Rent Shop Volunteer Join

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Monday - June 22, 2009

From: denver, CO
Region: Rocky Mountain
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Non-native, care for Jade plant.
Answered by: Joe Marcus

QUESTION:

I've had a jade plant for 5 years and it has done well, even though it was in a plastic pot with regular soil. I need to repot it and it was recommended I use a clay pot and a soil made for succulents that is more porous. Should I increase the frequency or amount of water I give it, since it will dry out faster now? Thanks

ANSWER:

The focus of research and the extent of expertise of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center are limited to plants native to North America.  Your Jade plant, Crassula sp. is a tropical plant native to South Africa and is really outside of our purview. 

You can do a Google search using the plant’s name and look for care information, or you can submit your request for information to the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden forums website: http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/forums/.  On their forum, tropical plant enthusiasts from around the world monitor and answer questions like yours about houseplant issues.
 

More Non-Natives Questions

Plant Identification
August 07, 2015 - I live in southeastern Michigan. I found a plant growing in the backyard that caught my eye. I chalked it off as a weed, but it's unique. It is shaped like a bushing type plant, has red stem, each cl...
view the full question and answer

Non-native lavender for Texas in San Antonio
July 15, 2009 - I am looking for a lavender (English?) that will tolerate Tx summers, is evergreen, will tolerate some shade. I want to border a sidewalk with it. All help appreciated.
view the full question and answer

Is Hibiscus coccineus still considered native in Dallas, TX?
July 15, 2011 - Is Hibiscus coccineus still considered native?. I recently was told by someone with the Native Texas Plant Society that it was no longer thought to have crossed the Sabine naturally. Thoughts...
view the full question and answer

Privacy screening from Phoenix AZ
April 14, 2013 - I live in the center of Phoenix, Az. On the eastern side of my house we have some 2 story condos next door. The width of the side yard is about 12'-15' and it gets lots of shade. I also have my powe...
view the full question and answer

Failure to thrive of non-native Japanese maple
May 03, 2010 - My 10 year old Japanese red maple leaves suddenly started to curl up and die at the end of summer last year. Only about a quarter of the tree leaved out this spring, branches are dead. Can I plant ano...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.