Jade Plant Light Requirements (Symptoms of Low and High Light)
Jade plants are a popular houseplant type known for their easy-care requirements and beautiful green leaves. One of the most important things to know about caring for a jade plant is its light requirements.
Jade plants need lots of light to grow, but too much direct sunlight can damage their leaves. The best way to provide your jade plant with the light it needs is to place it near a window that receives indirect sunlight. You can also use grow lights to supplement the light your plant is receiving.
The ideal growing environment for jade plants is natural light or sunlight. Jade plants need 4 to 5 hours of sunlight daily to soak up all the minerals and grow properly.
In this article, we will discuss the jade plant light requirements in more detail and provide tips on how to care for them.
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Which type of light is best for your jade plant?
Without proper light, your Jade Plant may become yellow. A Jade Plant requires bright light to grow and light that reflects off the plant's surface. You can provide supplemental artificial light if your home does not have bright light.
The right proportion of light is also important when growing jade plants. More details will be discussed later in the article.
For a mature jade plant's ideal growth, direct sunlight is essential. The young jade plant normally grows in bright light or indirect light.
Different types of light are suitable for growing jade plants.
- Bright light
- Sunlight
- Indirect light
- Artificial light
Jade plants can grow in indirect or low-light conditions. Your plant will even get new stems and leaves from it. On the other hand, a Crassula ovata cannot grow very well in low light and neither has healthy leaves nor a vibrant green color.
What are the Light Requirements for a Jade Plant?
It is possible to grow jade plants indoors and outdoors if the conditions at both places are suitable for the growth of jade plants. Light and sunlight are necessary for this plant to grow well.
A mature jade plant light needs 4 to 5 hours of direct sunlight per day, while a young jade plant needs four to five hours of indirect sunlight per day. The leaves of young jade plants might get sunburned if they are exposed to intense and direct sunlight.
Let's check out the intensity of the light.
Bright light: 10,000 to 20,000 lux; 1,000 to 2,000-foot candles.
Low Light: 500 to 2,500 lux, 50 to 250-foot candles.
Medium Light: 2,500 to 10,000 lux; 250 to 1,000-foot candles.
Very low light, there are 500 lux and 50-foot candles.
Jade plants thrive best in medium sunlight, as bright sunlight can cause the plant's leaves to burn.
The intensity of light
It is important to note that light intensity is a measure of how intense the sunlight is when you place a jade plant in the sun.
Plants that grow above 750-foot candles grow the best. If artificial lighting is used, 500 to 1,000foot-candles are recommended.
There is no doubt that a jade plant can thrive in light-intensity conditions that are medium to high. Consequently, well-lit indoor areas are ideal for growing them.
Outdoors in direct sunlight
It is ideal for jade plants to grow in outside environments where they can receive direct sunlight in a non-intense but direct manner. Furthermore, the proper circulation of air ensures that the leaves of the plants are not burned by sunlight.
Indoors, indirect sunlight
The jade plant can be planted and grown indoors if you want. It is important that there is enough light entering the plant to achieve this.
Generally speaking, indoor light levels are lower than outdoor ones, so gradually increasing sun exposure over time is necessary to provide the jade plant with higher light levels.
Continuity of light
It is generally recommended that jade plants be provided with 4-5 hours of direct jade plant sunlight per day.
However, it is important to note that this does not mean that lighting will not be required in the remaining hours of the day. The plant will still need indirect sunlight all day.
Generally, it is possible for jade plants to grow outside in high-light conditions. However, you should avoid keeping your jade plant inside a window that receives a lot of direct light for a long period.
Symptoms of a low or high light level for your jade plant
Jade plants are known for being tough and easy to care for. However, even these hardy plants can suffer if they don't get enough light. If your jade plant shows any of the following signs, it might be time to give it more or less light.
Low light symptoms in Jade plants.
Growing leggy
It is also important to note that leggy growth is a primary sign of jade plant low light.
Jade plants grow long and thin stems in this case, so the stems will be long, long, and thin. The jade plant will grow tall and have a straggly stem.
Curled leaves
If the leaves are curled, it could be a sign that the plant is not getting enough light. Jade plants need bright, direct sunlight to thrive. If your jade plant is not getting enough sunlight, try moving it to a sunny location.
Leaf drop and thinness
Another sign of inadequate light received by a jade plant is the change of the thick, hard leaves into thin and floppy ones and the dropping of jade plant leaves. Crassula ovata need bright, direct light to thrive.
If your plant is not getting enough light, its leaves will become thin and start to drop off. If you cannot provide enough light for your plant indoors, you may need to grow it outdoors in a sunny spot.
