After giving my houseplants haircuts, I was left with several cuttings of jade branches. I didn't want to throw them away. They were too beautiful and so small. With a little time and a small amount of money, I figured these baby succulents would make great gifts. So far I have given 2 away and the new owners adore them! Not only are the pots cute and fun, but jades are some of the easiest plants to care for.
Materials:
Several small (4") pots
Callused jade cuttings
Ribbon of your choosing - I used 3/4" satin in teal
3/4" - 1" buttons
Double-sided tape
I filled my pots with soil before adding the decorations. I didn't want to get the pot dirty and this allowed me to clean off any spots with a damp rag. You could certainly fill the pots later, just be careful not to spill any dirt on the ribbon.
Here's how easy this was - I used double-sided tape on the ribbon, adhered it to the edge of the pot, placed the button over the unfinished edge using the same double-sided tape, and viola! The pot became a work of art.
Carefully place your callused jade babies (see this post on propagating house plants for more information) in the soil. The jades will be a bit wobbly until they establish roots, so secure them with a popsicle stick or anything else you can find that is pretty. Since I was giving these away as gifts, I thought it would be a good idea to include some directions with the plant. I wrote a little note:
If you decide not to give a note or if you are keeping the cuttings for yourself, just make sure that the jade is kept in a small pot for the first year. Like most plants, the jade likes to secure its roots in a small space before being introduced to a new environment. You may need to water the jade more then once a week as it establishes itself. Don't let the leaves shrivel; this is usually a sign that the jade is not getting enough water.
Have fun potting! As always, feel free to leave me comments or suggestions! I love hearing from you.
Even Ginny likes them!
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