from a leaf, you have to remove it correctly. To do that, take hold of the leaf and gently wiggle it or move it back and forth until it comes off.
Be sure to get the entire stem along with it. If the bottom part is broken off, then the leaf might not root.
For the best results, plant them as soon as you can. It’s ok if they shrivel a little bit, but it won’t work if they are completely dried up.
How To Propagate A Jade Plant Step By Step
The best way to root jade cuttings is by planting them in soil. Follow the step by step instructions below:
Supplies Needed:
- Jade plant stem or leaf cuttings
- Well draining potting soil
- Hand trowel
- Rooting hormone
- Clean pot
- Pair of clippers
See my detailed list of the best plant propagation supplies here.
Step 1: Fill the pot with soil – Loosely fill your container with fresh and slightly damp potting soil. The medium should not be wet or saturated, but it shouldn’t be bone dry either.
Related Post: How To Choose The Best Jade Plant Soil
Step 2: Apply rooting hormone – Dust the exposed stem of your jade plant, or end of the leaf, with rooting hormone to help stimulate propagation and speed things up.
Step 3: Plant the cutting – Make a hole in the medium first, and gently place the stem into it so the powder won’t rub off. Then lightly pack the soil around the base of the cutting so it stays in place, and the medium comes in good contact with the stem. If you’re using leaves, you can simply lay them on top of the soil, or lightly bury the stems.
Step 4: Place somewhere warm and bright – Put the container in a spot where it’s protected from full sun and heavy rain, and don’t water until after roots have formed. If the air is really dry, then lightly mist the cutting daily. Be careful though, they don’t need very much humidity.
Step 5: Check for roots – The roots should start forming in about 2-4 weeks. You’ll know they are ready when you see new leaves growing on the top of the cutting, and it doesn’t move when you lightly tug on it.
Related Post: How To Propagate Succulent Plants From Cuttings
How Long Do Jade Plants Take To Root?
In the right conditions, it doesn’t take very long to propagate jade plants. The new roots will usually start forming in 1-2 weeks, and should be long enough to pot up within 4-6 weeks.
If the air is super dry or it’s cold, then it will take much longer. In that case, you can try putting the pot on a heat mat and lightly mist the cutting to speed up the process.
Related Post: Why Your Jade Plant Is Turning Red & What To Do About It
Repotting Your Jade Plant Cuttings
Once the roots have formed, you can water it like you normally would any jade plant. They don’t need a lot of moisture, so allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again.
You can leave the baby plants in their containers until they’re large enough to pot up. I usually wait until they have outgrown their starter pots before transplanting them into larger ones.
The best type of soil to use is a fast draining one or a gritty mixture. You could try making your own using my succulent mix recipe.
Next up, learn exactly how to care for your new babies in my detailed jade plant care guide.
Look at all these cute little baby plants I have now. Jade plant propagation sounds like it would be hard, but it is super easy. They make great gifts, and are fun to share with friends.
Do you want to learn how to multiply all of your plants? Then my Plant Propagation eBook is for you! It will show all you need to know to get as many new plants as you want from your existing ones. Grab your copy today!
More About Plant Propagation
- How To Propagate Aloe Vera By Division
- Rooting Aloe Vera Cuttings Step By Step
- Propagating String Of Pearls In Water Or Soil
- How To Propagate Plumeria From Cuttings
- Propagating Christmas Cactus From Cuttings Or By Division
- Propagating String Of Hearts (Rosary Vine) From Cuttings Or Division
Share your jade plant propagation tips in the comments section below.
Elizabeth Mandelin says
Hi. My ZZ plant is about 3yrs old. Transplanted it once and it took off, I used miracle grow soil so I haven’t fertilized it yet. I did this about 7 months ago. I read that they don’t need fertilizer as much as my other plants. I’m doing good with it, new shoots are coming out pretty good. It even flowered for me. It’s actually a perfect looking plant, nice green huge leaves ( 0.15 meters) and healthy looking stems. Largest stem stands 0.9 meters. Problem: It has grown mushrooms 4 times, all sizes, shapes and colors. Not too pleased with this. Have read and been told 1. I am overwatering it ( once a month) 2. The shrooms won’t hurt the plant. Nobody wants shrooms growing on their plants I’m pretty sure. None of my other plants ever grow these. It’s very dry when I do water, and I water till it runs out the bottom. I don’t allow it to sit in water. It faces south, but the sun doesn’t shine on it for more than 4 hours. I am pretty stumped and frustrated at this point. Do you have any idea’s ? Thank you for your time.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Congratulations on the success of your plant. The mushroom spores probably came in the soil you used for repotting, or got in there if you ever put the plant outside. I’ve had that happen before too. They won’t hurt your plant, and yes, it is a sign of overwatering. It should be dry 2″ deep before watering again. Once you allow the soil to dry adequately, then the problem usually goes away. If it keep persisting, then I would repot it. Make sure to get as much of the soil off the roots as possible to get rid of the spores, and wash the pot well with soapy water before replanting in a fresh, sterile medium. Here’s more info on how to care for a ZZ plant.
