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
27 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
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