Jade Plant Care
Common Name: Jade Plant
Scientific Name: Crassula argentea
Lighting: Moderate
Watering: Low
The Jade Plant is an easy houseplant to care for, thus why you see many people having them. The Jade Plant is characterized by plump, full leaves with a glossy appearance coming off of thick stems. In the right conditions, Jade Plants can reach up to 4 feet in height and width.
Jade Plants prefer moderate light levels. Placing it this houseplant in a east or west-facing window or within 2 to 3 feet of a south facing window works best. Overall, try to allow the houseplant to receive 3 to 5 hours of bright, direct sunlight each day. If the stems become spindly, your plant is probably not getting enough light.
The Jade Plant requires low water levels. You should allow the soil to dry out almost completely in between watering. A good way to tell if you houseplant is not receiving enough water is if the usually plump leaves become wrinkled.
This houseplant is usually pretty good when it comes to common pests such as mealy bugs or mites. If pests appear spray a soapy dishwater mixture on the plant twice a day. If that does not get rid of the pests, visit your local garden center for a stronger insecticide.
Since these houseplants can get large in size, you can prune it as needed in order to keep in a nice compact shape. Feel free to also remove and dead or dying leaves / stems.
posted by drayas @ 8:57 PM
134 Comments:
Thanks!
My jade plant seems to be rotting near the base of a few of the larger sprouts. Almost like something is nibbling at one side? Any suggestions...
When you say rotting, do you mean that the base is turning a black color? Also, is the base squishy and not firm anymore? If so, your Jade Plant may have stem or root rot, typically caused by over watering.
If it is stem rot, you'll want to remove those stems as soon as possible to prevent it from spreading to the other healthy stems.
Please let me know.
Thanks,
drayas
I've had my Jade plant (almost 2' h x 1 1/2'w) about a year and it's just about doubled in size. It became top heavy and I had to repot in early Aug (I live in RI). I used only soil, not a mix, but it was still healthy and growing -fast! About a month ago, growth slowed, leaves looked a little droopy and I noticed several spots. Some of the new leaves were deformed. I checked it out and found mealy bugs. I wiped them off with water and a soft toothbrush, then sprayed leaves with a mild dishsoap solution. (2 drops soap/1 liter H2O). I put a towel over the soil during spraying. Over the next 2 1/2weeks, I wiped off bugs as I found them and sprayed leaves down one more time. It's been 3 weeks since I've seen a bug and the plant seems to be on a growth spurt but leave spots are getting worse. Some have brown spots (bigger spots go thru leave - create "a hole" if removed), a few have long, thin brown scars (1/4" on 2" leaf) that can be scraped off (underlying leaf looks fine), some have raised black or clear "pimples" - this problem is increasing, and half the new growth is deformed with some getting black and crusty at the tips. I'd say about 1/3 of the leaves are affected at this point. Please help! Is all this from overwatering, 1/2-1cup 2times/week? I made sure soil was dry but, based on what I have read so far, I know I am. What about sunburn? It gets lots of bright sun, but same as last 6 months. Should I repot now and get a mix in there? Is pot too big - 1 1/2' x 1 1/2'. Also, the edges of the leaves used to turn red in the sun. I can't remember that happening since mid-summer, I'm fairly certain before repotting.
I bought this plant at a local farm and followed the instructions given to me, including the soil. Remind your readers to always do their own research.
The Jade plant is beautiful and exotic. The day I bought it was the first time I had ever heard of one. I couldn't wait to get it home and show my 3-year old daughter, Jade. She seems so proud it has her name and is almost as beautiful as she is. I would be horrified if... I cannot let this plant die!
Thank you for your time! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
A very concerned Mommy
I don't think your problem is from sunlight since that has not changed.
Is there any way you could send me some photos of the foliage with problems. It sounds like there may be a couple of things going on.
Could you email me photos to me at houseplantcare@gmail.com
I'll do some research. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I was on vacation for the holidays.
Thanks,
drayas
I have recently noticed white material near the base of some leaves, or at the intersection of branches. The affliction seems to lead to the leaves, and sometimes a whole branch, falling off.
This is a mature plant of about 30 years, about 3 feet tall, and 3 feet in diameter. I don't want to lose this plant.
Please help.
Thanks.
photob3,
Can you tell me a little more about the white substance? Is there is a sticky substance as well on the foliage?
When you say the branch falls off, does the whole branch brown and then fall off?
If you can give me a little more feedback, I can better try and help you out.
Thanks,
drayas
With reference to the white material - I wouldn't really define it as sticky, more silky and clinging - I'm thinking spider web. There are also small white flecks on the leaves themselves, which wipes easily off.
The branch doesn't brown before dropping off, more like it runs out of water, almost as though the flow is being interrupted.
So....some small bug?
Thanks
I'm thinking the white material is spider-stuff. It's not so much sticky as silky, and rubs off easily.
The branches which have dropped off do not first turn brown - rather they seem to get limp, then detach at the joint - which is were the greatest concentration of white material is to be found.
Any thoughts? Spiders?
Try spraying the entire plant with a soapy dishwater mixture twice a day.
Many times this will kill spider mites or whatever the pest may be. Do this for about a week. If you aren't seeing results after a few days, then you may want to go to a local garden center for a pesticide.
I'm thinking some sort of spider mite.
Please keep me posted.
Thanks,
drayas
I have been reading about the jade plant problems...white powder...and I have something flying around. I have the leaves turning yellow and falling off, plus some brown spots on leaves. I've sprayed the store bought stuff and seems not to help. I'd like to know the ratio of soap to water. I bought some SureFire Insect killing soap, and after I used it, I read I wasn't suppose to on Jade plants.
I've never had problems like this and I've grown plants for years and years. I only hope I can get back to this website to get an answer from you.
Thanks
mlg,
For the soapy water mixture, I basically just take a normal spray water bottle, put a couple good squirts of dishsoap and then fill with water. Then shake up the bottle.
Sorry I don't have a precise formula. I also too learned the hard way when buying insecticides. I had a plant which I don't remember what it got, but I bought something, didn't read the bottle and killed my plant.
Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions. I will do my best to answer them.