Slow growth rate
Growth stunts are the most obvious sign of a stunted plant. If your Crassula ovata is not growing as fast, ensure that your jade plant is getting enough light.
Crassula ovata need at least four hours of direct sunlight daily to thrive. If your jade plant is not getting enough light, it will have difficulty growing.
Leaves change color
The leaves of a jade plant can change color due to poor lighting. The plant needs bright, direct sunlight to maintain its healthy green color. The leaves will turn yellow or brown if the plant does not get enough light.
If you notice that the leaves of your jade plant are changing color, it is important to take corrective action immediately.
Move the plant to a location where it will receive more light. If the problem persists, you may need to provide the plant with artificial light.
Symptoms of high-light on your jade plant
Red edges on the leaves.
During stress or very bright light, jade plants produce red leaves, particularly at the corners. High light causes a plant to produce less chlorophyll, which protects it from harm.
The conversion of chlorophyll into carotenoids occurs when the plant is exposed to excessive light for a long period of time. Due to this, the leaves gradually turn yellow.
Symptoms of brown spots on leaves.
Even though jade plants like direct sunlight throughout the day, extreme sunlight can scorch the leaves if it is exposed for long periods.
In turn, brown spots may appear on the leaves of the plants. Spots of brown develop on leaves due to sunburn. It is a sign that the jade plant has received excessive light.
Keep in mind:
If you think your jade plant needs more or less light, be sure to make the change slowly. Sudden changes in light can stress your plant and cause it to lose leaves. Providing your jade plant with bright, direct light will help it to thrive and keep its leaves healthy and strong.
What is the best way to care for a jade plant?
The only light your jade plant needs to grow outdoors is sunlight. It can be placed outside the living room window, on the balcony, or at the entrance.
You will get a nice-looking plant in your home if you place it in these locations. It gets its energy from sunlight. What are the best ways to care for a jade plant indoors?
There's nothing artificial about it. The plant should be placed in the sunlight's direction, the soil pH should be neutral to acidic, and the amount of water should be calculated accordingly.
Jade plants are native to arid regions and can survive without water. Self-watering planters are ideal for jade plants because they provide a steady water supply without the risk of overwatering.
Self-watering planter are designed to slowly release water to the plant over time, making it possible for the plant to get the hydration it needs without being overwatered.
This is the perfect solution for anyone who wants to keep a jade plant alive and healthy without all the hassle. Click here for more information on the Self-watering planter. The plant should not be left under artificial or LED light for more than 14 hours if placed under artificial or LED lights.
Can artificial light be used to grow jade plants?
A jade plant grows best in natural sunlight. Nevertheless, artificial lighting can be used if sunlight is not available.
In times of darkness or the absence of natural light, artificial lighting is used to compensate. LEDs and fluorescent light bulbs are examples of artificial lights.
Things to keep in mind when using artificial light systems.
Plant-to-light distance
A certain distance must be maintained between the source of artificial light and the jade plant to control artificial lighting. The leaves could be sunburned if you do not keep a distance because those high-pressure bulbs produce lots of heat.
Maintaining the right distance is essential for healthy plant growth. It is recommended to keep the artificial light source 12 to 24 inches away from a jade plant.
Intensities of light
Light intensity must be considered when using artificial lighting. It would be better for the jade plant to grow under artificial lighting of 500 to 1,000-foot candles.
Light Duration
A jade plant can be kept alive and grown with artificial lights. Nonetheless, the plant will need more than 4 or 5 hours of extra lighting.
There would be a need for about 12 to 14 hours of extra lighting per day, a huge amount compared to the plant's requirement for natural sunlight availability during its growing period.
Conclusion
It's not difficult to care for a jade plant, but you do need to understand jade plant light requirements needs. Jade plants need moderate light, so you never want to position them too close to a window or a sunny area.
The bright light from the sun can easily burn their leaves. Jade plants must receive the right type of lighting. Their leaves will look yellow and burnt in the wrong light, even when you're watering them enough.
FAQs
Can Jade Plants live in low light?
Yes, jade plants can live in low light. Jade plants prefer bright, indirect sunlight to grow. However, they can handle low light.
Where should you place a Jade Plant in your house?
The best place for your jade plant is on a windowsill near a south-facing window. This allows the plant to get plenty of light throughout the day. It's also important that you don't place your jade plant too close to a heater or air conditioner since this can cause it to suffer from cool burns and damaged leaves.
Can Jade Plant survive without direct sunlight?
At least four to five hours a day should be spent in bright light for your jade plant. Jade plants will grow tall and leggy if they don't receive enough sunlight.
Read More About Light Requirement of Other Plants
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