Traditional houseplant tips & tricks produce overly anxious plant parents because they are led to believe that they are in total control of the outcome of the plant. This approach leaves out a very important fact: plants are living things that obey the laws of Nature. Therefore, you must leave room for Nature, which includes both life and death; growth and decay.
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Traditional approach: look at this crinkled leaf and make some assessment (‘maybe overwatering’, ‘maybe underwatering’). Keep wondering if everything is okay…keep thinking “if only I could get the watering right”
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HPJ approach: (1) Check the environment (mostly about light) – the plant is sitting here with a wide, unobstructed view of the sky. Afternoon sun touches the plant for an hour or two. This is good enough indirect light (view of sky) + direct sun (hours of exposure) for the jade plant. (2) Do your best with care – given that the light is right, I’m watering whenever I feel the leaves are slightly less plump. (3) Let Nature take its course: the crinkled leaves are the lowest (thus, oldest) leaves on the branch. Steps 1 and 2 check out so I can thank this leaf for its months (maybe years) of contribution to photosynthesis. Pull off the debris and move on – this plant is healthy and growing within normal parameters!
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