Question
Hello Will!

I gave my mom a large Jade Plant for Easter and she gave me a few cutting off of it for my own. I planted it in Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss (all that was available at the time) and i wasn't able to use any root hormone (unavailable since i was visiting them for the holiday). Now i notice the little leaves are wrinkled and the whole plant seems kinda limp. Is there any hope here? The cuttings are planted in a clay pot and placed in direct sunlight on a windowsill. I keep the potting-mix pretty dry since i heard they like dry conditions (mom forgets to water sometime). They have a bit of a red tinge around the edges of the leaves.

Also, I have a few fresh BOP seeds that I would like to germinate. Do they need special treatment? They are brown pea-like seeds with orange tufts.

Answer
Hi Mychele,

Good to hear from you again!

Rooting Jade cuttings in sphagnum moss is unorthodox, but there is no reason why it shouldn't work. Are they still in the moss? Have they developed any roots yet?

Shriveled leaves usually mean they are not getting enough water. Direct sun may be a bit too much for cuttings that you are trying to root, particularly if the potting mix gets too dry. They are best rooted in a porous potting mix that has lots of perlite in it, but does not get too dry. Jades also use more water when in direct sun.

The red tinge is what Jades get when they are in direct sun. That is fine after the roots are established and able to absorb water.

BOP seeds are not easy to germinate. They must be fresh and they take anywhere from 1 to 6 months to germinate. Use a potting mix that is two thirds peat moss and one third perlite. Keep it damp and try to keep temps in the 75-80 degree range.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions. If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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