Want your Friendship Tree to practically touch the ceiling? Here are ways to grow the tallest jade plant—Read Along!
Call it Jade or Lucky Plant—this beauty isn’t just easy on the eyes, it’s full of charm and meaning. With thick leaves and stems and a resilient nature, it is one of a kind. So, if you want to grow the tallest jade plant, this article is for you!
7 Ways to Grow the Tallest Jade Plant
1. Choose a Healthy Specimen
This goes without saying, but if you want a plant to be big and strong, you should first ensure that it is at the top of its health. A plant that is compromised internally through diseases or by external factors like pests won’t grow the tallest unless you take care of these issues.
Avoid root-bound jade plants that have been stuck in a small pot for too long—these tend to stay stunted and take longer to bounce back.
Also, pick the right variety. If you choose a variety of jade plants that naturally do not grow tall, your dreams would probably be shattered. So, choose healthy plants among varieties such as ‘Gollum’, growing up to 4 feet tall, or the species C. arborescens, i.e., Silver Jade Plant, which grows to 5 feet in height.
2. Cut Long, Leggy Growth
So, you have got your hands on the right variety. But you notice it growing all scraggly, with stems all over the place, and the growth is stunted. These leggy stems are the reason your jade plant is not growing as tall as it should. Thus, it is time to bring out the pruning scissors.
Check out the stems and identify branches that bend too much or touch the pot’s edge—these distort the plant’s shape. With sharp, sterilized scissors, prune these stems where they are attached to the main trunk.
To prune less, cut at a branching fork—this reduces stress and redirects growth toward a compact, upright trunk. Also, make sure not to prune more than one-third of the plant at once—this could shock your jade and slow its growth instead.
3. Use the Right Pot Mix
Sometimes the reason why your jade is not growing as tall as it could be may be because of the soil. Surprised? Well, we all know that the jade plant loves a well-draining mix, but soil can often get compacted over time, especially for plants like jade, which don’t need repotting that often.
Monitor the soil regularly—if it gets compacted, repot your plant in a fresh cactus or succulent mix. You could also try your own DIY mix using standard potting mix, coarse sand, perlite, and pumice in equal parts.
The goal: soil that stays crumbly, not clumpy, after watering.
Bonus tip: Add a small handful of worm castings to your potting mix. It acts like a natural fertilizer and helps support strong root growth without burning the plant.
4. Add Some Support
Though we did talk about legginess, there is one real problem that you must deal with when your plant grows taller and that is, getting top-heavy. This is quite natural as your plant keeps producing new growth with thicker branches and stems.
Use soft plant ties or twists to secure the main trunk and branches to a support bracket. You can also support the main stem with a thin but strong bamboo stick.
Don’t forget to rotate your plant every few days—this helps it grow upright naturally.
5. Leave It Out in the Sun
You cannot achieve the best height in your jade plant without adequate sunlight. Of course, it can survive in low-light conditions, being a succulent, but that is only for temporary periods.
What is essential is 6–8 hours of bright, indirect sunlight from a south or west-facing window.
For best results, let it soak up 2–3 hours of morning sun—this boosts growth and adds red tips to the leaves.
If you’re growing your jade indoors, consider using a grow light during dull winter months to keep its growth steady.
6. Proper Watering is Crucial
While everyone knows that jade plants are drought-tolerant, watering is where most people tend to mess up, which also affects their plant’s growth.
Let the soil completely dry out between waterings. Use the finger test or invest in a moisture meter if unsure. Between mid-spring to mid-autumn, water with lukewarm water—never cold.
Cut back during winter when the plant is dormant—watering once every 6 to 8 weeks is usually enough.
Too much water weakens the plant and causes rot—when in doubt, skip a watering.
7. Feed it Right
If you are doing everything right, you might not need to use fertilizer on succulents like jade at all. However, to grow the tallest jade plant, you will require all the help you can get!
Use a 10-20-10 or 5-10-5 fertilizer every two weeks during summer. African violet fertilizer also works well. Follow dilution instructions carefully.
Only feed on moist soil—never fertilize dry roots as that could burn them. Stop feeding completely from mid-fall through winter.
And that’s how you grow the tallest jade plant! Try out all of these tips and tricks and let us know how tall your jade plant grows in the comments below!