Thanks,
drayas
My mom gave me a Jade plant just before Christmas, and I have been doing everything she said to take care of it, but I have noticed lately that the leaves are drooping and some of the leaves are getting spots on them, some of them dark, and some looks like it would go through the whole leaf. I could use some help or advice on how to take of this plant. I have it sitting in front of my balcony door where it would get the most light, but in the winter in Wisconsin, you do not get alot of sunlight. And I have been watering it only when it is really dry. Help!
It sounds like your overwatering the plant. Allow it to dry at least 2 inches in depth before watering again.
The other problem may be drainage. If the roots sit in water it may seem dry, but way down it's too moist. You could try repotting the plant in new soil, put 2 inches of stone at the bottom of the pot and make sure your pot has a drainage try. This will prevent the roots from sitting in water.
Hope that helps. Please keep me posted.
Thanks,
drayas
My jade plant has started to lose healthy leaves!!!! HELP!!
blkitalianpride75,
Couple of questions. How long have you had the plant? Usually dropping of the leaves has to do with the water levels. You may be overwatering the plant. Are the leaves yellowing or browning? Any other signs of distress on the plant?
With a couple answers I can hopefully help you a little better.
Thanks,
drayas
i would like some info on repotting my jade plant. It's at least 8 years old. Some of the branches grow downward and then turn up. They look heavy, the bottom of the branches are about 1-11/2" around. i'm afaid they may break off. I thought about repotting to give them more support, but was told that jades don't like to be in larger pots, they prefer to be in smaller pots. maybe my jade plant needs to be staked in some way ? or maybe i need to prune the tips? It's a beautiful plant and i want to keep it for as long as possible..any suggestions??
Hello,
You can either prune the heavier branches or stake them. Either way is fine. If you want to try and keep it at it's current size, pruning may be the best bet. Staking will help support the plant, however it will keep getting bigger.
Any pictures of your plant to put on this page would be great.
Good luck.
Thanks,
drayas
Do Jade Plants need fertilizer of some sort?
You could give your Jade plant some general houseplant food. I like to use Miracle Gro's Houseplant food. It is a water concentrate that I add to the water once a month or so.
Hope that helps.
drayas
You could give your Jade plant some general houseplant food. I like to use Miracle Gro's Houseplant food. It is a water concentrate that I add to the water once a month or so.
Hope that helps.
drayas
My large jade plant also has some stems that "dry" up and become hollow. I cut them off. I also have some leaves with black specks. I try not to water very much. Actually the top of the soil is rather hard. Any suggestions for my beautiful plant?
Hello,
Usually a hollow stem means your plant has some sort of rot. If the soil is hard I would have to rule out root rot unless at one point you watered it heavier than normal.
I would repot your plant. Repotting gives the plant new soil and also allows you to see how far the rot is. If the stem is squishy it's rotting.
For the black spot, spray the plant with a soapy dishwater mixture. That should get rid of whatever pest it may have.
Please keep me posted.
Thank you,
drayas
I have a jade plant and it has 4-5 stalks in different spots and each one is leaning over the pot and the only reason it hasn't tipped over is they are leaning in different directions. I have had it for about a year or two and i haven't pruned it is that the problem?
PS. the stalks are only about 6-7in. high
Hello,
So the stalks aren't even a foot tall but they are leaning over? I wouldn't prune it then. You can tie your plant.
Is the plant close enough to light? Plants will become spindly if they are too far from the light source.
Thanks,
drayas
The leaves on my jade are brownish and slightly wrinkled. I am trying to nurse it back to it's healthy original state and have pruned most of the brownish leaves and placed it on a stand from a South-east facing window. I live in Colorado and it is dry here. I water it around 2x/week and have been misting the leaves.
Any advice to keep the leaves from getting brown? I was told it's a cactus and doesn't need a lot ofwater, but it does get pretty dry and I thought brown=too dry?
Hello,
Generally this is a low water plant. Are the leaves plump or more wrinkled and skinny? If the latter than it is not receiving enough water.
Thanks,
drayas
Hello!
I have a jade plant that's relatively young, has a healthy base, and is doing nicely. I'm concerned because it's forked into two branches and those branches have new offshoots. I would very much like to one day have a huge jade tree and am wondering how I should prune it. Do I snip off small shoots at the base/joint? I don't want to hurt my plant!
Thanks for your advice!
We have a Jade plant, and we are wondering if we at any should put it outside
Hello,
If the plant is exposed to temperatures below 55 degrees it usually goes into a dormant state, so I'd wait until it stays at least that warm before putting outside.
Thanks,
drayas
I have a small Jade from a leaf cutting (salvaged from a rotting plant due to over-watering). It has two full leaves, a small stalk and a set of leaves about to emerge. It looks healthy and is certainly growing. Is there anything I can do to increase growth speed while it is so small? Should my watering schedule be any different at this stage?
Thanks!
Hello,
If it is healthy, I wouldn't change the watering or lighting at all. You could give your Jade plant some houseplant food every other watering or so and see if that gives a little boost.
Thanks,
drayas
Could you please give me some advice as to how to propertly prune a jade plant? Do I only need to snip at the joint? I'm sorry if this is an ignorant question...
Hi, I recently placed my indoor palms in my courtyard,as a friend told me they would be ok outside during the summer months,I have just returned them indoors as the leaves have drooped,and started to fall off,can anyone tell me if I have killed them or how to preserve them if poss..any ideas...
lindsaygrey,
How to prune is always tricky to explain and easier to show. Basically cut the stems back to a lateral branch. You don't want to cut the actual trunk of the plant.
Let me know if that makes sense, if not I'll try again.
This is not a stupid questions, it's just a hard one to write an answer to.
Thanks,
drayas
If any of my readers can give us hand, please do!!!
I have the same problem with my jade plant. Some of the stems have become soft and are starting to fall off. What's the best way to remove those stems?
Just wanted to say the white powdery/spider silky stuff sounds to me like mealy bugs. If people are having trouble with Jades, and they see whole branches falling off, it is likely a mealy bug problem. It takes some persistence, but they're relatively easy to kill off. All you have to do is inspect the plant each morning. If you see any powdery stuff, dip a Q-Tip in Rubbing Alcohol and clean the material off with the Q-Tip. If you keep an eye on the plant for two weeks or so, and eliminate all the bugs, it should clear up.
