Jade plant leaves crystallizing – One of the TOP secrets many growers failed to decipher
Millions of people grow Jade Plants all over the world. Logically, even when we speak about one of the most versatile succulents, when so many people grow it in so many different environments, at least some will experience problems. Some of the most common are Jade Plant growing downward, leaves changing colors to brown, black, red, or even purple, the stem getting mushy, etc. All of these problems are well documented, and while it isn’t always easy to identify the exact cause, we at least know what to do in each instance. However, one problem still remains a mystery to vast majority of Jade Plant growers–crystalizing leaves.
In this post I will try to uncover this mystery, following both the scientific discussion on the subject, and my personal experience with Jade Plants. Let’s start with the basics. Any color or structure changes to leaves of a Jade Plant result from some stress to the plant. Except of minority of leaves turning brown progressively and falling off (yes, Jade Plants do change leaves just like any other plants do), all other changes of color or structure in the leaves indicate something’s wrong with the plant. But what’s wrong when leaves to crystalize? I will try to find the answers on the following lines.
Extreme temperatures and sudden changes in temperature are often to blame
Evidence from fellow growers, as well as my personal experience, suggests that crystalizing of Jade Plant leaves happens most often to plants that are exposed to extreme temperatures, or big temperature changes between day and night. This problem occurs for example when an unexpected heatwave hits some place, and suddenly the indoors temperature grows by five degrees or more in a short span.
It may not look like a big deal to you, I know. But you should realize that a Jade Plant used to certain temperature year round (for example in an air-conditioned apartment) may perceive this as a major change. Plants cannot take off coats and shirts. They react to environmental changes in their own way, and sometimes they may even die. If your plant experiences sort of changes I described, try your best to move it to another place where the temperature and light exposure remains the same.
Evidence suggests combination of extreme sun exposure and over-watering is to blame
Sometimes when we cannot connect the dots scientifically, we look at evidence, and what other growers experienced. From my talks and from stories shared on different online forums, I noticed some pattern. Several people who experienced small crystals and burns on the leaves of their jade plants were actually watering the plant heavily in a dry, super hot season. This step may seem logical, but you should realize that excessive watering is always bad for Jade Plant, regardless of the outside temperature.
I am just speculating now, but I can imagine the excess water almost boiling behind the tissues of leaves, under the immense heat of sun. In such a combination, certain scars can develop on the leaves, and the final effect may resemble small crystals or burns. Keep this on your mind. Regardless of the heat, water your Jade Plant only when the soil is completely dry. You should always use a pot with drainage hole too.
Damaged root system and over-fertilization seems like a likely cause
You know how it goes with both people and plants: We want to do them good, while in fact we are hurting them with giving them what they do not need. In my experience, a healthy Jade Plant does not need any fertilizing at all. Of course producers of fertilizers with their multi-million dollar marketing budgets will tell you the opposite, but think about it in this way: Succulents are native to semi-desert areas, that means areas of arid soil with little nutrient content. Yet they thrive in such areas… Why would you want to give them something else in your home?
Over-fertilizing can burn the roots, or restrain their capacity to transfer a certain nutrient to the stems and leaves of the plant. And the lack of this one nutrient can result in strange (and almost mysterious) changes in the Jade Plant, such as crystalizing of the leaves. The funny thing is that with succulents, over-fertilization doesn’t necessarily mean using fertilizers too often, such as once in two months. With plants like Jade, it can mean using any fertilizer at all, since it simply isn’t natural for the plant, and in combination with certain soil or other issue, it can eventually kill your plant.
Mystery of crystalized leaves unsolved
I asked two botanists from local University for their opinion, bringing them some photos (from the internet) of crystalized leaves of Jade Plant. Neither of them was able to come with a final verdict. They both said some strange form of stress response is taking place, but that’s something I already knew (sort of). At the end of the day, it seems we won’t be able to decipher this mystery today.
But it doesn’t mean that you cannot solve the problem. Try to avoid fertilizers and do not subject your plant to extreme changes. And always remember that plants do what’s best for them–if they are shedding some leaves, they know what they do. Sure, it doesn’t look nice if the leaves are crystalized, but as long as we speak about minority of leaves and the rest of the plant seems just fine, I think you should simply take the recommended precautions and go on with your succulents.
Jade plant leaves turning purple – main causes and remedies
Jade Plant is a favorite of houseplants lovers for two main reasons. First of all it looks great in almost any surroundings, and secondly it is super easy to take care of, and can tolerate a lot of neglect (like when you leave for three weeks holiday and don’t leave your neighbor a key to water the plants). However, some growers experience strange phenomenon with Jade Plants–their leaves suddenly changing color, either to silver, black, red, or to purple. We will address the last one in this article, looking at three possible causes, and what you can do to address each one.
