Expert: Greg Simpson - 6/10/2007

Question
I am moving to outside Tucson area in a few weeks (slightly higher elevation at about 3000 ft)from PA.  I have a jade plant that I brought from an earlier home in CA years ago & have kept alive here in PA indoors.    Will this jade plant likely survive in Tucson desert environment with modest watering and intense sun?  I know its a succulent and they grow like weeds in CA - spreading all over where they are placed.   But I wonder if the Tucson sun might be too harsh?  Maybe just morning sun (albeit that's pretty strong too..)

Answer
Lenora,

Morning sun would be good, but you also have to consider the cold in the winter. Tucson can regularly reach the low 30's and the high 20's in the winter. Planting it close to the house will help keep the plant from freezing, but as I found out this year, even that doesn't always help.

You may want to shade the plant for the first few weeks even if you plant it in morning sun. Hopefully this helps.

Sincerely,

Greg