What Baobab Flowers Actually Look Like

Seeing a Jade Plant (also known as a Money Tree or *Crassula ovata*) in full bloom is actually pretty rare for most indoor gardeners. If you want to see those beautiful flowers, the secret lies in how you handle the plant during its winter dormancy. If you get the winter rest period just right, you’ll be rewarded with blossoms the following year.

Keep it Cool for the Winter

Since Jade Plants aren’t frost-hardy, they need a specific “rest phase” during the colder months. To set the stage for flowering, you need to provide the right balance of light and temperature.

Your wintering spot should be bright, but keep the plant out of harsh, direct sunlight. Aim for temperatures between 50°F and 60°F (10°–15°C). It can handle slightly cooler dips for a short time, but never let the temperature drop below 40°F (5°C), or you’ll risk damaging the plant.

Unheated (but frost-free) sunrooms or conservatories are perfect for this. A bright, cool bedroom also makes a great winter home for your Jade.

Spring Fertilizing Tips

Just before you move your Jade Plant back outside for the season, it’s time for its first feeding of the year. These plants prefer mineral-based fertilizers with very low nitrate levels. I recommend using a mineral-based slow-release fertilizer in the spring, as this specifically helps encourage bud formation.

Once the threat of frost has passed, you can move your Jade outdoors. Just a heads-up: don’t put it in full sun right away! Gradually acclimate it to the light over a week or two, otherwise, the leaves can actually get a nasty sunburn. Once it’s toughened up, it loves a sunny, south-facing spot on a balcony or patio.

The Bloom Phase

When a Jade Plant finally blooms, it produces delicate, star-shaped white flowers that grow in small, upright clusters. Typically, the blooming season kicks off in June and can last through August.

If you keep your Jade as an indoor-only houseplant year-round, it’s much harder to get it to flower. Without that distinct “chill” period in a cooler room during the winter, the plant rarely gets the signal it needs to start producing blossoms.