Flowering Jade in Winter

The jade plant, a South African succulent, is a favorite here in California for its lovely white winter flowers.  Jade plants are easy to grow indoors and out in mild climates and provide a show of snow-like flowers when chilly winter nights arrive.  

Our jade plant has been with us for a few years now on a covered porch and creates a beautiful display of white flowers in December and January.  The secret to making it bloom, we have learned, is to cover the plant with a string of lights when temperatures become extremely cold.  The lights warm the plant at night and cause it to flower.  They also protect the leaves from frost, as jade will die immediately if it freezes.