Crassula ovata Gollum ‘Shrek’s Ears’ is a hardy and attractive succulent shrub with easy care and propagation. A popular cultivar of this beloved ‘lucky’ jade plant is the Shrek’s ears plant, also known as Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ or ogre’s ear plant.
Crassula ovata ‘Shrek’s ear’ Jade plant care and propagation are similar to other succulents. As a desert plant, it needs warm temperatures, fast-draining soil, infrequent watering, and 4–6 hours of direct sunlight per day to flourish. It can be propagated easily from leaves and stem cuttings.
This article will explore Shrek’s Ears Jade plant propagation options and processes in detail. I will also provide recommendations for basic care and more.
Shrek’s Ears Propagation Options, Process, Recommendations, and More
While the Shrek’s ear is a cultivar and therefore doesn’t exist in the wild, its basic care and propagation needs are identical to that of naturally occurring Crassula ovata species.
The plant is a bright green and may or may not have red leaf tips.
Shreks Ear Plant Care Recommendations
Like all succulents, Crassula ovata is a desert plant. It stores water in leaves and stems and doesn’t need frequent watering or rich soil. It can be grown in pots, both indoors and outdoors, so long as it gets enough sun, not too much rain, and temperatures don’t drop below freezing.
Water
Jade plants, like all succulents, are desert species designed to go without water for long periods, then receive a sudden deluge of rain. If you keep this in mind when growing them at home, it becomes easier to avoid mistakes with watering.
Usually, Shrek’s ears will need to be watered about every 3 weeks during the growing season, which is spring, summer, and fall. However, watering times can change depending on the amount of sunlight, overall temperature, soil components, pot size, humidity, and airflow your plant receives.
A plant that gets plenty of sun and lives in a high temperature, low humidity, and high airflow environment will dry out faster and therefore need more frequent watering.
A plant that gets less direct sun and lives in a low temperature, high humidity, and low airflow environment will need to go longer between waterings.
For best results, check the soil for moisture every 2 weeks or so and only water when the soil is dry. Then water deeply, soaking the soil from top to bottom. Finally, always let the pot drain thoroughly.
How To Check Soil for Moisture
There are several ways to check your soil for moisture, but the easiest and most reliable is the finger test method.
Stick your finger into the soil to check whether it’s wet. Wet soil feels cold, and clumps of dirt stick to your finger. Dry soil feels neutral, and your finger will come out clean.
If you don’t like sticking your finger in the pot, or there’s no room for it, use a clean wooden dowel or disposable chopstick instead.
Soil
The best soil for Shrek’s ears is succulent or cactus soil with added sand, gravel, pumice, vermiculite, perlite, or other inorganic materials to make it very fast-draining.
A 50/50 soil-to-non-inorganic ratio is ideal. That means 50% succulent soil mix and 50% sand, perlite, vermiculite, gravel, etc.
The inorganic components should be increased if you live somewhere with lower temperatures or very high humidity. Likewise, if you are using a larger pot than recommended, these will slow the evaporation of excess water from the soil.
Fast-draining soil will prevent your plant from getting root rot and other problems from overwatering.
Pots
Always use pots with drainage holes for any type of succulents, including Jade plants. Although they like to be watered deeply, Jade plants don’t like to sit in moist soil for more than a few days.
Ceramic and terracotta pots are the most porous options. These materials will wick moisture from the soil and help prevent overwatering issues.
In addition, untreated/unglazed terracotta darkens when it touches wet soil. This allows you to see the water levels inside the pot, helping you gauge when to water without needing a finger test.
Light
As I’ve mentioned, Jade plants need 4-6 hours of direct sunlight to thrive. They can survive with less, but they will not grow much and will darken in color. If they get too little light, they will become leggy and dull looking.
A jade plant that gets enough sun will show red at the edges of its upper leaves. If you keep your Jade plant indoors, south-facing windows are the best choice as they get the most sunlight daily. West-facing windows will also work well.
Grow Lights
Suppose you want to keep your Jade plant indoors but don’t have an appropriate window. In that case, you can supplement natural light with artificial light to keep your plant healthy. Grow lights are cheap and easy to find, and LED versions are energy efficient.
I recommend a white, full-spectrum LED grow light such as the GHodec Indoor Plant Grow Light (available on Amazon.com).
For best results, place the light no more than 12 inches (30 cm) above the plant. If your Jade is not getting any direct sunlight, you will need to give it artificial light for at least 8 hours a day.
Temperature
Being desert plants, Crassula ovata like moderate to warm temperatures, especially during the growing season. They will grow in USDA hardiness zones 9-10 and withstand temperatures as low as 20°F (-6.7°C).
