Jade plant is also known as the Crassula ovata. It is one of the most common and favorite indoor plants for many people including me. The reason why most people love it is that this plant is versatile and can survive with little maintenance. However, the jade plant is also a soft succulent that is pretty vulnerable to extreme environmental conditions. No wonder why many of my readers have asked me why their jade plant is drooping.
What causes this, however? The most common reasons are an inadequate supply of sunlight and fertilizing. Low temperature, for instance, could detriment the health of the plant as well. During a cold season, the jade plant can wilt if no one is taking care of it. The good news is that you can revive the plant if you want to. There are techniques that help to bring your favorite plant to its healthy state. But discussing such techniques, however, I want to clarify the four main reasons why your jade plant may be wilting. Let’s go!
Table of Contents
1. Too much or too little of sunlight
One of the common mistakes stems from the wrong belief that succulents can thrive well under a scourging sun. Although succulents are native to semi-native areas, their ability to live under direct sunlight is limited.
The jade plant, for instance, prefers about four hours of direct sunlight exposure a day. More than that, the plant may develop growth problems including wilting. For the most part, the jade plant loves indirect sunlight. During summer, avoid placing the plant in an open space. Place it under a shade instead. This way you will reduce the risk of killing your favorite plant.
* May also interest you:How Much Sunlight Do Succulents Need?
2. Inadequate watering or fertilizing
Like other succulents, the jade plant does not like over-watering or excessive moisture. So before you water the plant, make sure that the soil is already dry. This will prevent the issues that excessive watering can cause to your beloved succulent.
Apart from over- watering, too much fertilizer can also cause drooping to the plant. Jade plant does not need a constant supply of inorganic fertilizer. In fact, it can survive without it. But if you really want to supplement the nutrient, you can give fertilizer once every three months with a minimum amount, or even just once in a year. More than that, it will do harm than good to the plant. I also suggest you to use organic fertilizers, such as this one you can get for best prize on Amazon (* affiliate link, if you decide to get the fertilizer, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you).
3. Extreme temperatures
Because jade plants are soft succulents, they are susceptible to extreme environmental conditions. Winter season, for instance, is challenging for a jade plant. It can resist 40° F but only for a short span of time. In this temperature, if left unattended, the jade plant may wilt and die quite quickly.
Having said that, high temperatures are also far from idea for a Jade Plant. The best practice is to bring the plant inside during summer or noontime. Or transfer it under the shade. Hopefully it isn’t too heavy for you to do so :). Indirect sunlight can boost the growth of the plant especially outdoors, keep it on your mind.
4. Insects or bugs
Bugs can pose a serious threat to jade plant. They would silently attack the plant without you noticing them, since they are often so small, or do their work in the night, when we sleep or cannot see them. Another threat is the bacteria that infect the plant causing it to wilt. When infected, the jade plant will develop mushy tissues, and eventually wilt. It may not surprise you that this bacteria is a real threat and one that is perhaps hardest to address, when we compare it to other reasons why your jade plant may wilt.
What can you do with the drooping jade plant?
When you notice your jade plant wilting, you know that something must be wrong. Check the causes mentioned above. The first step is discovering the issue. Once you know the root of the problem, you can address it. Depending on the causes of the drooping, there are many things you can do to at least stop the wilting or avoid further damage. Let’s have a look at some of them.
Adjusting your watering schedule
Both overwatering and under watering will result in wilting. One of the indicators of under watering is the wilting of leaves. Then, if the lack of water continues, the whole plant will ultimately bend down. The best way to avoid getting underwater is to check the soil of the plant. Take a pinch of it and feel the moisture. If the soil does not stick on your finger, that means that the plant needs water.
Overwatering will also harm the plant. One of the common signs of overwatering is the softening of the tissues of your succulent. It feels mushy and soft. The best way to avoid it is using the soak and dry method. To do this, just pour water in the soil but not on the plant. Make sure that the whole pot is wet. Water again as soon as the soil gets totally dry.
The time it takes the soil to dry depends on the season and climate. During summer, it takes less time than in winter, and so on–most of this should be obvious to you. Always consider the environmental factors when deciding about your watering schedule.
* May also interest you: How Often to Water Succulents Indoors?
Lessen sun exposure or adjust the lighting
If you identify direct sun exposure as a main cause of your plan wilting, simply move it under the shade. Remember that the jade plant enjoys direct sun exposure, but only for 4-6 hours a day.
If drooping happens during winter, the lack of sunlight may be the main cause. This means that the plant needs light. What you can do in this case is to use artificial lighting for indoor plants. You can buy it online. Check on Amazon the one that I use for my indoor succulents.(* this is an affiliate link, if you decide to purchase this great lamp I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you). Once you have the lamp, you can expose the droopy jade plant under the light for about 12-14 hours a day. This will supplement the light they need, and would normally get, in their natural habitat.
Check for possible diseases
When drooping happens quickly and almost all of a sudden, you should check your plant for possible diseases. Look for the areas where rotting is noticeable. What you can do is to cut out those areas using clean and sharp scissors or knife.
The remaining stem or part of the jade plant can be planted in new soil and a new pot. This is to make sure that they are safe from the previously acquired disease. This practice will also increase the chances of growing a more healthy plant.
Provide additional support
In some cases, your jade plant droops simply because it is too heavy for the stem & roots. If you identify this as a cause, you can easily resolve it by providing support to your plant. Use a stick to help the plant to carry its weight. If it does not work, you can prune your jade plant, to make it lighter…
Hope you enjoyed this post. If you want to become a real pro in growing succulents, make sure to check my complete guide on growing succulents. Thank you!
FAQ:
Q: Jade plant losing its branches and leaves, what is happening?
A: One of the reasons may be watering schedule. It may suggest that the roots or soil did not absorb an ample amount of water. This happens especially if you have a small pot. As a result, it dries out too quickly. The best solution, in this case, is to make the pot bigger. Change the size of your planter. Bigger pot with well-draining soil will ensure succulents healthy growth. And don’t forget to provide distance between the plants to allow them to breathe.
When you water your plant, make sure that the roots get their water supply. Soak the soil and let the excess water run through the drainage holes of the pot. I assume that you use pots with holes. This is what I recommend at least. Remember that the jade plant prefers less water to too much water. Good luck and happy growing!