Greetings, human caretaker. We, the Crassula family – you might know us as Jade Plants – are a resilient bunch, hailing from arid, sun-drenched landscapes. Your warm indoor home is a far cry from our native South African plains, and while we appreciate the shelter from freezing temperatures, your winter habits can be confusing for our internal clocks. To help us truly thrive and prepare for a vibrant future, you must understand our need for a seasonal slowdown, or what you call "dormancy." Here is our perspective on how you can help us through the colder months.
From our point of view, the shortening days and lower sun angle are clear signals. The sun's energy is weakening, and our growth processes must slow down. This is not a sign of illness, but a strategic retreat. We are conserving our vital energy within our thick, succulent leaves and sturdy stems, waiting for the return of longer, brighter days. Pushing us to grow during this time with ample water and fertilizer goes against our natural rhythm and can lead to weak, spindly growth that is susceptible to pests and disease. Please, respect our need to rest.
Even in our dormant state, we are solar-powered beings. The winter sun is precious to us. Place us in the brightest possible window you have, ideally a south-facing one. We will naturally lean towards the light; this is us actively seeking the energy we need. Rotating our pot a quarter-turn every week or so helps us maintain an upright, balanced form. Without this light, we may begin to etiolate – stretching out with pale, wide spaces between our leaves in a desperate search for photons. This weakens our structure permanently.
This is the most critical adjustment you can make for our well-being. With our growth halted, our water requirements plummet. Our soil must be allowed to dry out completely, and I mean *completely*, between waterings. Stick your finger deep into the soil. If there is any moisture or coolness, wait. When you do water, do so deeply but infrequently, ensuring excess water drains away freely. Soggy, cold soil around our roots is a death sentence, leading to rot that can consume us from the bottom up. It is far better for us to be slightly thirsty than to sit in dampness.
We do not enjoy the same dry, blistering heat from your vents that you might. A cooler environment, ideally between 50-55°F (10-13°C), is perfect for our dormancy. It helps keep our metabolism slow and stable. If this isn't possible, a normal room temperature is acceptable, but please keep us away from direct blasts of heating vents, radiators, and drafty doors or windows. The sudden temperature swings are stressful. Furthermore, we prefer dry air. The low humidity of most winter homes suits us just fine and helps prevent fungal issues.
Please, withhold the fertilizer entirely during the late fall and winter months. We are not actively growing and cannot process these nutrients. The salts in fertilizer can build up in the soil, damaging our delicate root systems. We have stored all the energy we need in our leaves. You can resume feeding us with a diluted, balanced fertilizer only when you see clear signs of new growth in the spring, signaling the end of our rest period.
