Gollum Jade Plant

If you are a hobbit from Middle Earth or a fan of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings books, then the name “Gollum” must sound familiar. Taking inspiration from Tolkien’s character, the Gollum Jade Plant is small, succulent with leaves that resemble long, green fingers.

 

The Gollum Jade Plant is known by many names such as “Money Plant” and is considered a symbol of good luck. In addition to being lucky, the Gollum Jade is a strange yet exquisite houseplant that can add plenty of character to any home.

 

Let’s take a closer look at the Gollum Jade Plant, how to take care of this plant, some similar plants, and why you should have a Gollum Jade of your very own.

 

What is a Gollum Jade Plant?

Any plant taking inspiration from a character in The Lord of the Rings franchise must be unique. The Gollum Jade Plant is a peculiar but inviting succulent plant that reels you in with its odd-shaped leaves and alluring colors.

 

This plant is part of the Crassula ovata Gollum Jade family, along with another Tolkien-related plant called the “Hobbit.” The Gollum Jade features long, bright green tubular leaves with fiery red tips. The leaves curl up and look like bony fingers similar to that of The Lord of the Rings creature.

 

This plant’s origin is in the tropical regions of South Africa and Mozambique. The Gollum Jade has many other names, such as Coral Jade, Trumpet Jade, and Money Plant.

 

Size

The Gollum Jade is a small succulent plant that can grow somewhere between 3-5 feet tall and spread about 1.5-3 feet in length. It takes about 10-15 years for the plant to reach full maturity.

 

Lighting

The Gollum Jade can survive in many different lighting environments. They can thrive in full sun or partial shade. However, direct sunlight can burn the fleshy leaves, especially on a hot day. Gollum Jade plants can also tolerate full-shaded environments, just like the Tolkien character they resemble. The darker the lighting, the darker green the leaves will be.

 

If you want your Gollum to grow bright, vibrant colors, place them in a well-lit area with plenty of indirect light. If you are growing your Gollum Jade indoors, place them near an east-facing window, and they should be happy.

 

Watering

Because Gollum Jades are succulents, they are used to mild drought conditions. If you miss a few watering sessions, they should still be fine. In fact, underwatering your Gollum Jade prefers this rather than overwatering, which can cause root rot.

 

Your watering schedule depends on the area you are in and the weather conditions. If it’s a hot summer month, you should water Gollum Jade plants about once a week. In the cooler months, you can water them every other week. A great rule of thumb to go by is to allow the top layer (1 inch or so) of soil to completely dry out before watering your plant again.

 

Temperature & Humidity

Gollum Jade plants do not enjoy living in the cold. However, they can also get burnt if left in intense heat. The sweet spot for your Gollum Jade Crassula Ovata is between temperatures of 45-85°F.

 

As far as humidity, Jade plants prefer low to average room humidity. So an area with good air circulation and low misting should work perfectly. Use a humidifier or bed of wet rocks to boost moisture content in the air, if necessary.

 

Fertilizer

Fertilizer is not completely necessary for a Gollum Jade, but it can help give them certain nutrients to grow. The best time to feed your Gollum is during the growing seasons (spring and summer). Give your Gollum Jade Crassula Ovata a half-strength balanced fertilizer or a formulated fertilizer designed for cacti and succulents every two weeks.

 

 

Why Choose a Gollum Jade Plant for Your Home?

Aside from capturing all of the attention in the room with its bright green finger-like leaves and redden tips, the Gollum Jade has a handful of potential benefits for any home.

 

Improves Air Quality

One of the most beneficial parts of having a succulent plant in your home is that it can help improve the air quality. Plants such as the Gollum Jade are great at absorbing toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, and ammonia to clear the air.

 

In addition, plants can absorb the carbon dioxide that we exhale and recycle it into clean oxygen! Just having a couple of plants around your home can significantly improve your breathability.

 

Boost Humidity at Home

Along with improving the air quality, succulents can improve the level of humidity inside your home. Because plants release water, they can generate humidity inside your house. This increased moisture lingering inside can help reduce the chances of you getting a sore throat, common colds, and dry cough.