However, they will burn in extremely hot weather if left in direct sunlight. In addition, they need cool, overcast weather in the winter to produce blossoms.
Fertilizer
Jade plants will benefit from several doses of fertilizer throughout the growing season. This can be added to your watering can and given with each watering during that time. Use an all-purpose fertilizer like Triple 10 All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer (available on Amazon.com).
For young plants, dilute it by half to avoid root burn. Fertilize only 3-4 times during the growing season. There is no need to fertilize during winter.
Pruning
Jade will put out plenty of new growth in the spring if it is healthy. This is an excellent time to prune your plant if you want to shape it. It’s also an excellent time to take the cuttings and propagate them to make new plants!
Pruning will help keep the plant from getting leggy or sloppy looking. You can even prune Jade plants to look like little trees or keep them in tight hedges.
You may need a pair of good shears for mature plants with heavy stems, but most jade branches will snap off easily by hand. Removing small outer branches will help encourage new growth on older branches.
Problems
Pests and disease may threaten your plants. Here’s what to watch out for and ways to tackle the problem.
Disease
Root rot is a fungal infection that results from overwatering. This is the most common issue for Jade plants, which are otherwise very hardy. However, some pests can become an issue if the plant is struggling. These include mealybugs, aphids, and mites.
Avoid root rot by checking the soil regularly and watering only when it’s completely dry. If your Jade plant does get root rot, you probably won’t know until it’s too late, as all the rotting happens under the soil’s surface.
However, if the plant has definitely been overwatered and looks droopy, discolored, or generally unhappy, it likely has some root rot. You may be able to save the plant if you unpot it, clean away the rotting roots, and repot in fresh soil. Here’s a video that gives a lot of information on root rot:
For best results, sanitize the pot and wash the roots thoroughly before repotting. Finally, water once with hydrogen peroxide, as it will kill off any residue of root rot fungus.
Pests
Common pests you may find on your Jade plants include mealybugs, aphids, and spider mites. These are sap-sucking insects that tend to appear in spring and summer. They may be present year-round in warm climates, however.
Mealybugs are flat, fuzzy, white, or gray insects found under leaves and on new stems. Aphids are tiny green insects that cluster under new leaves and at the joints of stems. Mites, or spider mites, are tiny insects that leave fine white webbing on the underside of leaves.
All of these infestations can be treated in similar ways. First, the infected plant should be quarantined to prevent the spread of the infestation. Next, you can kill the bugs with various insecticides.
- 70% isopropyl alcohol. Put isopropyl alcohol into a spray bottle. Spray the infected plant liberally, inducing under leaves and all the stems. Try not to soak the soil. Repeat every day or two until you can’t see any more insects.
- Insecticidal soap spray. Insecticidal soap is another easy DIY solution. Mix 1 tbsp (15 ml) of dish soap with 1 qt (0.95 L) of water. Spray the infected plant liberally. Again, don’t soak the soil. Repeat every few days as necessary.
- Neem oil spray. Neem and other natural, non-toxic, oil-based insecticides are also common treatments for pests. They can be found at garden supply stores or online. Repeat weekly as necessary.
- Chemical insecticides. If natural and DIY solutions don’t work for you, there are numerous chemical insecticides available at garden supply stores. However, they can be harsh to plants, people, and pets.
Shrek’s Ear Jade Propagation Options and Process
As I mentioned above, Jade plants can be propagated using leaves or stem cuttings. It can also be propagated by seed, but that is a much lengthier process as it requires allowing the plant to mature enough to produce flowers. In addition, cross-pollination of Jade plants can be challenging.
However, I will include propagation by seed directions (in addition to the other two methods) for those who like a challenge or wish to attempt to create their own crossbreeds of Jade plants.
Propagation by Leaf Cutting
This is the easiest way to propagate any Jade plant, including the Shrek’s ear variety. You will need a small pot or container, some succulent soil mix (with added sand or other inorganic material for fast drainage), and water.
For best results, propagation should be done with plump, healthy leaves from a healthy plant.
- Gently remove a few leaves from your Jade plant, pulling from the very base of the leaf to avoid breakage. Choose healthy leaves that feel plum and firm, and show no damage or discoloration.
- Give the leaves a few days to callus over. That means leaving them on a dry surface away from the sun so the wounds will dry. This will help prevent rotting when you root your cuttings. It usually takes only 2-3 days for the cuttings to callus.
- Fill a small pot or container with fresh cactus soil. You can use a terracotta pot or even a plastic food container, so long as it has drainage holes. Dampen the top inch of the soil with a spray bottle.
