How Much Sun Does a Jade Plant Need? Crassula ovata is the scientific name of the Jade plant and it is indeed a sun-loving plant.
They originate from South Africa and are succulent plants, which explains their hunger for light.
The jade plant’s leaves are oval in shape, and they have thick woody stems. If insufficient light is provided, the leaves of the jade plant might fall off.
Therefore it is extremely important to provide adequate lighting conditions.
How Much Sun Does a Jade Plant Need?
Jade plants are sun-loving in nature and require 4-6 hours of bright sunlight every day. The leaves of a jade plant change their color to yellow and drop if they are not receiving adequate light. Too much exposure to light can also cause them to burn, causing scorching and sometimes leaf reddening.
How Much Sun Does a Jade Plant Need?
Table of Contents
Importance of Adequate Sunlight for the Jade Plant
Jade plants can grow well in the home as the conditions are dry and warm.
Jade plants do not require direct sunlight the whole day.
But they need bright light for four to six hours a day. Otherwise, their leaves will wilt.
Jade plants need about 4-6 hours of sunlight each day for them to thrive
Sunlight is Needed for Photosynthesis
Jade plants need sunlight to develop and grow well. Sunlight is required as an energy source by the jade plant during the process of photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is the process in which organic compound are synthesized using light energy according to the University of Illinois.
Jade plants perform photosynthesis to produce light and energy from water and oxygen. This light and energy are used by the Jade plant to grow.
Jade Plants need adequate sunlight for producing their food for energy purposes through photosynthesis
Jade Plants Need Sunlight to Blossom
The Jade plant receiving an adequate amount of sunlight looks fresh; the leaves look fresh and shiny. It is required by the plant to maintain its leaves’ green color.
The energy waves from the Sun are absorbed by the plant to reflect the green color in its leaves through a pigment called chlorophyll.
Jade plants also need enough sunlight for them to grow beautiful blossoms
If your Jade plant doesn’t receive the right amount of sunlight it needs, the leaves turn yellow or brown and drop. Eventually, the Jade plant will look leggy and will wilt.
Sunlight Is Needed to Maintain the Shape of the Jade Plant
Sunlight is necessary to maintain the shape of its shiny oval-shaped leaves. It is required to maintain the shape of the plant.
If your Jade Plant receives adequate sunlight, it can maintain its shiny oval-shaped leaves
It is also essential to maintain the green color of the plant. The plant also absorbs its minerals from sunlight to grow well.
Typical Sunlight Conditions for the Jade Plant
Jade plants require 4-6 hours of daily sunlight for them to thrive. Direct morning sunlight is ideal for a jade plant.
The direction of the Sun for the jade plant is also critical.
It would be best if you keep the direction of your house in mind in order to select the perfect location for it to receive adequate light.
West-facing Window
If the plant is kept in a west-facing window, then the high intensity of sunlight during the afternoon can be harmful to the plant.
East-facing Window
The intensity of light on the east-facing window is moderate to high in the morning.
It is not too high in the afternoon, which is good for the jade plant.
North-facing Window
A north-facing window cannot provide adequate sunlight for the plant to grow.
South-facing Window
The plant will get an adequate amount of light throughout the day. So, a south-facing window is ideal for the plant to grow properly.
The Intensity of Sunlight Best for the Jade Plant
Low Light
The plant shows minimal growth in low light.
Light is fundamental for the proper growth and development of the plant.
High Intensity of Light
It is a light-loving plant, so it grows well in the high intensity of light. This plant hails a South African origin.
So, it is able to acclimatize to bright light. But too much light can damage the leaves of the plant.
The Season Best for the Jade Plant
Jade plants are long-living plants and can grow into a shrub or small tree up to 3 feet indoors.
But they require proper supervision, and they require acidic soil with a pH of around 6 to grow well.
You can grow your Jade plant into a small tree or shrub indoors if you properly supervise its care
They need adequate watering during the summer and spring seasons, but the soil can rot if it is not given the appropriate time to dry.
Moreover, during the winter and spring season, they should be kept dry.
Summer
Jade plants require 65° – 75°F (18.33° – 23.88°C) temperature to grow properly. In the summer season, daytime is the best time to provide it with this temperature range.
During night time the best temperature range is 50°– 55° F (10° -13° C).
Winter
The Jade plant cannot receive adequate sunlight during the winter season. Therefore, it does not show proper growth during this season.
During winter, you are required to change the plant’s location from window to window to maintain the proper growth.
Frequently Asked Questions about How Much Sunlight a Jade Plant Needs
Can the jade plant survive in full Sun?
They are light-loving plants. But they can only tolerate 4-6 hours of direct sun exposure.
Can we keep the jade plant in low light?
They belong to the succulent family, and they require bright sunlight to grow ideally. The growth of the plant will be stunted if it is kept in low light.
Can we grow jade plants indoors?
Jade plants are common house plants as they require minimal care, hence, you can grow them indoors. But make sure they receive adequate sunlight every day.
How to make sure that my jade plant is receiving appropriate light?
The foliage of a jade plant receiving enough light is shiny and green. But if the plant looks leggy, the leaves become yellow, and you’ll notice browning on the edges of the leaves, which shows that it is not receiving adequate light.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.