Before diving into details, let me quickly summarize the three main reasons why leaves of your beloved Jade Plant may turn purple. No. 1 is too much sun exposure, no. 2 is a sudden temperature change, and no. 3 is inappropriate use of fertilizer. These causes are responsible for 95% of cases of Jade Plants turning purple, but you should always remember that nature does not follow exact rules as we citizens do, and in specific cases the reason may be different, or it can be the combination of various factors that cause certain stress to the plant.
Mild purple coloring of leaves is typically no reason to worry
Any change of colors in Jade Plant signifies some stress the plant is going through. Plants (just like animals or humans) release certain chemicals when experiencing stress. Jade plant releases anthocyanin, which causes the leaves to turn purple (or similar color). And while in my opinion we should try our best to not expose plants to unnecessary stress, you should also realize that this is a natural reaction, and Jade Plant won’t die after the leaves turned purple.
It may surprise you but some experienced succulent growers actually stress the jade plant on purpose, either with extreme sun exposure or with big temperature changes, with a goal of achieving certain coloring of the leaves. This conduct may be questionable from ethical point of view (people do not care much about plants’ rights though), but it is hard to say whether or not the plant actually “feels” any discomfort. Some people even sell jade plants with purple leaves, charging high price, benefiting from lack of knowledge of customers, who think it goes about a special type of Jade, whereas in reality it is a normal Jade Plant that has undergone some stress recently. Be aware of of such scammers should you consider buying purple Jade Plant.
Exposure to extreme sunlight is the no. 1 reason of Jade Plant leaves turning purple
Jade plant, like any other plant, needs light to grow healthily, but it doesn’t need as much light as many people think. It prefers indirect sunlight, ideally only for few hours a day. When you give it too much light, however, it may start releasing anthocyanin, and the leaves will turn purple. What confuses many growers though is that this may not happen for a couple of years and then it suddenly does. How is that possible?
Well, we should not forget that plant life is complex, and many factors come into play–the soil quality, moisture, right size of pot, nutrients in the soil, watering, temperature, pests, and so on. It can happen that something else is also not right for the plant. Combination of secondary factor with exposure to direct sunlight or too much light during the day will eventually result in the leaves turning purple. It did not happen the other year because the secondary factor was not present, or the overall health of your Jade Plant was better.
Luckily enough, the remedy to this problem is simple–reduce the stress on the plant, in this case the extreme light exposure. Move it to other part of the room, or adjust the blinds in order to prevent that much light from entering the room.
Extreme changes in temperature may also cause Jade Plant leaves to turn purple
Jade plant cannot wear a coat or take the shirt off, like we do when we feel cold or hot. It is as it is, and has to live with the surrounding temperature. When it experiences changes that feel extreme to it, it will again release the anthocyanin and change color, often to purple. Now, what does an extreme temperature change mean? It actually depends on the plant. For sensible Jade Plant even 5 degrees Celsius change can feel extreme. Other jade plants won’t change color even when they experience a temperature change of 10 degrees.
What many people do not realize is how opening a window for a night or turning on heating can affect the Jade Plant, especially if it is close to the window or radiator. You may not feel the change to be extreme. But a plant located just half a meter from a radiator will feel it differently… If you rule out extreme sun exposure as a reason for the leaves turning purple, look at the location of the plant in your house, and whether it actually doesn’t trigger common changes in temperature. It may very well be the reason for the problem.
Luckily it again isn’t hard to address the issue. Just change the location of a plant, making sure it remains in a zone with relatively constant temperature. In a relatively short time the leaves will return to their normal color.
Inappropriate use of fertilizer can sometimes be blamed for purple leaves
Big companies want you to spend money, advising you to buy products you do not really need. Jade Plant doesn’t need fertilizers. It is enough if you leave some leaves of the plant slowly decompose on the surface of the soil, or if you water your Jade Plant with rain water (instead of chemically treated tap water). It will get all nutrients it needs.
However, some people (no doubt with good intentions) fertilize their Jade Plant. Wanting to do some good to the plant, they actually harm it, adding too much fertilizer to the soil. Just as the plant can experience stress from sun or temperature changes, it can experience a lot of stress for bad things going on in the soil, such as too much nutrients that may actually burn the roots, or will at least cause stress to the plant. Even in this case, with the use of some fertilizers, the leaves will turn purple. If you’ve fertilized your Jade Plant recently and leaves turned purple afterwards, it is most likely the reason.
Addressing excessive fertilization isn’t always easy. If you really overdid it, you’d have to repot the plant to succulent soil mix with no added fertilizers. In mild cases, however, you may simply let the plant run its course and deal with the situation on its own. Mature Jade Plant should easily handle it.
Final thoughts
Leaves of Jade Plant may turn different colors. If your favorite plant turns purple, you know now that it is most likely due to extreme light exposure, sudden or repeated changes in room temperature, or over-fertilization. Once you find the cause you can address it, or you can decide that you actually like the purple leaves and leave things as they are.
