With woody stems and thick leaves, this succulent needs the right home to flourish in—here’s how to Pick the Best Pot for your Jade Plant!
Jade plant (Crassula ovata) is a top-heavy evergreen succulent with fleshy, egg-shaped leaves, thick stems, and a compact root system. We help you pick the best pot for this beautiful subtropical houseplant so it flourishes and looks stunning in your indoor garden!
How to Pick the Best Pot for Jade Plant
Like other popular resilient houseplants that love drier conditions, such as your spider plant and snake plant, Crassula is an easy-to-maintain succulent if you can ensure its home is comfortable for its survival. This begins with a healthy root system and its container!
Size and Depth
For a mature jade plant, you should follow the trick of choosing a pot that is 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the root ball. This ensures enough room for the roots to grow without overwhelming the plant. For a plantlet, pick a 3-4 inch pot with equal depth.
Jade plants grow slowly and only need repotting every 2-3 years. Each time you repot, pick a container that is a size larger to ensure that the plant is comfortable in its new settings.
Drainage
This succulent hates wet feet and cannot tolerate high humidity. Pick a pot with ample drainage holes to let excess water escape and prevent root rot! Place a tray below the pot to catch water runoff while keeping the roots dry.
Shape
The shape of the pot is just as important as its size. A wide and shallow pot works best for your jade plant, as its roots are relatively shallow, while its foliage grows voluminious. Wide pots help stabilize the plant’s heavy, top-growing foliage, and prevents the risk of tipping.
Whether you go for a round or square-shaped pot, it is perfect as long as it’s wide and shallow.
When to Pick a New Pot for Jade Plant
In gardening, timing is everything, and choosing the right time to repot your jade plant is crucial for its health and growth. These slow-growers need repotting every 2-3 years for mature plants, and 1-2 years for younger ones.
You have to only repot when the plant tells you it’s time! Signs include roots growing out of drainage holes, slowed growth, or the plant becoming top-heavy and unstable. When repotting, select a pot that is slightly larger than the current one.
Gently remove the plant, shake off excess soil, and inspect the roots for rot before planting in well-draining succulent soil. Repotting will help you provide more room for roots to expand and improve nutrient availability for your plant.
Best Pots for Jade Plant
1. Plastic Pots
This is an easy pick with qualities like lightweight and affordability, which is why many gardeners go for plastic pots. If you are someone who wants durable and colorful pots, plastic planters give you a variety of colors and sizes.
Their lightweight nature makes them easy to move around, which is especially beneficial if you need to reposition your heavy jade plant. However, plastic pots retain moisture longer than other materials—punch in ample drainage holes to prevent waterlogging and root rot.
2. Terracotta Pots
Terracotta pots are ideal for jade plants because of their porous nature, which allows excess moisture to evaporate from the soil. This will help you keep the overwatering in check—one of the main issues jade plants face.
Natural, cool, and ensuring ample air circulation, the classic, earthy look of these pots complements the rich, compact look of jade plants. Terracotta pots can be heavy, which is a bonus for stabilizing top-heavy plants.
3. Glazed Ceramic Pots
These are for gardeners who want something decorative for their jade plants. If you value aesthetics, get a beautiful glazed container for your plant. However, the glaze reduces the porosity of the pot—it retains moisture longer. Use these if you live in extra arid conditions.
Like with plastic pots, ensure your glazed pots have adequate drainage holes, as their water retention properties can lead to overwatering if not monitored. The heavier weight of glazed ceramic pots also provides stability for mature jade plants.
4. Biodegradable Pots
Biodegradable pots are made from materials like coir, peat, or compressed paper, which decompose over time. These are excellent for young jade plants, as they can be planted directly into a larger pot or the ground without disturbing the roots.
Although these pots are less durable, they are ideal for temporary use or for propagating jade plant cuttings. These are also good for aeration and root development, so this eco-friendly choice cannot go wrong.
5. Fiberglass Pots
Fiberglass pots are a lightweight and durable option for jade plants. These pots are resistant to weather changes, so those cracks and fading on pots won’t be any problem for you. Available in various modern designs, these lend an elegant aesthetic to your home.
These pots with proper drainage holes retain less moisture compared to plastic pots, a good choice for jade plants. Fiberglass containers are also lightweight, making them easy to move even when housing larger jade plants.
6. Self-Watering Pots
This one’s for the busy, lazy, or forgetful gardener! Self-watering pots have a reservoir at the bottom that provides a steady supply of moisture to the plant’s roots through capillary action.
While jade plants don’t require frequent watering, a self-watering pot can be a helpful tool to prevent accidental underwatering, especially if you live in a hot climate or while you are out for an extended vacation.
Tip: Monitor the water level and ensure the soil doesn’t stay overly wet. Also, check out this article to ensure your jade plant flourishes.