At least, that's how it worked for me.
hi...my wonderful jade plant that belonged to my late grandma has root rot i think. some of the stems at the bottom where they meet the dirt are twisted and withered. it's funny, because i didn't water it very much for awhile, it was kind of less than succulent, and then my mom took over, put it outside (it's all warm and stuff now) and gave it water...it perked right up. through reading it seems that for the root rot i should repot. when i do this, i should remove the rotten stems? can i use the healthy part of the clippings as new starts? the healthy stems are leaning over the side of the pot...when repotting, can i orient them more upright?
oh wow, lots of questions.
thanks for the info i have already gotten.
emma
Emma,
If your Jade plant has root or stem root, the root or stem will be squishy and not hard like it should be. If the answer to the above it Yes, then you need to repot, removing all of the rotten roots and stems. Use the healthy part of the plant in clippings as new plants. You can stake the plant upright more when you repot.
Please keep me posted.
Thanks,
drayas
Thanks..
i think i need to just go ahead and repot, little bit exploratory.
the stems are wizened right through at the bottom, so i'll see what else is going on down there.
i'll post my results.
oh yes...when i remove the wizened branches, is it worth it to use the part at the top of the stem that is healthy as a cutting for a start?
if so, should i use rooting powder or just stick it in some succulent mix?
Emma,
Yes, use the good part of the plant for cuttings. I would use some rooting powder just to be safe.
Keep us posted.
Thanks,
drayas
Hi drayas,
I'm horrible at computers so I hope this gets to you. I just wanted to know if you were aware that the fallen leaves of jade plants produce new plants. People always want to remove fallen leaves but on the jade, if you just leave them be, they will begin to root right where they fall, and voila! New plant.
Thanks for the tips!!!
I've had a jade plant for, I guess, at least a year now, and it seems to have done fine.
Lately, however, it has been losing more leaves than normal, and they aren't getting "replaced". It's becoming barer and barer, and I'm quite worried.
It's about 2 feet tall, and still in the original pot in which we purchased it from a local nursery. It doesn't seem to have grown since we got it, but
I don't really care so much if it grows, unless its health depends on it.
It's positioned next to a large picture window facing north, and really doesn't get "direct" sunlight. Admittedly, the window has a UV film on it that reduces UV and light, but I wouldn't call it "dark". It might reduce
light by, say, 15% compared to bare glass.
When we first got the plant, and for probably the better part of its first year with us, the white cellular shade on that window was drawn almost all the time. It still allowed light through, but it was somewhat diffused.
Maybe three months ago or so, we began leaving the shade up about 6 inches (right next to the foliage), so it's getting somewhat more light, but still not direct.
Ironically, in retrospect, it seems that the plant did better before we raised the shade, but I'm not entirely sure.
Also, I typically only water it now and then, but I think I (and my wife) have been watering it a bit too often lately. The pot drains, so it won't become waterlogged. I'm not sure of the type of soil, but its whatever it
was in at the nursery.
Do you think I'm drowning it? Since it's casting its leaves, is it dying? Do you think I can stop and reverse the decline? Maybe I should place it outside on our porch tomorrow, still out of direct sunlight, but that would
mean going (for the first time) from a 75 degree indoor environment to a 94
degree outdoor environment (forecast for tomorrow). My thinking for doing this is that it would accelerate drying the soil out, and undoing what might
have been a mistake last night in saturating the soil until it drained through the bottom of the pot.
Any advice is greatly appreciated - I really want to not only save this plant, and encourage the leaves to regrow, but keep it healthy.
Thanks so much.
Jason
Jason,
First you need to only change one thing at a time. That way you can see directly whether that had an effect or not. Since it seems like the only thing that changed was the light level, I would keep the shade closed or move the plant a foot or so away from the window.
In terms of the foliage falling off, is the foliage turning a color, yellow or brown at all? The foliage falling could be due to overwatering. Just allow the plant to dry out inbetween waterings. Give it some time to dry out and then get it back onto a normal watering schedule.
I wouldn't put it out on the porch. A change in environment could send it into shock.
The next time you water, give it some houseplant food as well.
Give it some time, but once back on schedule, your Jade plant should be fine.
Keep us posted.
Thanks,
drayas
Can someone help me? My jade was rescued when its 10 year old mother died in frost, there were about 3 smaller ones, but they all died too. It is tiny, I put it in some soil and it did nothing. I put it in some cactus soil and 2 new leaves came out, Now 2 new leaves are just visible but have not grown at all for about 2 months. The plant will come out of the soil if you move it too much and doesnt seem to be rooting, It is like living dead, The leaves seem to be ok too. I live in england. It spends most of its time on a south facing window
hello, my jade has light green leaves, with redish edges. what causes this? i would like to keep my jades for a long time and i want them to grow big. is red a problem?
My jade plant has a sticky sappy material on the leaves. It would not be a problem except that the carpeting gets sappy. How can I stop this????
Hello,
Your Jade plant has become infested with a pest. I belive mealybugs are what cause the sticky substance. Couple things to do. One remember, these bugs are tiny so there are many more than you can see or think there are. Rub the foliage with rubbing alcohol. I found this works well. Try rubbing the sticky substance away with the alcohol. Do this once a day for a few days. Also, if you do the alcohol in the morning, in the evening, spray the entire plant with a soapy dishwater mixture.
Do this process for at least a couple days, then see if it comes back. I had these on my Bird of Paradise and it took awhile to get rid of them.
Keep us posted.
Thanks,
drayas
Thanks for the advise on the sap. My only problem is my Jade Plant is very large and that would take forever. Can I put the Alcohol in a spray bottle and just spray all the leaves?
You could try spraying the plant down. I wouldn't spray it too heavy though because I'm not sure what the alcohol would do to the soil.
Let me know how it works. Like I said, I've never sprayed it, just wiped.
Thanks,
drayas
Hi,
I was doing some research about jade plants after I inherited one recently. I noticed a blog so I hope you don't mind me asking you a couple of questions about jade plants.
I live in the southern hemisphere and I currently place the plant in a south facing courtyard which gets a couple of hours of direct sunlight each day during summer but mostly indirect light.
As the plant is quite big, I intend to re-pot it. Should I re-pot it useful well drained mix (such as those for succulents)? I intend to water it twice a month - is this correct? Should I put a plate underneath the pot? Should I water from the top or water it on the plate (ie let the root suck up the moisture)?
So many questions..
Thanks,
PW.
