The Best Soil for Jade Plants

Best Soil for Jade Plants Options — Photo: depositphotos.com Photo: depositphotos.com

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The jade plant, Crassula ovata, is often referred to as a money plant because it’s believed to bring prosperity to anyone who owns one. While these hardy succulents are known for being easy to care for, it’s important to pot them in the right soil.

With so many potting soils available, it can be difficult for shoppers to narrow down the options. To help make the search easier, the following recommendations for the best soil for jade plants were selected based on their quality formulas, versatility, and value. Keep reading to learn about some key features to consider when shopping and explore the top picks.

BEST OVERALL: Espoma AV4, Organic African Violet Potting Mix
BEST VALUE: Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix
BEST CACTUS MIX: Hoffman 10404 Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix
BEST EXPANDING: WONDER SOIL | Organic Cactus & Succulent Soil
ALSO CONSIDER: FoxFarm FX14054 Happy Frog Potting Soil

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Soil for Jade Plants

While it’s easy to assume that all indoor plant soils offer similar performance, a number of factors affect their functionality and appropriateness for different plants. Keep reading to learn about several of the most important features to consider when choosing the best soil for any of the many types of jade plants.

Soil Characteristics

Jade plants are native to South Africa, where they typically grow in dry, rocky soil. Like most other succulents, jade plants hold water in their leaves and stems and therefore require a well-draining soil if they’re being grown as houseplants. In fact, this is the most important characteristic to look for when shopping for a potting mix.

Succulents are drought tolerant and retain water in their leaves, so they don’t need damp soil. When jade plants and other succulents are left in overly moist soil, they’re prone to developing root rot. It’s important to learn how to take care of your jade plant, and you’ll want to water a jade plant only when the top 2 inches of soil have dried out.

Another issue that jade plants can encounter is tipping over if they become top heavy. For this reason, it’s essential to use a weighty soil or a heavy planter to keep the plant in place.

pH Level

Jade plants thrive in an acidic soil with a pH of between 6 and 6.5. They aren’t too finicky when it comes to their soil’s pH level, however, and can also survive with a slightly alkaline soil. Issues only occur when the soil’s pH level is extremely high or low, which could result in nutrient deficiencies.

Home gardeners can consider potting mixtures designed for African violets, since they—like jade plants—also do best with a well-draining soil that’s slightly acidic. Soils designed for cacti and succulents will also work well because they too are crafted for plants that need fast drainage and an acidic pH level.

Ingredients

When choosing a soil mixture for a jade plant pot, the top priority is soil that drains well. The best soil for jade plant health typically contains ingredients like sand, pebbles, or perlite, all of which help facilitate drainage.

In addition to ingredients that contribute to fast draining, jade plants also need soil that includes organic matter such as worm castings, peat moss, or guano.

Since jade plants need a little bit of acidity in their soil, seek out a product that contains either peat moss or sphagnum moss, both of which raise soil acidity levels. A sustainable alternative to moss is coconut fiber, which works similarly.

Our Top Picks

Now that you’ve learned more about jade plant care and the plant’s soil requirements, narrowing down the soil options should be easier. The following are some of the best jade plant soil options for an indoor garden.

Best Overall

Espoma AV4, Organic African Violet Potting Mix

Pros

Ideal for moisture retention
Made with natural ingredients
Includes pH adjusters

Cons

Not resealable

Since African violets and jade plants have similar formula requirements, it should come as no surprise that one of the best types of soil for jade plants is actually formulated for African violets. It’s crafted to promote the perfect blend of aeration and moisture retention in order to help both of these popular houseplants thrive.

The potting mix is made up of between 35 and 45 percent sphagnum peat moss, and the limestone in the formula acts as a pH adjuster to ensure the soil remains slightly acidic, which benefits both African violets and jade plants. Humus acts as an organic component, while perlite increases drainage.

Product Specs

Bag Size: 4 quarts
Key Ingredients: Sphagnum peat moss, humus, perlite, limestone, and yucca extract
Resealable: No

Get the Espoma potting mix on Amazon and at Walmart.

Best Value

Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix

Pros

Organic formula
Contains coconut coir for increased drainage and elevated acidity
Versatile potting mix

Cons

Not resealable

This versatile indoor potting mix from Miracle-Gro is incredibly versatile and serves many different types of houseplants. The bag contains 6 quarts of potting mixture, making it an economical choice. There are also larger bags available for those shopping for a bulk quantity of soil.

The formula contains coconut coir, which not only increases drainage but also contributes to a more acidic soil blend. It also includes peat moss, perlite, kelp, and bone meal, which combine to add nutrition and further improve the soil’s drainage. Compost and bark have been omitted from the formula since they are known to attract gnats.

