Dragon Jade Plant Care Guide - Plant Care Center

While most enthusiastic plant owners usually have a variety of lush green or flowering house plants, not many know about the Dragon Jade plants.

Characterized by their bright green trailing tendrils covered with unique button-like leaves that resemble dragon scales, the Dragon Jade plant is an easy-to-grow houseplant often planted in a hanging basket.

Belonging to the Milkweed family, the Dragon Jade, Jade Dragon, or the Dischidia nummularia is a popular house plant from Southeast Asia that can grow trailing leaves up to two to eight inches long.

The Dragon Jade Plants Basic Care Routine

Table of Contents

Watering Requirements

When people learn how to care for different tropical plants, they assume that all tropical indoor plants require generous watering to grow and survive.

While this may be true for most tropical plants, it does not apply to Southeast Asian Dragon Jade.

The Dragon Jade plants do not need direct watering. Instead, Dischidia Nummularia thrives in a humid environment.

Being an air plant, the Jade Dragon plant’s leaves can absorb the humidity from the air. However, if there is not enough humidity, frequent watering becomes a requirement.

The best tip is to soak the bottom of the plant for a few hours or water it evenly using a spray bottle. However, it is critical to avoid overwatering as it can lead to root rot and plant death.

Sunlight Exposure

Like most other indoor plants, the Dragon Jade grows best under bright indirect light. Ideally, place or hang your Jade Dragon plant by a sunny windowsill that gets sufficient filtered sunlight during the day.

While low temperatures do not affect a Dischidia Nummularia plant’s growth, strong and direct heat can. Dry air from a hot air vent will harm the Dragon Jade plant, causing its trailing tendrils to shrivel up.

Moreover, if you live in a region with long periods of cloud cover, it is best to invest in a solar lamp to give your Dischidia Nummularia the light it needs to produce its food.

Atmospheric Humidity

As mentioned above, humid climates help Dragon Jade plants grow. These house plants prefer 60 to 70% humidity levels.

When grown in regions of low humidity, you must pay extra attention to your Dragon Jade plant’s watering schedule.

In such cases, use a spray bottle to keep the Jade Dragon plant, its leaves, and the soil damp at all times.

Moreover, investing in an indoor diffuser or placing the Dragon Jade plant’s hanging baskets on a water-filled pebble tray can also help maintain its hydration and freshness.

Temperature

Ideally, the Dragon Jade plants do well in moderate temperatures. When the weather is too cold or hot, it negatively affects the Dischidia Nummularia plant’s growth and appearance.

Soil Type

Grow your Dragon Jade house plant in dry, well-draining soils. By adding orchid bark to the potting mix, you can create the perfect growing conditions for a Dischidia nummularia.

Moreover, coconut husks are another excellent addition to enrichen the Dragon Jade plant’s soil quality. While orchid bark facilitates quicker drainage, coconut husk helps the succulent soil retain the required amount of moisture.

As a result, the Dragon Jade develops into a long, lush green, and elegant mature plant in its natural environment.

Fertilizer Requirements

A Dragon Jade plant grows best when it is given high-quality, watered-down succulent fertilizer. Only fertilize your Dischidia Nummularia plants every six months or during the growing season.

Propagation

Finally, easy propagation is a quality that adds to the Dragon Jade plant’s overall appeal. Cutting parts of the Dragon Jade leaf stem with at least two nodes allows you to grow multiple new Dischidia Nummularia plants.

Simply use a pair of pruning shears to cut a long section of the trailing Dragon Jade leaf. Plant the cuttings into a tray of rich potting mix and water evenly.

Once you can spot new root growth from the bottom of the cuttings, replant them into individual hanging baskets, and place them near a sunny windowsill.