- Arrange your leaf cutting so the callused ends touch the soil’s surface. You can poke them slightly into the soil, but it isn’t necessary.
- Leave the pot in a bright, warm location where it will get a couple hours of direct sunlight daily. Morning sunlight is better, as it is less likely to burn your sprouts, which will begin to form in 2-3 weeks. Eventually, the original leaf cutting will wither and fall off.
- Allow the baby Jade plants to grow until they have at least 3 leaves before repotting. Once repotted, you can acclimate them to direct sunlight by increasing their sun time by a few minutes each day.
Propagation by Stem Cutting
This method is an excellent way to revive a plant that has become leggy from too little sun. Pruning will stimulate new growth on the mother plant while also providing cuttings for propagation. Annual pruning will also allow you to shape the growth of your jade plant.
Once rooted and established, the cuttings can be added back to the original pot to make the mother plant look fuller. Or they can be used to cultivate new plants for display elsewhere.
Jade plants of all kinds also make excellent gifts, as they are said to bring the receiver luck and money!
- Using a sterilized knife or shears, cut away a few branches from your Shrek’s ears. Sterilizing the cutting instrument prevents rot and other infections. Remove small branches and leaves from the base of each cutting so that you have at least 2-3 inches (5.0-7.6 cm) of the naked stem.
- Set the cuttings somewhere shaded for a few days until the cut ends callus over. You do not want to propagate them with raw cuts because they are more likely to rot before they root.
- Prepare your chosen pot by filling it with a succulent mix. For proper drainage, added sand, gravel, or other non-organic material is recommended. Your pot should be 3-4 inches (7.6-10 cm) deeper than the cut stems’ ends, leaving 1 -2 inches (2.5-5 cm) of dirt around the outside of the cuttings. Always use a pot with drainage holes.
- Stick the cut stems into the soil enough to stand upright and remain stable. Moisten the top 1-2 (2.5-5 cm) inches of soil. Do not water deeply.
- Place somewhere warm with plenty of bright sunlight. Keep moist but not wet. Roots will begin to form within 2 weeks. After a month or two, new growth should begin to form.
Propagation by Seed
Shrek’s ear Jade grows only 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) per year and begins producing flowers at 6-12 inches (15-30 cm), so propagating by seed may require a wait of 3-4 years.
In addition, Shrek’s ears do not self-pollinate like some other succulents. That means you will have to take extra steps to get your plant to produce seeds, even if it is already flowering.
Unfortunately, many of the Jade plants in the US have been propagated by cuttings, so they are essentially the same plant. Therefore, finding two that will pollinate each other is challenging. However, you can try cross-pollinating two different types of jade plants! That is, if they happen to flower at the same time.
Happy Jade plants should flower during the winter and can be cross-pollinated using a small paintbrush, as shown in this youtube video:
Once pollinated, follow the steps below to propagate by seed!
- Wait for the pollinated flowers to die and fall off. Collect the dry seed pods and carefully extract the seeds.
- Fill a 4-inch (10 cm) pot or another small container with a fast-draining succulent soil mix like the one described in the soil section below. Always use containers with drainage holes.
- Place 2-3 seeds on the surface of the soil about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart. Do not cover the seeds with soil. Let them stay on the surface.
- Water very gently to avoid displacing the seeds. You can use a spray bottle or moisten the soil before placing the seeds. Keep the soil moist with weekly waterings. Only water enough to wet the top 1 inch (2.5 cm).
- Cover the pot with a plastic bag, cellophane, or other clear covering that sits above the soil (not touching it). This will create a greenhouse effect that keeps the environment warm and moist.
- Place the pot somewhere warm with bright indirect light. The temperature should not rise above 70°F (21°C) or fall significantly below it.
- Your seeds should sprout in about a month. Repot the seedlings when they have at least 3 leaves. After repotting, move them into direct morning sunlight for a few minutes, increasing the time each day. Slowly acclimate them to more and more sunlight over a week or two until they can handle the usual 4-6 hours.
- Once the seedlings are repotted, you can start watering them normally. That is, water only when the soil dries out, usually every 3 weeks (depending on the heat, humidity, pot size, and soil mix). Try not to wet the leaves and stems when watering. Do not fertilize seedlings, as they are susceptible to root burn from even mild fertilizers.
Conclusion
Crassula ovata Gollum ‘Shrek’s Ears’ Jade is a unique variety of a hardy and beloved ‘lucky’ plant common to gardens across the country. It requires only the most straightforward care, including fast-draining soil, infrequent watering, and 4-6 hours of bright sunlight daily. This attractive succulent is extremely easy to propagate by cutting. It is resistant to pests and disease as well.