Also known as the money plant, jade (Crassula ovata) is one of the most popular succulents to grow as a houseplant. This South African native with its emerald green, oblong leaves and stout trunk adds an eye-catching element to the indoor garden.

To have success growing this pretty plant in your indoor garden, keep the following cultivation tips in mind.

Provide bright light

Jade grows best in full sun outdoors, so it’s important to provide as much light indoors as possible. Grow the plant in a southern, western or eastern window. If your window lighting is insufficient or nonexistent, jade does well growing under supplemental lighting. Get full-spectrum light bulbs, which can be used in any type of lighting fixture.

If you don’t provide jade with enough light, the plant won’t grow much, and when it does, the foliage will be undersized and weak. Jade grown without sufficient lighting also attract pests, like mealybugs.

Water sparingly

Jade quickly succumbs to root rot if overwatered, so it’s best to err on the dry side with this plant. Wait until the top 2 to 3 inches of soil has dried out before watering. Use lukewarm water and let the plant drain well in the sink before putting it back in its place. Avoid letting the plant sit in water. Keep in mind that in the fall and winter jade will require watering about half as much of the time.

Avoid high humidity

As a desert plant, jade requires low humidity. Use a hygrometer to make sure the area where you’re putting the plant is between 30 to 50 percent humidity. Avoid growing the plant in more humid areas of the home, like the bathroom.

Also ensure that the plant has good air circulation, such as near a ceiling fan or a window that you open periodically. Another good place to put jade is near air-conditioning and heating vents, as these tend to be drier areas.

Fertilize jade regularly

Jade requires a monthly feeding spring through summer. Use a ½-strength solution of an organic, all-purpose plant food. Once a year, also add a ¼-inch layer of worm compost to the soil surface. This will boost biological activity and help the plant feed itself.

Repotting jade

Jade is a slow grower indoors and doesn’t require repotting very often. When it does, plant in a fast-draining potting soil, such as a cactus mix. Make sure the mix you use has an abundance of perlite or pumice, which will ensure good drainage.

Will jade flower indoors?

Mature jade flowers with clusters of pinkish white, star-shaped blooms outdoors. Most jade don’t flower indoors, because the plant requires the shortening days in fall to initiate bloom. If you are able to put your jade outdoors on a sun porch or a similar area that exposes the plant to protected outdoor conditions in the fall, you may get it to bloom. The plant needs 10 to 12 hours of complete darkness each night for at least two months in order to flower.

Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of seven books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.