As a Jade Plant (*Crassula ovata*), I am a resilient succulent, a storehouse of water and life. My native home is the arid, sun-drenched landscapes of South Africa, which has shaped my very being. To truly understand my winter needs, you must see the world through my leaves and roots. Here is my guide to winter, from my perspective.
When the days grow shorter and the sunlight weakens, I receive a clear signal from my environment. This is not a time for vigorous growth. The reduced light intensity means my photosynthetic engines slow down significantly. I enter a state of rest, often called dormancy. In this quiet state, my metabolic processes minimize. I am not dead, nor am I sick; I am conserving my energy, waiting for the stronger light of spring to signal a return to active growth. Attempting to force growth now with abundant resources would be futile and stressful for me, potentially leading to weak, etiolated stems that cannot support themselves.
This is the most critical adjustment you must make for me. My thick, fleshy leaves are my water reservoirs. During my active growing season, I use this stored water to fuel new growth. But in my dormant winter state, my water requirements plummet. Cold, wet soil is my greatest enemy. My roots, which are designed to absorb moisture from warm, dry ground, become dysfunctional in cold, soggy conditions. They cannot respire properly and begin to rot—a silent, deadly process that starts underground long before it shows in my soft, dropping leaves. You must allow my soil to become completely dry throughout the pot before even considering a drink. For me, this might mean going four, six, or even eight weeks between waterings. When in doubt, err on the side of neglect. I can survive on my internal stores far longer than I can survive root rot.
While I appreciate your warm home, the constant, tropical heat you enjoy in winter is disorienting for my natural cycle. I thrive with a distinct seasonal temperature change. An ideal winter environment for me is cool, between 45°F and 55°F (7°C and 13°C). This cool period reinforces my dormancy, allowing me a proper rest and often encouraging me to develop a beautiful reddish tint on my leaf margins—a sign of perfect health and happiness for a Jade. Crucially, you must protect me from freezing temperatures. My cells are full of water, and if that water freezes, it will expand, rupture my cell walls, and cause irreversible damage, turning my leaves to mush. Keep me away from drafty windows that dip below freezing, but a cool, bright sunroom or an unheated but insulated room is my perfect winter retreat.
Since I am not actively growing, I have no need for the nutrients found in fertilizer. Providing fertilizer during this time is not only unnecessary but can be harmful. The salts can build up in my dormant root system, potentially causing chemical burns to my delicate roots and further stressing me when I am at my most vulnerable. Please withhold all fertilizer from late autumn until you see clear signs of new growth in the spring.
