Trailing Jade plant

Fans of jade plants, an attractive houseplant that's easy to care for, will be happy to discover the trailing jade plant.

Trailing jade is a succulent like other jade, but comes from a separate plant group. Trailing jade plant's scientific name was senecio jacobsenii but was recently changed to Kleinia petraea. Even though trailing jade is from a different plant group than the standard jade plant, or crassula ovata, its care needs are similar.

Features:
Trailing jade plant is vine-like, with lengthy stems of the thick, water-retaining leaves of a succulent. While its leaves are predominantly a deep, shiny green color, trailing jade's leaves also have a slight purple shade. Trailing jade plants are ideal as hanging plants because their leaves drape beautifully over hanging baskets or pots.

Trailing jade is native to Tanzania, Africa.

Water and light needs:
As a succulent, the trailing jade plant does not need as much water as many houseplants, and prefers plenty of sunlight. Its fleshy leaves, and its roots and stems, retain moisture, so water it only when the soil is dry to the touch. Over watering can lead to rotting, a common succulent problem.

Propagation
One of the best characteristics of jade plants - including trailing jade - is the ease in which they can be propagated. Simply remove one leaf from the parent plant and place its base in moist soil in a separate container.

Low water demand makes trailing jade especially suited to planting in a pot or container. As a succulent, it needs plenty of drainage, so mix some perlite with the soil to prevent it from becoming too wet.

Potting suggestions:
A small pot suits your trailing jade well. This also helps prevent it from retaining too much soil moisture. You will not have to re-pot your trailing jade very often.

When planting a trailing jade plant, set the pot or basket on top of a bucket to ensure that its lengthy stems aren't damaged during this process. These plants' leaves, like standard jade, are easy to break or knock off, so take precautions.

Flowers:
Paying attention to proper watering and light needs for your trailing jade can pay off in prompting the plant to develop flowers. During warmer seasons, when your jade is growing, fertilize it frequently. Trailing jade plant's flowers are distinctive--a vivid orange--unlike the crassula ovata flowers, which are white, star-shaped and tiny.

Taken from: http://www.ehow.com/about_6098329_trailing-jade-plant_.html