Bev says
I have had a jade cutting in a glass of water whilst we moved house. The stem has broken away from the root system. Can I propergate the stem to root again? Also, if I plant the root system in soil is it likely to grow?
Any advice gratefully received.
Amy Andrychowicz says
As long as the stem on your jade cutting is firm, healthy, and not rotting, then you should be able to root it. Let it cure (dry out) for several days before trying. For the root system, if it’s only roots and no stem or if the stem has rotted, then no, it won’t grow. If there’s still a stem attached to the roots, and it is healthy and firm with no signs of rot, then it may grow. The only way to know for sure is to plant it and see.
Angela says
Hi
My large jade plant that I have had for some years started wilting and I think I underwatered it, so I soaked it in some water for a few days and replanted it and it seems to have recovered.
I also took some cuttings in case it didn’t recover and planted these with rooting powder, however, after reading your tips, I think I have done it the wrong way round, instead of letting the cuttings dry and callus over, I soaked them in water for a few days before planting. Is this likely to fail, and would I have to start again? The leaves on the cuttings are looking very dry.
Amy Andrychowicz says
If the leaves on your jade cuttings are looking very dry, then check the stems to see if they are rotting. They don’t like a lot of water, so soaking them may have caused them to rot. I definitely recommend letting them callous over next time, and do not soak them in water. If the stems feel firm, then I would just leave them be and see if they root. Keep the soil on the dry side, and do not overwater.
Ria says
Hi, I’ve never been able to maintain healthy jade plants, be them gifted or propagated. Recently one of my pots died and I pruned some cuttings off my mother’s jade. I planted them yesterday after a day of letting them dry. Today after reading you post I have taken them out of the moist soil. How many days should I wait before replanting them? Or are they already ruined because of a day in moist soil?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Wait to plant your jade cuttings until the cut end has hardened and calloused over. Depending on how large they are, this can take a few days for smaller ones, or a week or more for large ones. Also, I recommend dusting the ends with rooting hormone before planting them too, which will give you better success. Here’s my comprehensive guide for how to care for jade plants, which should help you be successful with them going forward. Good luck!
Sara Jane says
Hello. I have been trimming my jade -now multiple plants – for a few years, always successful. This spring when I cut them back three branches did not grow leaves on the ends. They did sprout new branches below, but 3 out of four did not regrow at the ends. They’re just stumps. Not sure if I should let it be or cut down further. Wish I could add a picture. This happened on two different plants. Did I cut too much?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I would check to make sure those “stumps” on your jade plant aren’t rotting. Tip rot is very common, and can kill the branch slowly from the top down. Here’s my detailed guide about how to prune them for more details and step by step instructions.
Charlene Galway says
I am propagating several jade plants from the stem! I have one plant that has lots of little baby leaves growing out of the stems But attached to the little leaves are small white roots!
What are they and should I be doing anything??
Amy Andrychowicz says
Those are called aerial roots, and they usually form when jades aren’t getting enough water. Check to make sure the main stem on your cuttings isn’t rotting. If all looks good, then you can either just ignore the aerial roots, or pinch them off if you want. If the stem on your cuttings is rotting, you could cut it down to where the aerial roots are, and plant those instead.
Josie says
Hi there. 🙂 I found this article very useful and I just wanted to thank you very much for your detailed information! It definitely took a while, but I do have roots on about half of the jade leaf cuttings and on all of the jade stem cuttings!🙂 It was so exciting to see the roots, especially on the leaves! Thanks again! I do have two questions: 1- How many actual roots do stem cuttings and leaf cuttings need to have to be able to start a normal jade watering schedule? And 2- I see little tiny jade plants growing from the jade leaves, which is EXACTLY what I wanted and I thank you so much for your help with that! However, now I’m wondering- what do I do with this giant leaf the baby plant is attached to? When and HOW do I plant this tiny tiny jade? Do I rip off the gigantic leaf from it or burry the giant leaf in the soil with the tiny plant on top of the soil OR do I just leave it like it is right now ? I guess my question is: HOW does this tiny jade plant transition into being its own plant and HOW do I separate it from the giant leaf ? What does this end process look like for you? I’m so excited to see all these tiny plants become their own plant! This is super cool stuff! Thanks again for all your help with this article! 🙂
Amy Andrychowicz says
Glad to hear you found this article so useful, and you’re welcome! 1. For your rooted jade stem cuttings, once you see new leaves on top, you can start treating it like a regular plant. For the leaves, just leave them on top of the soil, and eventually the roots will grow long enough to go down into the soil on their own. If they’re just staying on top, then you can make a hole with your finger, and gently place the root(s) into it and cover them up. 2. The single leaf you propagated will eventually die back once the baby grows larger and becomes self-sustaining. So don’t try to remove it, just leave it be, and once it dies back on its own, it will usually just drop off naturally.