PW,
In terms of soil, a well-drained mixture will work best. Watering it twice a month should be sufficient. If it seems to need more, give it more. Typically Jade plants like the soil to dry out in between watering.
I water from the top, but be sure to put some sort of tray underneath and make sure your pot allows the excess water to drain out.
Thanks,
drayas
hello, my jade is around 20 years old and I've had it for 2 years. I leave it outside all summer. My house is small, but my jade is getting large and I need to prune it. When should I prune, before or after I bring it in before frost? What time of year is best? Also, should I wait to repot it for awhile after pruning?
I've been doing a lot of research on how to properly care for my son's 2 year old jade plant this month. I found out I was doing a lot wrong.
It did not have enough light. It was on a shaded porch on the north side of the house. So, about a month ago I moved it so a sunnier location on the south side of the house. Then I found out that I had changed its light amount too drastically too quickly, and that it's only supposed to have about 5 hours of direct sunlight in the day. It is getting direct sunlight from about 9 or 10am until 6 or 7pm. It now has brown spots on some of the leaves. But I don't know how where to place it because I learned that the jade doesn't like a lot of changes. So, I need to know how to step it down to the amount of direct sunlight it should be getting. And I know I need to do this quickly because soon it will be time to move it back inside for the winter.
Also,I repotted it just before doing all this research because I thought it needed a bigger pot, but while doing the research, I learned that I shouldn't have repotted it yet because it's supposed to get root bound before repotting. I repotted it in regular potting soil for house plants, and learned that I should have potted it in cactus soil. I potted it in a plastic pot, and learned that it should have been potted in a clay pot. So, I need to know if I should move it now and change the soil type or wait, and how long.
I learned that I'd been watering it incorrectly. It was getting a little water often instead of a lot of water only after the soil had dried out. So, its root base is very shallow and does not support it very well. And I'm scared to repot it for fear that it won't stand up right and I may break the roots that are there.
The plant needs to branch out near the base. (Ben is in 3rd grade, and the plant is a school plant that is judged every year.) There is one branch on one side. Then the main part goes up a little then splits pretty evenly into two branches. I'd like to round it out a little by cutting the leaf that is growing directly opposite of the lower branch on the main stem to get it to start growing there. Then, I'd like to try to plant that leaf in a new pot.
The plant was fertilized once a week with miracle grow that was mixed into the watering can right after I repotted it, which I found out I wasn't supposed do. I found out that it's supposed to dry out for a while after replanting and not be fertilized.
After repotting it and then placing it in more sun, though, it has grown many new leaves, and for the most part, I think it is doing better. There are now dark red edges around the leaves and on the stem and the base of the stem is starting to look woody. Before it was all green. I think this is good.
What I want to know is what I need to do, and in what order to do it. Could you help me out, please? Thanks so much!!!
Does the jade grow in a room weather ((AC))
I just bought a jade plant from the Whole Foods Market. I brought it home and repotted it into a pot that I already had that was a little bit bigger than the one it came it. I was reading some of your other posts and was wondering if it is okay to do that. Is it too soon to repot and is it too roomy in the pot for this plant (Plant- 4"; Pot- 4x4x4)? Also, some of the leaves have hard black spots, a few have small white "freckles", and some of the edges have a maroon tint. What are these and should I be concerned?
Plus, I've never cared for a jade plant before. How much water and sunlight do you suggest?
hi
I repotted my jade plant after earlier questions on this site re: root rot, which it seemed my plant had. removed those stems, straightened it out a bit, left it to settle for a week before watering. now the plant is looking worse than ever. the very tips of each branch are green, new leaves, but most other leaves are wizened, and it seems to have an affliction where the leaf gets these white flakes that are almost sparkly ( i know it sounds weird), then these flakes take over the whole leaf and it wizens into a completely dried leaf which falls off when i touch it. in fact most of the leaves fall off when i touch them. i dont want to lose this plant!! i don't think the stem i repotted had root rot, so i don't know what is going on now.
thanks for the advice
emma.
Hi-
I recently bought a jade plant and placed it a few feet awat from and east facing window. A couple of weeks later it seemed a little droopy so I put it outside for a few days. It seemed to do a little better but when I touched it, VERY gently, new leaves and even some branches just fell off. Do you have any suggestions? Also, can I put it back by that East facing window after it becomes a little more established?
Hi.
I have a young jade plant and I love her. I have been doing my research to keep her healthy but I have yet to come across information on how to keep the trunk thick so that it can support the plant. I am not having any issue with this area as of yet but I would rather work to make sure I don't. Any help would be great.
Thanks.
We inherited a jade plant from a friend this summer, and kept it out on the porch until last week. It is a largish plant with a 2-inch diameter main stem and two 1-inch diameter separate smaller stems coming out of the soil. About 3 weeks ago the leaves on one of the smaller stems began to wrinkle and wilt. Now, the end leaves on this stem are very wilted and soft, with dry edges and some leaves drooping.
I cannot see any bugs, and the leaves on the other stems appear healthy. I let the plant soil dry out thoroughly between waterings (maybe 2-3 weeks between waterings).
Any suggestions?
Hello,
I would wait to repot until the plant has established itself again after pruning.
Thanks,
drayas
momof2boys2girls,
Well. First off, if you have not already, get the plant on a normal lighting and watering schedule. So get it to a location where it receives the proper lighting and receives proper watering.
I wouldn't worry about fertilizing the plant with the water soluable houseplant food. I use Miracle Gro's houseplant food on all of my plants, include my Jade.
By getting your plant to a normal watering the root base will restablish and better support the plant. My plants are in a mixture of clay and plastic pots, my Jade is in a plastic pot and does fine. I also only use Miracle Gro Potting Mix and have never used a special dirt mixture and again my plants all are fine. My Aloe plant is the one exception in which it is planted in plain old dirt out of the yard.
Once you get the plant on an established schedule, it should spark up and really start to take shape.
It has been some time since I have been unable to keep up as much as I'd like to with answering questions. So give us an update and me and my readers will try and help you out some more.
Thanks,
drayas
Emma,
The sparkly substance sounds like some type of mold. Your plant will go through a shock period after repotting, but with root rot, you have no other option. Spray the plant down with a soapy dishwater mixture twice a day and see if that helps get rid of the sparkly substance.
Keep us posted.
Any readers have other ideas for Emma?
Thanks,
drayas
jenny j,
What was the weather like outside? Where are you located? Did it get cold, that the plant may have been touched by cold weather?
