How to Propagate Jade Plant Cuttings (Crassula Ovata)

The Crassula ovata is an easy-to-care-for succulent, commonly called a Jade plant. It grows very well as an indoor houseplant. Even better, it is very easy to propagate from cuttings, so you can make more plants from the one you already have!

Click here for the General Jade plant care guide.

Prune to Make Your Jade Plant Fuller

Jade plants growing in low light may start to grow leggy. Pruning will remove the leggy growth and make the plant branch out where the cut is made. This will make the plant fuller when new stems grow back.

You can also plant back propagated cuttings to make the parent plant look fuller.

Pinching and pruning is also simply helpful if the plant is getting too large, or to shape the plant.

Click here for 6 different ways to propagate your plants. 

Propagating Leaf Cuttings

You can propagate your jade plant from just a single leaf. It does take longer to grow into a new plant than starting with stem cuttings. Nonetheless, propagating leaf cuttings is a fun and easy process.

Remove the complete leaf with nothing left on the stem. Part of a leaf won’t root. It needs to be the complete leaf.

Prevent the cuttings from rotting by letting the leaves dry out for a few days. This will give the cuts time to callus over.

Place the leaves on top of the soil, or stick a bit of the cut end into the soil. Keep them in plenty of bright, indirect light, out of direct sunlight. Small baby leaves will form at the base of the old leaves. Usually in about four to five weeks.

Make sure not to overwater the cuttings. Let the surface of the soil dry slightly between watering. I like to mist the soil in front of the cuttings as a way to encourage root growth.

• Gently wiggle the leaves away from the stem.
• Let them callus over for a few days.
• Lay the leaves on top of the succulent soil or slightly into it.
• Keep the cuttings in bright, indirect light.
• Water very sparingly until roots start to grow. Mist the roots to make sure they don’t dry up. 
• When new leaves form, transplant them into small pots. Try to not disturb the roots too much. Cover the roots with soil and keep the baby leaves above the soil.  
• Continue with regular care. 

Click here for the best way to propagate succulent leaves.

Propagating Cuttings in Water

I have a higher success rate with propagating stem cuttings than with propagating just the leaves. Since you start with a stem with a few sets of leaves, you have a mini plant from the beginning! If you root multiple stem cuttings at one time, you can have a full new plant fairly fast.

Take cuttings with at least a couple of leaf pairs. Remove the leaves on the bottom. Roots will grow from the nodes where the leaves were attached to the stem.

• Take a healthy stem cutting with at least a few sets of leaves.
• Remove one or two sets of leaves from the lower portion of the stem.  
• Let the cuttings callus over.
• Place the cutting in a small glass or jar with enough water to cover the bottom part.   
• Keep in bright, indirect light.  
• Change the water regularly to prevent algae.
• Wait for roots to appear. Plant them when the roots are at least one to two inches long.
• Resume regular care when you see signs of new growth.

Click here for my houseplant water propagation guide.

Propagate Cuttings in Soil

Another way to propagate a Jade plant is by rooting stem cuttings in soil.    

Take stem cuttings, again, remove the bottom leaf pairs. Before you plant them in soil, let them callus over and apply a bit of rooting hormone powder before planting it. This powder speeds up the formation of roots and results in stronger, better-rooted plants. If you don’t have any, you can skip it. The propagation process might just take a little longer. 

Then, plant the cuttings in well-draining succulent soil (you can mix in some perlite or pumice for extra aeration and drainage). The pot does not have to be very large or deep, but it must have drainage holes.

New growth is a sign that roots have formed. If you water too much before there are roots, your cutting will likely start to rot.

• Take a stem cutting with at least a few sets of leaves.
• Remove the bottom leaves.  
• Dip the ends in rooting powder.
• Plant the cutting in well-draining succulent soil, covering the part where you have removed the bottom leaves.  
• Place in bright, indirect light.
• Water sparingly until you see new leaves growing.
• At that time, continue with regular care. 

Click here for the Beginners Guide to Succulent Care.