Nicole says
I’ve never propagated a jade plant before and just wanted to be clear about the instructions. If using root hormone, do the stems or leaf cuttings need to cure for a few days before propagating?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Jade plant stem cuttings should be cured regardless of whether you use rooting hormone or not. You don’t need to cure leaf cuttings.
Sharon says
I never saw a post on growing jade from leaves before so I am excited to try it!!! Thanks for the info!!!! I realize it wil take more tie but le he challenge!!!@@
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome!
Molly Jones says
how will jade clippings of the leaves be affected under colored lights, fr example, Blue, orange, green, pink, etc. Will it affect the rate of root growth?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Putting your jade plant cuttings under grow lights will definitely help them root faster indoors during the winter.
Greg says
Hello! I live in Phoenix, AZ. I have a few cuttings that I have been trying to grow for 3.5 months. One accidentally got pulled out of the dirt and there were ZERO roots. The plant looks healthy on top, but it’s obviously not growing. I let them dry out for a few days and planted in what I would call regular potting soil. I didn’t use root hormone. For the first two months I misted them every morning but I thought maybe that was too much so now it’s every three days or so. They are in my kitchen near a window facing east. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
My guess is that it might be too cool and/or dark for them. Make sure they’re in a warm spot where they get plenty of light. It’s a tough time of the year for rooting jade cuttings, but adding bottom heat if you can will help a ton.
Riley Prewett says
Hi! I bought a dwarf jade tree back in may as the nursery recommended that type for living in a dorm with a grow light. I’m back at school now about 7 hours from the nursery so they couldn’t help me, and my tree started rotting on one of the larger branches from misting/overwatering (I now know I’m not supposed to mist and that I wasn’t feeling the soil close enough to the roots when determining if it was dry). I removed the branch three days ago, but today I noticed the rot on the main stump where the branch was cut off. Is there any hope? Should I start cutting and propagating? Also, I took some cuttings three days ago, and I saw on other sites to let them sit for a week before planting in soil, should I do this? Also, do you have any recommendations for store bought soil, I have exams this week and a dorm room isn’t the best spot to be mixing soil? Thank you!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, sorry to hear that your jade is rotting – that’s no fun. Yes, at this point it would be best to take healthy cuttings and try rooting them, just in case. Sometimes the main stem will recover, but it sounds like yours may be too full of rot for that. Make sure the cuttings don’t have any rot of them, and then let them cure (dry out) for a week or so before trying to root them. The wound on the bottom of the cuttings should be callused over before you try rooting them. Get a fast-draining soil that is specifically made for succulents and cactus plants. Good luck!
Anniek says
My jade is losing leaves for a week now.
Today a branch broke from the rest. What to do?
The plant is still small but the leaves get quite big.
I have the feeling they got to heavy for the branch
Amy Andrychowicz says
Dropping leaves and stems is a sign of overwatering. The soil should dry completely between waterings. Here’s my guide with all the info you need in order to care for your jade plants.
Charlotte says
Will a jade plant bloom inside? I’ve ad mine for about three years and although it has grown quite a bit, it hasn’t had any blossoms.
Amy Andrychowicz says
It is very uncommon for a jade plant to bloom indoors. You have to give it the right conditions, and it’s easiest to do that when you put it outside for the summer. Even then, it’s tough to get them to bloom prolifically when they spend most of the year indoors. So, I just grow it as a lovely green houseplant here in MN, and then I’m super excited when it gets a few flowers in the fall once and a while. 🙂
Lindsay says
I need advice. I propagated a leaf and it’s starting to grow roots. But it’s only an inch from the stem of my bigger jade. I need to repot the bigger jade it’s leaning over so much to one side almost tipping the pot over. But my dilemma is, I don’t want to kill the newly rooted jade leaf. Is there a way so that I can fix the leaning jade plant without disturbing the little propagated leaf below?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I would dig up the rooted jade leaf, and either pot it up into its own container, or plant it back in with your larger one after you’re done repotting it. The newly rooted leaves have fairly shallow roots. So just dig down a few inches to make sure you don’t damage them, and carefully lift it out of the dirt.
Joe Herron says
What do you think about propagating cuttings after they have hardened by placing them in a small container with tap water for a few weeks till the small roots are popping out then planting them? I do this with several other plants and that seems to work however I feel the jades are a little different……
Amy Andrychowicz says
I wouldn’t recommend using that as your only method for rooting jade cuttings, especially if you only have a few to work with. However, it’s a fun experiment for sure. I have tried it myself, and it works. However I found the cuttings I rooted in water were much weaker than the ones I propagated in soil. Have fun!