Thanks,
drayas
Hello,
On the stems of those with the dropping leaves, when you squeeze the stems are they firm or squishy? If they are squishy you have stem root and need to get those out of the pot right away before it spreads to the other stems.
Let me know. Thanks,
drayas
Dear Drayas,
My jade plant has been growing successfully for 2 years, but recently the new leaves appear crinkled (the edges are kind of wavy) and there is a red tinge to some of the shoots. I have poked the soil at the bottom of the pot and it is still damp, although it is a rather large pot. (After repotting it I did some research and only then learned that jade plants prefer to be root bound - oops). Are these issues something to be concerned about? - Thanks, Cynthia
I have had my jade plant for several years and it has been through many moves and has been extremely resilient in the past. However,recently my jade plant has been overwatered and now the bases are rotting despite obvious new growth on the ends. Is there anything I can do to save the plant if it breaks off at the bottom towards the soil where the stems are rotting?
I have an old jade plant that has flowers all over it. This hasn't happened before. I think I wait too long to water it and many leaves wither and die. Does the flowering mean it is afraid it will die and wants to perpetuate itself first? or is it a good and expected thing? I live near Canada and have the plant in a south window. Also, I use about 1/4 or 1/8 tsp of Miracle Gro granules per 1/2 gallon about once a month. Is this too little or too much?
Cynthia,
Sorry for the delay, the web site has gotten really busy and I'm having trouble keeping up with everyone's questions.
Jade plants, like to be root bound, however if the soil was staying soggy, repotting would probably be a good choice.
How is your plant doing now?
Thanks,
drayas
Hello,
Stem and root rot are hard to combat. You could try cutting the stems higher up where they are not squishy and re-rooting using water or other propagating methods.
Please keep us posted.
Thanks,
drayas
My Jade plant is actually about four plants in a good size pot. It is winter now, so should I wait until the spring to split up the plants and repot them?
Hello,
Jade plants tend to prefer being pot / root bound, so if they are in a large pot and not root bound, I would leave them be. Unless you are going to put them in separate pots. Just make sure to keep the roots more compacted.
Thanks,
drayas
I have owned a jade plant for about 4 years now and I recieved it from a nieghbor as a clipping of their huge Jade plant.
I have lately adopted a new Jade plant from my school because my schools greenhouse was being demolished. the new jade plant is a completly diffrent shade of green than the one that I recieved as a clipping and it is a very dull color. I am worried about it because it does not have a healthy look and if you touch it one of its curved leaves will fall off
The leaves on the bottom curve completly backwards.
I keep it in a warm sunny window and water it once a month.
should I move it, give it mirical gro or what.
Hello,
I would try watering it more often. Try watering it every two weeks and see if it improves.
Thanks,
drayas
I accidentally left my jade plant outside on the deck to catch some rain water.
I had to leave town on an urgent basis. When I returned, the plant was already exposed to a snow shower and cold temps. It is not soggy and wet and the stem is completely droopy.
Have I killed it ?
I had a collection of jade plants on my back yard. It appeared that the roots were very shallow when they were originally planted. Over the last two years it has grown from one feet to 3.5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. The stems of the branches had become very thick and heavy with leaves and white flowers at the top. On a very windy evening couple of days back, one of the bigger plant got uprooted and brought down branches from other plants areound it. I have taken these uprooted stems with thick healthy leaves and just replanted them. Will that work. They were looking so beautiful i would hate to let them die.
Any suggestion would be helpful thanks.
NL
NL,
I really don't have any experience with the outdoor varieties of Jade plants.
Can any of my readers help us out??
Sorry,
drayas
I live in Vancouver. It's getting cold now and i'm finding my Jade plant is losing a lot of leaves... an entire branch fell off the other day. It's quite a large plant. I have beside a window. Too cold? Too much water?
Help!?
Patricia,
How cold is the room the plant is kept in? Aim to keep it above 60 and that should not be an issue. It may be a watering issue. Allow the soil to dry out in between watering.
Is it near any heat sources?
Thanks,
drayas
Help Please! I've been known to have a bit of a black thumb and I really want to keep my jade alive.
I got it, oh, last march, I believe, from a friend and set it outside under a tree, where it remained throughout the summer. I left it in it's original pot and rarely if ever watered it, and it did great. However, once it got cold (I live in MO), I repotted it and moved it inside. It was under a west facing window, then moved under a north facing window.
Since the move, the leaves have gotten 'weak',they are not the normal plump and firm of a jade. Some have brown spots, but most are still green.
Some people are saying that they have leaves or entire branches falling off. None of that is happeneing to mine, all the leaves are intact. The room stays around 70, but is it getting cold from the window? Am I over-watering it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
I repotted my plant a little over a year ago since it was growing so well. I had to tie off some of the branches since they had become top heavy. In the mean time, it appears that I may have over watered (or underwatered depending on which problem overrides the other). There is definitely root rot, I can see the bottom pulling. Leaves are also falling off. I am trying to plant the leaves and the healthy stems, and I think I have to move it to a sunnier spot, but am wondering if there's anything else I can do to salvage this plant? thanks!
Please help, I have a 21 years old jade plants which given so many babies in so many pots and given to so many friends, last summer I moved in the house with a nice garden and decided that the mummy jade will planted in the garden and will be the center of attraction to my garden as it is almost 4 feet tall and just look like a giant bonsai,everyone stops and admire it. this winter I forgot to cover it and protect it from the cold. One morning on my way out to work, i was so distraught to see the mummy jade were like a jelly and the leaves are almost like its been frozen and thawed. Please advice me what to do, will it come back to life come summer do I have to do something now please , am so so sad, tell me what to do.
thank you, and please reply.
My jade plant was about twoinches tall - a single stem. I have had it about four years aznd now it is about eight inches tall,still a single sten but seems to be healthy. Will it ever branch out?
I have cuttings that I planted from my friend's jade plant, I have had them for over a year and they don't seem to grow much although it looks really healthy. Any reason why I am not getting the growth mentioned in your emails from other growers? Some say theirs have doubled in size
My Jade plant is quite large and when it loses soft spongy leaves am I over watering it?
Hello...Thanx for all your helpful advice...My wife has a Jade Plant that has a Silvery-Brown Crackle effect over most of the top surfaces of the leaves... they are not shrinking or shrivelling however. So I think plant gets adequate water...How do we get rid of this discoloration? Is the plant simply too old?