 

Reduces Stress Levels

With all of the physical health benefits that succulents can bring, they can also help improve your mental health. Studies have shown that taking care of houseplants such as succulents can reduce your stress levels.

 

Taking care of a succulent plant has been shown to reduce your blood pressure levels, decrease your stress, and overall bring you a calming sensation. Since succulents are relatively easy to care for, you will not have to pull your hair out worrying about killing your Gollum.

 

Improve Your Focus

Pairing with reducing your stress levels, succulent plants can also help with improving your focus. Studies demonstrated that people who keep indoor plants boost their concentration levels and finish tasks faster.

 

One of the studies conducted focused on two groups of people completing a reading task. One group worked at a desk with no plants on it, and the second group performed the same task with a few plants on the desk. The group with the plants on the desk completed the task much quicker and more efficiently than the other group.

 

So, if you are looking to increase your focus levels and be more productive, pick up a Gollum Jade!

 

Are Gollum Jade Plants Good Indoors & Outdoors?

Depending on the lighting situation, Gollum Jade Crassula Ovata plants can be excellent both indoors and outdoors. Always provide your plant with a well-draining potting soil or potting mix and not too much water.

 

If you place your Gollum Jade indoors, make sure there is plenty of indirect light, which you can get by placing it near an east-facing window. When placed in a shadier part of the house, the leaves will turn a darker green than if placed in a brighter location.

 

Generally, a Gollum Jade needs about 4-6 hours of bright light per day. If you cannot provide such lighting indoors, you can set up grow lights designated for growing indoor plants. These fluorescent lights are a great way to help your plants receive all the lighting they need if they can’t receive it naturally.

 

When your Gollum Jade Crassula Ovata is outside, they love to bathe in bright, partial sunlight. Although they can handle full sunlight, it is recommended to keep your Gollum in the shade to prevent plant burn. With more sun exposure, your Gollum will take on a more lime-green color that will make this plant pop out in your garden. The red tips on the leaves will be more pronounced when exposed to more sun.

 

If you live in an area where the cold months can be extreme, you may want to grow your Gollum in a pot so you can easily move it inside when it gets too chilly. Gollum Jade plants do best in temperatures ranging from 45-85°F, so anything on either side of the that might be tough to handle.

 

Are Gollum Jade Plants Pet and Children Friendly?

Crassula Ovata Gollum Jade Plants are unfortunately toxic to both pets and people. When a Jade plant comes in contact with the skin, the sap can cause some irritation. If any pet or small child accidentally ingests part of the Gollum Jade Plant, it can lead to vomiting and diarrhea. It is always a smart idea to handle this plant carefully with gloves when propagating.

 

Gollum Jade Plant Family Relatives

The Crassula Ovata Gollum Jade plant comes from the Crassulaceae plant family. These plants are also known as the stonecrop or orpine family and usually fall under the succulent type of plants.

 

Crassulaceae plants are usually herbaceous, which means that they are plants without a wooden stem. Still, several shrubs resemble tree-like characteristics.

 

Crassula Ovata plants are a subcategory of the Crassulaceae plant family known by many names such as Jade Plants, Lucky Plants, Money Plants, and Money Trees. They originate from South Africa and Mozambique and are relatively easy to care for!

 

Plant Types That Are Similar to the Gollum Jade Plant

If you are not feeling so lucky with the Gollum Jade, here are several similar plants that you can pick up instead!

 

• Silver Dollar Plant (Crassula arborescens)
• Blue Bird Variegata (Crassula arborescens)
• Botany Bay (Crassula ovata)
• Trailing Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra prostata)
• Large Leaf Elephant Food (Portulacaria afra macrophylla)
• Rainbow Bust (Portulacaria afra variegata)

 

Final Thoughts – Gollum Jade Plant

The Crassula ovata Gollum Jade plant is a unique houseplant because of its bright green finger-looking leaves and its potential to bring good luck. The care for Gollum Jade plants is relatively easy and not stressful at all!

 

So if you are ready to bring home your very own “precious” plant, take a look at Planted Pot’s selection of houseplants, including the Gollum Jade, as well as a handful of other wonderful succulent plants!