How do you care for Senecio Jacobsenii?
How Do You Care For Senecio Jacobsenii? Trailing jade (Kleinia Petraea or Senecio Jacobsenii) is a succulent plant endemic to Tanzania and Kenya. It is also known as vining jade or weeping jade. It enjoys mild weather and grows well in USDA Hardiness Zones 9b and 11. This plant is distinguished by its strong stems…
How Do You Care For Senecio Jacobsenii?
Trailing jade (Kleinia Petraea or Senecio Jacobsenii) is a succulent plant endemic to Tanzania and Kenya. It is also known as vining jade or weeping jade. It enjoys mild weather and grows well in USDA Hardiness Zones 9b and 11.
This plant is distinguished by its strong stems and flat, teardrop-shaped leaves that protrude out perpendicular to the stem and develop in an overlapping pattern similar to shingles.
It blooms with brilliant orange flowers.
It’s also essential to mention what trailing jade isn’t to avoid misunderstanding with other plants.
While it has a similar appearance to Crassula jade (Crassula ovata) and is likewise a succulent, trailing jade is not related at all.
Similarly, “trailing jade” can also refer to round leaf peperomia (Peperomia rotundifolia), an entirely distinct plant endemic to South America with thinner stems and rounder leaves.
Senecio Jacobsenii needs the following to thrive well.
Light Requirements
Most succulents thrive under bright light. For optimal results, position your trailing jade in full sun or light shade, such as a windowsill.
They appear to perform well in full sun to part shade, such as at the foot of open trees but flourish in hot sunny locations. They will endure coastal conditions but prefer moderate shade in the summer.
Soil Requirements
Choose sandy, well-draining soil when buying for potting mix. The sand simulates the natural environment of trailing jade, while perlite and other elements can assist aerate the potting mix, lowering the risk of root rot.
It requires a fairly free draining soil, similar to that used for cacti and succulents, that is softly acidic to mildly alkaline, but it is quite tolerant of poor soils.
Watering Requirements
Avoid overwatering your trailing jade. Insert your finger into the soil up to the second knuckle once a week to check the moisture level. It’s time to water if the soil feels dry. Allow the soil to completely dry between waterings.
Trailing jade is succulent, which means that it’s fleshy leaves and stems store water. This enables it to withstand times of drought. However, water is required to maintain the plant looking its best.
According to World of Succulents, if you plant trailing jade outside, you should water it occasionally during the summer months but never leave the ground wet for an extended amount of time. The soil should be sandy and highly permeable.
The succulent requires even less water throughout the winter since it is dormant. Only water when the soil is completely dry.
Fertilization Requirements
Trailing jade, like other succulents, does not require fertilizer. Fertilizer is seldom required for these plants because the soil in their native habitat is stony and desert.
Once a year, use an all-purpose fertilizer to offer critical nutrients. Fertilize sparingly since overfeeding can result in lanky growth.
Pruning Requirements
Pruning trailing jade is not necessary. While Kleinia Petraea is a low-maintenance plant that may thrive with little attention, it may require pruning if it becomes floppy.
This generally occurs when the plant grows excessively. When necessary, trim the plant until the stem is solid. Pruning trailing jade is best done in early spring.
Temperature Requirements
It is grown in the open air in the tropical and warm Mediterranean climates, with temperatures that should be kept above 5°C, but it is hardy to -7°C (some say as low as -10°C, with some damage to the foliage).
In these conditions, it will fare better if sheltered from the winter rains, as the humidity and low temperatures make it more susceptible to rottenness. Plants in pots, on the other hand, experienced significant leaf loss. It grow in USDA Zones 9b–11
How Do You Propagate Senecio Jacobsenii?
Trailing jade propagation is similar to that of many other succulent plants: Senecio Jacobsenii is grown by cuttings. It is easy to propagate by cuttings in late spring to summer.
- Because a trailing jade may root from a stem or a leaf, you can take either from an existing trailing jade plant. It is important to note that a stem cutting will grow quicker than a leaf cutting.
- Allow the clippings to dry for a few days on a clean cloth in a dry spot. This keeps decay at bay.
- Plant the cuttings in the sand mix.
- Water your new trailing jade when it has rooted. Before watering your new plant, look for evidence of roots (white threads coming out of the base of your cutting). Water as needed once the root structure has been established.
Can Senecio Jacobsenii Be Grown Indoors?
You must consider soil, drainage, and placement when growing trailing jade succulents as houseplants. Indoor container plants, like outside trailing jade, require adequate drainage since sitting in damp soil can kill them.