Thanx for advice...My wife has a Jade Plant that has a silvery-brown crackle effect over the top surface of most of the leaves. The leaves are not shrivelling or cracking though, so I believe it gets adequate water. How do we get rid of this discoloration? Is the plant too old?
I'm thinking of bringing a jade plant to work. I just have fluorescent lighting - no window. And it would sit near a heat source. Will it be OK?
Hi, I saw an answer of yours on experts exchange and was hoping you could help me out.
The scenario: my jade plant is growth off of my mothers very old plant in NY (I am in FL). She brought it down to me in FL and it has been pretty healthy with some brown discolorations but good growth. I recently re-potted the plant (using miracle-grow potting soil) and because of the spots I started researching how to properly care for the plant. We were watering it once a week fairly heavily. I believe possibly over watering. I have now backed off and started allowing the soil to dry out 1/2 inches deep before re-watering. And I guess possibly did not use the right soil for re-potting either. (I do have at least an inch of rocks in the bottom of the new pot and it drains freely)
It has been in various spots, mostly outside, until we started getting a lot of could weather, then we put it inside near a window where it received partial sun from the west. I read a few different opinions on what kind of lighting... Filtered light, direct light, etc. It now receives direct sun-light from about 11am to 6pm.
I believe that I have some kind of pest after re-potting and read I could us an antibacterial soap / water mix and spray on twice a day to rid the plant of the pests. Under one leaf I saw what looked like a black egg patch of some kind. I did this and sprayed the plant pretty heavily for three days (i covered the soil with a towel so it did not get any in the pot). Today I noticed the ends of some leaves looked water-loged/black/rotted possibly because of spraying with the solution?
Long story short, here is a picture and I hope you can help me out. You can see the spots I was talking about and also the black discoloration on the end of the leaves.
my jade
Regards
I need help! My jade is about 25-30 years old. It is 2 feet or so tall. I've had it for 3 years. It was full of leaves and healthy. We moved and our new house does not have any good windows facing east or west in the living space. We live in northeast Ohio and it is fairly cloudy, especially in winter. So I put it upstairs last winter in a west facing window in hopes that it would get enough light. In the summer, we brought it downstairs since there would be enough sun and it would get enough light from the other windows. Over time, my jade is losing branches. They shrivel up and then fall off. The leaves always look healthy, but it is the branches that die. Where the branches break off, it is sometimes brown. I try to cut out the brown spots, because it looks like it is rotting. Then new branches have grown in the place where old branches fell off. Since there is new growth, it makes me think it is not dying, but why is it losing branches? I don't want it to die.....it is such a beautiful plant!
I have a Jade plant that is about 10 years old. Its been in the same pot all that time and is generally very happy.
It was pruned last spring and took well to this, growing at great gusto for the next few weeks.
Over the past month or so, white spots have started to appear on last years new growth. I'll attempt to add a photo.
No idea what they are, it looks as though its been splattered with paint. The spots scratch off pretty easily.
Any ideas?
My new baby jade has soft soggy leaves. I think it is due to over-watering. What can I do besides letting it dry out?
I love this site! I inherited a plant that is2 ft. wide and same in length. It started to get roots everywhere then BINGO stems started to get squishy and thin. When I pruned the spots just shribbled. I repotted it but didn't know to look and remove root rot. Can I repot and trim the roots this time or will it shock my new baby? HELP
I have a jade plant that is over 13 yrs old. I think I may have over watered it. I noticed a squishy trunk and immediately cut it off knowing this was not a good sign. I noticed one or two others and did the same. I have however noticed new growth on other branches. I neglected to mention that this all began after a severe cutting back a couple of months ago. It was getting to leggy and the branches were hanging down and heavy I was afraid they would break.
Anyway, can someone give me a tip on how to save my plant or am I even in danger of losing it?? I am hoping if I stop watering for a couple weeks it will allow it to dry and recover. Please help. This plant has so much meaning to me I can't loose it.
Hello,
I have an inhereitied ajde, a big one. It got mushy before it was left to me, and the previous owner pruned it drastically. NOw it is starting again, although I am confused. The stems are mushy, but the leaves are thin and shriveled. I know that I hardly water it.
I have pictures that I can email you if you think it would help.
Thanks so much. I would hate for this beautiful old girl to die!
Jennifer
I found a jade plant leaf with roots and planted it in my mom's cactus pot. Now it is starting to grow(it has a little cm tall stem attached to it)and I am totally freaking out! I don't know what to do! A few tips please?
Hello everyone,
Sorry for the delay in answers. I'm a mom of 2 (3 year old and 4 month old) so time has not been a friend of mine lately. Below I believe I have answered / addressed everyone's issues. If not, post again and I'll try to get you an answer quickly, or at least my best advice.
Porsche - How often are you watering it? In general Jade plants prefer lower water levels, so allow the soil to dry out in between watering. I usually water every 1 to 2 weeks.
If your plant has root rot, keep doing what you're doing. Take cuttings from the healthy parts of the plant. The part attacked by root rot will not come back. Take as much of the healthy parts as you can, because the root rot will spread. Repot the new cuttings in fresh soil.
sad mummy - Unfortunately I don't have any experience with these plants outdoors. Can any of my readers give us hand? Will Jade plants come back in the summer?
In terms of growth, it depends on the environment. Those where it is growing so well have mastered the care requirements. Continue to follow the care advice listed above and your plants should continue to grow. When trying something new such as more or less light, or more or less water, do only one change at a time in case it causes your plant to go the otherway. That way you can quickly stop and know not to do that again.
My jade plant was about twoinches tall - a single stem. I have had it about four years aznd now it is about eight inches tall,still a single sten but seems to be healthy. Will it ever branch out?
11:45 AM
RW - I honestly have no idea! Mine isn't that old so I can't give an answer on that. Any of my readers have a silvery brown crackle effect on the foliage or know what causes it??
I would say that without natual sun light or an actual plant light, I'm not sure it would do well. However I could be wrong? Also, having it near a heat source, if the temperature fluctuates a lot, or has heat blowing right on the plant, will hurt the plant.
Josh - The black rotted foliage wouldn't be from the soapy mixture as far as I'm aware of. It's more likely a product of over watering. Are the stems squishy? The roots squishy? You may have a problem of stem rot.
