Gollum Jade Plant Care: How to Grow Finger Jade

Gollum jade (Crassula ovata 'Gollum')—also known by the common name finger jade—is a small succulent that is a member of the Crassulaceae family of cacti. Gollum jade is a relative of the Hobbit jade (Crassula ovata Hobbit), and both are named after characters that appear in from J.R.R. Tolkien’s series The Lord of the Rings. Gollum jade is a small, low-maintenance shrub that has red-tipped, finger-like green leaves that grow vertically from a small, woody central stem resembling a tree trunk. This unique jade cultivar is a popular winter houseplant. The plants can grow up to three feet tall, but home gardeners often keep them as short, bonsai-like indoor trees.

Plant Gollum jade in early spring to make the most of the sunlight during the spring and summer growing season. Gollum jade plants prefer full sun but can also survive with partial shade. They thrive in USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b.

You can propagate Gollum jade from a simple leaf cutting. Follow these simple steps for growing your own Gollum jade plant at home.

1. 1. Make a leaf cutting. Cut a small cluster of leaves from your Gollum jade plant. Choose a branch with healthy, fat leaves. Allow the cutting to dry for two to three days, until the cut end develops a callous.
2. 2. Prepare a container. Fill a small pot or container that has drainage holes with well-draining soil meant for succulents, which should have some perlite and coarse sand in it. Gollum jade is very drought-tolerant and will not need much water to thrive.
3. 3. Plant your cutting. Plant your cutting in your container. Surround the cutting with enough soil to make it stand upright. Leave your container in a warm spot that is out of the direct sunlight to encourage new growth. Newly planted Gollum jade plants do better as indoor plants. Once the plant has firm roots, you can move it outdoors or to a larger container, where it can acclimate to full sun.

Gollum jade is a relatively low-maintenance plant, but there are a few things you can do to make sure that it thrives.

1. 1. Water sparingly. Gollum jade is a succulent plant and doesn’t need much water. Mist your Gollum jade when the soil appears very dry. Overwatering can harm your Gollum jade plant and lead to root rot. During their dormancy period, Gollum jades require very little watering—twice over the course of all winter will suffice.
2. 2. Mind the sunlight. Gollum jade needs at least four hours of morning sun, but too much bright light can cause sunburn on its leaves. If your Gollum jade's leaves develop yellow or brown spots, move it to a location that gets less sunlight.
3. 3. Encourage flowering. Encourage your mature Gollum jade plants to produce their star-shaped, pinkish-white flowers by following a few simple steps. Make sure not to overwater them, which can lead to root rot. Give them enough light, which is ideally indirect light in the morning. Finally, always overwinter your plants by keeping them in a cool, dry place over the winter months.

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