Leggy Jade Plant Care: How to Revive Your Overgrown Succulent

If you’re a plant parent who enjoys succulents, then you know how low maintenance and easy they can be. But what happens when your jade plant grows too tall, and its stem becomes leggy? If left unchecked, this could lead to the plant toppling over or breaking. But don't worry, in this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about leggy jade plant care.

What Causes Leggy Jade Plants?

A jade plant that's grown too tall is often caused by improper lighting, watering, or both. When a succulent isn't exposed to enough sunlight, it will grow taller to reach for the light source. At the same time, overwatering or underwatering can also lead to rapid growth in search of water or nutrients.

The Solution: Pruning and Propagation

The good news is that you can quickly address an overgrown jade plant with a few simple steps. The first step is to prune the plant back to its original size. You can use sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut off any excess stems, making sure to leave at least two sets of leaves on each remaining stem.

Pruning a leggy jade plant with shears

If you have a lot of stems to prune, you may want to consider propagating the cuttings to start new plants. Jade plants are incredibly easy to propagate from cuttings. Simply take a cutting, let it dry out for a few days, and then plant it in well-draining soil. Water sparingly and wait for new growth to appear.

Propagating jade plant cuttings in soil

Preventing Future Leggy Growth

Now that you've addressed the problem, it’s time to prevent it from happening again in the future. The best way to do this is to make sure your jade plant gets adequate light and water. Place your plant in a sunny window or under grow lights for at least six hours a day. And only water your plant when the soil is completely dry.

Using grow lights to provide adequate light for succulent plants

With proper care and attention, your jade plant can thrive, even after it has become leggy. Remember to prune and propagate where necessary, and provide your plant with sufficient light and water to prevent leggy growth in the future.

Jade plant care, Overgrown succulent, Pruning jade plant, Propagating jade plant, Preventing leggy growth, Adequate light, Proper watering