KT930 - Are the stems squishy like it has stem rot?? How often are you watering your Jade plant? With the lower light levels, you should also decrease the water as well.
Apprentice Supermum - Have you changed the water you use to water it with? Another possibility is that is has some sort of pest. Try spraying the plant with a soapy dishwater mixture twice a day for about a week. If the white spots are sticky, use rubbing alcohol and gently rub the white spot off.
plant loving kid - Is it planted with other cactus? If so you may have issues because the Jade plant will need more water than the cactus. Follow the care advice above and you'll be fine.
Thank you to all my readers and those who help by providing their own tips and stories.
drayas
ive had my jade plant for about four years but its only about half a foot tall. How do i get it to grow bigger?
Hello Drayas - It's Jen again with my Jade plant help comment.
I have a jade plant that is over 13 yrs old. I think I may have over watered it. I noticed a squishy trunk and immediately cut it off knowing this was not a good sign. I noticed one or two others and did the same. I have however noticed new growth on other branches. I neglected to mention that this all began after a severe cutting back a couple of months ago. It was getting to leggy and the branches were hanging down and heavy I was afraid they would break.
Anyway, can someone give me a tip on how to save my plant or am I even in danger of losing it?? I am hoping if I stop watering for a couple weeks it will allow it to dry and recover. Please help. This plant has so much meaning to me I can't loose it.
Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated. Jen
Drayas -thanks. Regarding the sunless office plant, I think it is possible if you use a grow light in your desk light. I had a happy jade under one for years (although it only grew a little in that time).
I am curious how people use cuttings to start new plants. My jade was moved to a window, was attacked my critters, was over-watered, and developed stem rot. The plant is no more -very sad. But I have many healthy clippings. What is the best method for growing them?
Thanks again.
LB
Do jade plants have a seasonal cycle where they shed leaves? I've had a foot tall one for a few months now and it was doing just fine, but all of a sudden within the last 2 weeks, it seems like a third of its leaves fell. I do not overwater and there appears to be new growth as well. Please advise?
Hi! My jade plant used to have nice bright green shiny leaves...lately I'm noticing a 'dulling' of that colour..and some of the leaves look a little yellow and wrinkly. Does this mean I am not watering it enough? I usually check to see how dry the soil is and water about once a week. The plant sits on a stool in front of a south facing window- is it getting too much sun? I would very much appreciate your help.
Many thanks
My jades leaves are not plump they are flat. I water once a month,they are real shinny and dark green.With it on the floor the plant comes to my knees.Can you help me? Thanks
Hi, I adopted a jade plant recently. Its about 2 feet tall, with a thick main stem. I think it may have been neglected as when I moved it to my house lots of leaves and some new stems fell off. They have continued to fall off, over the last month, so I have moved it to a lighter spot. I gave it a good water when I got it but I dont think I over-watered. any ideas please?
Thanks
Rich
Jade plants require higher water levels. Try watering every 2 weeks versus once a month.
Drayas
I have had my Jade for about 3 years. It is growing fine , but the branches are starting to fall over. I thought it might have been the fact that the pot was not big enough, but now I am not sure. Is it best to stake it or just let them fall. Also was wondering about pruning, but hate to cut them off. Thanks for any help with this. I usually only water it when it is really dry.
Thanks for your reply...I hope you can help me. The branches/leaves that fall off are not squishy. I do not think there is root rot. I re-potted the plant and I didn't find any rotting/squishy roots either. I think I've under watered it, but then when I do give it water, it seems to not like that either. I moved it to another window in the main living area so it is warmer, gets lots of late afternoon sun and there is a lot of new growth. Yea! But I'm still having branches fall off. Now it is just 3 big trunks with tiny new growth on the ends. It is now getting mold on the places where the stems were recently cut off. :( How often should I water it, now that it is having growth and it gets about 3-6 hrs of light? How can I stop the mold growing on the recently exposed flesh? Thank you!
I have a large jade plant with leaves that are thin. I have increased water to twice a week. It was in high sun through the winter which probably didn't help. I also wasn't sure if it was pot bound and that was causing the thin leaves. I replanted 5 years ago.
Any ideas? Thanks.
Hi!
My jade plant is continuing to grow taller, but it is not sprouting any new branches, new leaves off of the original sprouts. How can I prune it to bring about more branches?
Is there anyway to tell when a Jade Plant needs to be repotted? I have a large one and the leaves are not plump. I am watering twice a week. I have reduced the sun a bit. Anything you can share?
Thanks!
My jade plant is about 10 years old and is healthy and happy, but gets very little new growth on the base stems.....most new growth is out toward the ends and branching off away from the base. Lots of leaves, but pretty bare down toward the soil end of the trunks. This does create droopy branches, as they are heavy with growth. Will cutting back those droopy branches promote growth down toward the base more?
Thanks for your help.
I need some help with my jade plant. . . . I think it is about 10 years old, i've had it for about 6 months. . when i started taking care of the plant it was growing downwards and then back up. . .I staked it up and it grew quite a bit and it has also been in bloom for about 5 months, which is AWESOME. However, i've been told about 3 times now not to stake it up, and that they should naturally grow down. . . so i took the stakes out and i guess i'll give it another go on its own. . any suggestions with that?
Also, i was wondering how to take a clipping and make it into another plant? just today when i took the stakes out a larger branch came off, and i would like to use it as a gift.
thankyou very much
kelly
chickwich04@aol.com
Hi, I have a jade plant that is about 3 or 4 years old, with small leaves (not the large ones). I recently re-potted it and found that the roots were VERY underdeveloped (maybe only an inch long, where my plant is about 3 or 4 inches high). Is there any way to grow the roots longer? Also, what is the best way to grow it taller? I have maybe 5 branches. One grows up, the rest droop over the sides of the pot maybe an inch or two, then turn upwards. It is quite heavy and leans to the side. How do I make the main trunk larger and stronger to support this? Help!
Hi, I have a small leaf jade plant that has very very underdeveloped roots (it is maybe 4-5 inches but the roots are at most 1 inch long). The plant was originally from a cutting, but is now about 4 years old. Is there any way to make the roots grow more? I would have though they would be longer and stronger after so long in the pot it was in. Thanks.
hello. the other day, one of the stems on my jade plant withered and fell off. the remaining part of the stem (the part that goes down into the soil) was soft and mushy, and it was black and white on the inside. I think this is rot.