Plant the succulent in a specific succulent/cactus potting soil or an extremely well-draining soil, and make sure the container or hanging basket has appropriate drain holes.
Place the houseplant in a location where your trailing jade will receive direct sunlight. If your afternoons are really hot, use a window that catches early sun instead.
The plant requires sunlight but may burn if exposed to too much heat inside.
Trailing jade, like other succulents, does not require fertilizer. It will, however, require water on occasion.
When you water the plant, make sure to saturate all of the dirt in its container. Allow the soil to completely dry before watering again. Pruning is not required unless the plants become leggy.
How Big Can Senecio Jacobsenii Grow?
Senecio Jacobsenii (sen-ek-ee-o, jay-kob-SEN-ee-eye), commonly known as Kleinia Petraea, is an Asteraceae or Compositae family creeping succulent plant.
The plant was originally classified as Senecio. It was, however, reclassified and included into the Kleinia genus.
Senecio is a Latin term that means “old man,” and it refers to the hairy regions of the plant’s blossoms. Jacobsenii, on the other hand, alludes to Niels Jacobsen, a Danish professor who specialized in succulent plants.
The plant, which is native to Kenya and Tanzania, is sometimes mistaken with jade plants (Crassula Jades). However, the two are unconnected.
Trailing jade has a creeping growth pattern, developing a network of roots as it spreads over the ground. It has succulent, thick stems and flat, egg-shaped leaves.
The leaves are green, fleshy, and grow up to 3” inches.
Does Senecio Jacobsenii Like Repotting?
Trailing jade plants often do not require repotting due to their restricted root system and poor growth. If you do decide to repot your trailing jade, use a pot with good drainage and a new bag of potting soil.
If the potting soil is old, consider adding a new course.
Use a cactus soil mix for succulents and an additional small amount of perlite for drainage. Add water slowly until it drains out the bottom of the pot. You may not need to add any fertilizer since your trailing jade is grown in well-drained soil.
Trailing jade succulents are extremely sensitive to overwatering, so wait until the soil is completely dry before watering again.
Can Senecio Jacobsenii Be Used As A Groundcover?
Senecio Jacobsenii (Trailing Jade) is a fascinating succulent creeping groundcover with distinctive greenish pink, maroon, and vivid orange blossoms.
It is a very gratifying plant that thrives in full light and tolerates harsh heat and cold down to 0° Celsius. Senecio Jacobsenii is an intriguing and appealing groundcover, hanging basket, or window box specimen that looks best when mixed with other succulents in a big pot.
When planted near a wall or in a container, the stems can reach a height of 120 cm. The leaves and bloom are unusual in that they stand erect from the stalks.
Because of its spreading tendency and strong drought resilience, it might be suggested for soil binding on steep banks.
It is a rather simple plant to grow, although it dislikes shaded, chilly, damp circumstances.
Is Senecio Jacobsenii Evergreen?
Senecio Jacobsenii, also known as “Trailing Jade” or “Weeping Jade,” is a glabrous evergreen, perennial leaf-succulent creeper with flat, overlapping greenish pink and maroon leaves on green stems and vivid orange blossoms in late summer and early fall.
This plant has also been known as Kleinia Petraea and Notoniopsis Petraea, with the true name still being debated.
They are organized in an overlapping manner along the stems, similar to shingles.
Senecio Jacobsenii gives texture and visual appeal to your landscape as well as a flash of color to an otherwise boring winter garden with purple/maroon foliage and vivid orange blossoms.
Weeping jade is a creeping groundcover with erect leaves and flowers on stalks.
What Are The Uses Of Senecio Jacobsenii?
Weeping jade is an eye-catching groundcover.
It also looks fantastic in a hanging basket or as a window box specimen in pots, making it suitable for full sun balconies, terraces, and patios, and interior gardening; it makes a superb houseplant.
The plant is very lovely when it is in blossom.
To keep the soil from becoming saturated, potted plants require efficient drainage.
Several trailing jade cultivars are available, some of which have variegated leaves that add to the plant’s appeal.
Is Senecio Jacobsenii Easy To Care For?
In its natural environment of Tanzania and Kenya, trailing jade (Kleinia Petraea or Senecio Jacobsenii) is a ground creeper, but its long branches with huge oval leaves appear quite lovely, flowing down a wall or from a hanging basket in your house.
It’s a low-maintenance outdoor plant in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 through 11 and a lovely houseplant wherever.
Most succulent enthusiasts are familiar with the popular jade plant (Crassula jades), sometimes known as the money plant, with its puffy oval emerald green leaves.
Trailing jade is a succulent that resembles the jade plant, however, they are not even in the same genus.