Why people love it
Gollum jade is a regular jade plant with a twist: its leaves grow as hollow-looking tubes instead of flat paddles. Each tube ends in a reddish, cupped tip. With age, it forms a thick trunk and branches like a little tree, just like its parent.
Care in a nutshell
- Sun makes the color. In bright sun the leaf tips turn red. In low light the plant stretches and stays plain green.
- Water like a jade. Soak the soil, let it drain, then wait until it is completely dry.
- Prune to shape. Cut a stem just above a leaf joint and it branches from there. Root the pieces you remove.
Watch out for
- Soft, wrinkled leaves after a long dry spell are thirst. Soft, yellow leaves when the soil is wet are rot.
- Leaf drop usually follows a sudden change in light or water. Keep its spot and routine steady.
Fun fact: The ‘Gollum’ name comes from The Lord of the Rings character. A close relative with the same tubular leaves is sold as ‘Hobbit’.