If it is rot, will it spread to other parts of my plant?
I love my jade plant, and I don't want to lose it. what should I do?
I have had my vining jade plant for 5-6 months now. It was doing well at first, but now the leave are drooping & some of them are turning brown. I repotted the plant before the changes in the plant occured and i moved the plant from an east window. i thought it needed to be repotted because big pieces of the plant was falling off and it was too top heavy. It was near a a/c vent and i thought the cool air would send it into shock. Now, after reading this blog, i believe, not only have i over watered it, but i may have sent it into shock, due to accidently leaving it outside overnight when the temp dropped to 50 or so degrees. HELP Please! I love this plant so much. It was the first one i purchased when i moved into my 1st new home. It means a lot to me. So here are my questions.
1) Should i repot the plant w/ putting gravel or rocks at the bottom to help draining? (As your blog suggest?)
2) Could my plant be in shock and how can i tell? Can it make a comeback?
3) With the big pieces that fell off, I have put them in water (just water) hoping that they will grow roots and i can replant them. Is this correct thinking? What is the best way to care for the peices that fell off.
Thanks so much,
Ladybug
NEED HELP! I have a Jade plant that is almost 2 years old, it's doing very well, but today I purchased a baby one. The stems are still fleshy green and when i took the wrapper off, they began to bend and droop. This scared me, because I don't want them to snap and break, it also lost a few leaves in the process of re-potting. I tied a string around them to keep them up, is this a good or bad idea?
I have a 3 jade plants in my office. They range in size up to 2 feet and sit on my window sill. The largest one's leaves are drooping and have turned red in color and then brown. The smaller ones leaves are red around the edges. Do you have any idea why this is happening? I transplanted the large one hoping new soil will give it new life. I thought I might have been over watering it but someone in my office thinks it is not getting enough water. I do not want them to die.
I have adopted my friend's jade tree. It is 3'x3' with a main stem diameter of 9". It is in an 11" pot which narrows down to its base. It has been in a south exposure until now; I have it in a west window. It is watered about once/wk. However, the leaves are flat and droopy; some have turned yellow or brown and dropped off. No obvious sign of mealybug. How can we help this tree?
Judy
Correction from Judy - the CIRCUMFERENCE of the jade tree is 9" (not the diameter).
I have read through most of the postings here but no one else seems to have the same conditions. My fairly large Jade plant (2' x1'6") has a trunk as thick as a mans arm and is generally healthy but small rootlets have appeared at the base of new growth. Many of these stems falling off. Sometimes just the new piece other times with sections of branch which seem to have sealed themselves off. Is this normal cycle for the plant or do I need to take remedial action. The fallen pieces take readily and I now have dozens of young plants.
I have a small Jade plant that I started last summer from a leaf. There are actually three stalks started from three leaves in the same pot. they're about 5 inches tall now but are only growing straight up in a single stalk. Will they start branching out on its own or will I need to pinch the tops at some point?
I have several jade plants that got too much water in June when we got a lot of rain and I didn't move them inside. A couple have recovered nicely but a few haven't. The leaves are all yellowish instead of the nice deep green and very scalloped looking as if they need more water but they couldn't because I have continued to give them water about once a week. They're all potted in a well draining mixture of potting materials and they get 3-4 hours of direct South Carolina sun every day in the morning and early afternoon.
I think my jade plant has stem rot. The stems and leaves are shriveling up and falling off. The green leaves have even started to fall. When I break one of the stems in half to look at the inside, its somewhat hollow. It looks as if there is even some sort of mold starting to grow where a stem broke off. I'm concerned about the plant given that its large and replanting it may actually damage it more than it already is. How can I determine how much of the plant I need to cut away to eliminate the stem rot? Right now it seems as if the entire plant is starting to look bare as leaves are falling from all over the plant. Please help.
Hi,
So I saw that blkitalianpride75 had this same question but my jade, about 2 feet tall & wide & very healthy, has started drooing leaves. I say it is very healthy because the stems look good, the leaves, even the ones that drop off, are all bright, glossy & plump and there is new growth everywhere but still, everyday I come home to 4 or 5 leaves on the ground...i can't figure it out. It is possible that i was overwatering it at opne point but i stopped that and now let the soil get completely dried out before I water. the plant is in between two window so it gets indirect sunlight all day long and a slight breeze thought it has been very humid lately...any ideas?
Thank you
I have read all the comments on Jade plants and not one describes mine. I've had it for about a year and a half, It was growing great at first but now it seems like it just stop growing! It's stands about 7" with sand like soil. the leaves (except the top new leaves)are wrinkly and very thin, the part where it connects to the stem is reddish color but thicker that the leave.The leaves have not fell off, it does nothing! What is wrong with this plant.
I've had a jade plant for three years. It has never grown, not a centimeter. Occasionally it drops a few leaves and those don't grow back. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
I have an awesome jade plant,(tree).It,s about 10 years old,it,s very healthy and it,s base is about 3 inches in diameter! i,d love 4 you 2 post a photo of it,but at least take a look at it and tell me what you think about it?I,ll work on a photo! Danny of Asheville
I have read some of the commets and I'm pretty sure my jade plant has root rot, because the roots are blackish and squishy. Also the tops of healthy looking steams fall off. If it is rotting what kind of soil should I use? and what size of pot? I have 5 stalks 7-8 inches high. I really want to save the plant as it was a gift for my daughter ( middle name Jade) from my mother. thanks for any suggestions.
I've had my jade plants on a window sill for years. For some reason, the leaves are growing downward instead of up! I've Q and A's for this problem and have found nothing. What could be causing this?
Hi,
I have had my Jade for a few years now, have moved twice with it. It has been fine through all of that.
I live in NYC and have had it outside my window from March til now (Dec 15) and she's been growing well. I feed her when needed and water her the same.
Recently I brought her in because it was getting below 50 degrees (and soon will be in the 30s and 20). However, I noticed her lower leaves started yellowing then falling off. Perhaps since she's inside she's not drying out completely at the base of the pot?
I have to leave in a few days for a week and a half. It will be cold (30s) while I'm away and I don't want her to die. What's should I do to ensure I come home to a healthy Jade?
Thank you, Erin
Post a Comment
<< Home