Product Specs

Bag Size: 6 quarts
Key Ingredients: Peat moss, coconut coir, perlite, kelp, and bone meal
Resealable: No

Get the Miracle-Gro potting mix at Amazon, The Home Depot, and Walmart.

Best Cactus Mix

Hoffman 10404 Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix

Pros

Formulated to be fast-draining
Organic ingredients
Resealable bag

Cons

Should be mixed with standard potting soil

Since jade plants share many soil requirements with cacti and other succulents, Hoffman’s Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix is an excellent choice because it’s well-draining enough for both jungle and desert cacti. Home gardeners growing both cacti and jade plants will be well served by his versatile and economical pick.

The formula is made up of a number of beneficial ingredients including sphagnum peat moss, reed sedge peat, perlite, and sand that come together to create ideal drainage for plants that are prone to root rot. It comes in a resealable 4-quart bag that can be neatly stored when it’s not in use.

Product Specs

Bag Size: 4 quarts
Key Ingredients: Sphagnum peat moss, reed sedge peat, perlite, and sand
Resealable: Yes

Get the Hoffman soil mix on Amazon and at Walmart.

Best Expanding

WONDER SOIL | Organic Cactus & Succulent Soil

Pros

Space-saving, expanding formula
Made with natural ingredients
Coco coir–based mixture

Cons

Lightweight mixture

This potting mix from Wonder Soil expands to four times its size once water is added, making it an excellent choice for those living in small spaces who don’t have room to store a large bag of soil. Though the bag only weighs 3 pounds, once it has been expanded, it creates 12 quarts of soil. Coco coir—an ingredient derived from coconut husks—anchors the formula, providing ideal drainage for drought-resistant plants like succulents and cacti as well as jade plants. It also contains worm castings which act as a natural fertilizer.

One downside is that the soil mix is quite lightweight, which may enable a jade plant to tip over if it’s not planted in a heavy pot.

Product Specs

Bag Size: Expands to 12 quarts
Key Ingredients: Coco coir, worm castings, mycorrhizae, kelp, and pumice
Resealable: No

Get the WONDER SOIL mix on Amazon and at Walmart.

Also Consider

FoxFarm FX14054 Happy Frog Potting Soil

Pros

No additives required
Versatile enough to use for other houseplants
Includes organic compost
Large economical bag

Cons

Not resealable

FoxFarm’s Happy Frog soil is not only fast-draining but also includes a number of nutritious ingredients that act as natural fertilizers. The microbes and mycorrhizal fungi in the formula both serve to foster root development and simultaneously prevent the development of mold that contributes to root rot.

While this formula is an excellent choice for jade plants, it’s also incredibly versatile and can be used for a number of other indoor and outdoor houseplants. Since it’s sold in a large 12-quart bag, it also offers excellent value and acts as a great option for those with many plants to repot.

Product Specs

Bag Size: 12 quarts
Key Ingredients: Mycorrhizal fungi, worm castings, oyster shells, and bat guano
Resealable: No

Get the FoxFarm potting soil on Amazon and at Walmart.

Our Verdict

After reviewing many different soils for jade plants, we recommend the Espoma African Violet Potting Mix for its well-draining formula, acidity boosters, and relatively affordable price. Those on a budget may appreciate the Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix, which offers similar performance at a lower price point.

How We Chose the Best Soil for Jade Plants

Years of experience covering home and garden products as well as extensive product research went into creating this guide. We explored more than 20 soil options and weighed a number of practical considerations before making our recommendations.

Since a fast-draining soil is the primary consideration for jade plants, we made sure every formula we recommended included ingredients to ensure that plants never became waterlogged. When choosing formulas to include in our list, we prioritized those that included natural and organic ingredients.

We aimed to feature potting mixtures that contained ingredients to increase drainage and lightly fertilize the plants. Additionally, plant soil is sold in a wide variety of quantities, so we considered overall value for the cost when making our recommendations.

FAQs

While you now know more about choosing the best soil for jade plants, you might still want more information about how to care for a jade plant and how to use the soil. Here are some answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about jade plants and their soil.

Q: Do jade plants like small pots?

Jade plants don’t need a lot of space and can thrive in small pots, only requiring repotting every 2 to 3 years.

Q: Is compost good for jade plants?

While compost can act as an excellent natural fertilizer, it’s essential to only use well-drained compost with jade plants to prevent the soil from becoming overly moist.

Q: Do jade plants like moist soil?

Jade plants may develop root rot in moist soil, so it’s best to choose a quick-draining potting mix.

Q: What kind of fertilizers should I use on jade?

Jade plants typically require a well-balanced fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 10-10-10 or similar. They only need to be fertilized during their growing season, which typically takes place in spring and summer.