Why is my Jade Plant growing downward?
Jade Plant is a crowd favorite for two reasons: It looks good, and it is super easy to take care of. It is one of those succulents you can simply forget about when leaving your house for two weeks. When you come back, it will be waiting for you, with its stoic beauty and charm. Jade Plant isn’t vulnerable to pests, and people rarely face any issues with it. Having said that, it can sometimes grow downwards, which is a reason for concern for each plant lower. But why does it grow downward, and what you can do to turn it “upside-down” so it looks normally again? I will try to answer the question on the following lines.
Before we dive into the details, let me briefly summarize three main cases while your Jade Plant may start growing downwards: Bad or no access to direct or indirect sunlight; plant is too big for the pot and the rooting system cannot sustain it in the normal position anymore; bad soil selection that does not offer enough support for the roots to hold the plant upright. Let’s have a look at each of these causes in detail, including what you should do to address the problem.
Lack of light is the no. 1 reason why your Jade Plant grows downward
Jade plant is generally an indoor plant, because it cannot tolerate late autumns and winters in moderate climate zones (you can grow it outside in sub-tropical regions though). Many people make a mistake thinking that since it grows indoors, it doesn’t need light, or just very little of it. The thing is this: Jade Plant can survive in a place with no light, but it won’t thrive. And as soon as it “sniffs” some light source, it will grow towards it, and that’s exactly the no. 1 reason why it will grow sideways or downward.
A typical scene: You have your Jade Plant located on some high shelf, or in a hanging pot from the ceiling. But due to the orientation of your window, blinds, shading objects, etc, the majority of light from outside reaches just the lower echelons of the room. In such conditions (common for many flats and offices in residential areas), your Jade plant will simply grow downwards, trying to reach the lighter areas. This phenomenon is called etiolation. Let’s have a look at possible fixes.
Moving the plant to lighter areas and erecting it with a help of a supporting stick
If you notice the problem early enough, and the part of the plant growing downward isn’t too big to reverse, the downward growing Jade Plant is easy to fix. Move the pot to an area that receives light in the room. Put a wooden stick (or a thin metal bar) next to the plant, and tie the plant to this stick. You should be able to bend it slightly. If you do this correctly, in a few weeks the plant will correct itself and grow in the right direction.
Bear in mind though that this fix won’t work if your Jade Plant has been growing downwards for longer time, and you cannot bend the stem any longer, or if the pot is too small to support the helping stick, so you cannot apply the suggested remedy. In such cases you should still move the Jade Plant to lighter areas, because it needs light for healthy growth, but you have to accept the strange direction it took in its life journey. Another idea is propagating the plant, and starting with new cuttings, avoiding the mistake you did with the original plant (bad placement).
Big Jade Plant in a small pot can also grow downwards
Lack of light is the no. 1 reason why your Jade Plant grows in strong directions, but it isn’t the only possible reason. If you feel your plant gets enough light, you should inspect the pot, and think whether it isn’t way too small for your plant. What often happens to beginners is that they buy Jade Plant in a shop, and think that the original pot is good enough and the plant can stay in it for months or years.
Bear in mind though that succulent sellers always try to minimize their expenses, and they will plant their Jade Plants is the smallest pots possible (since they cost less), and typically plastic pots (which are light). If you do not repot the plant right after purchasing or soon enough, what can happen is that the root system cannot sustain the plant in an upright position, simply because there isn’t enough space for it to spread properly in the small pot. Once the plant gets too big, it will lean to an angle, and sometimes the angle is so big that it grows almost downwards.
Hence if you rule out problems with light, inspect the pot, the size of it, and whether the weight of the Jade plant isn’t actually “pulling its own roots out of the dirt”, which can cause your plant appear to grow sideways or even downwards. The remedy is easy in this case though: Just do not wait and repot the plant quickly, to a pot of an appropriate side. Make sure to choose the right soil mix, and pot with drainage hole.
In rare cases the soil mix is actually the reason why your Jade Plant grows downward
Jade Plant isn’t demanding, and it can do well in many types of soil (though it prefers certain soil, which provides right mix of support, aeration, and nutrients). However, if you make a really bad selection at the beginning, for example using the same soil you use to plant tomatoes into, it may happen that the roots of Jade Plant do not find enough support in the soil, which may again cause the entire plant to bend, and, eventually, grow downwards.
Luckily this condition isn’t hard to address. You can even use the same pot, you just replace the soil with a better potting mix for succulents. Sometimes you may need a supporting stick at the beginning (to help the plant regain its original position earlier), but if bad soil (one roots cannot find adequate support in) was the reason for the downward growth of your plant, it will eventually correct itself.
Final thoughts
Lack of light and bad placement is no. 1 reason for your Jade Plant growing downward. As you can see now, whether or not you can reverse the trend depends on the severity of the issue, and how quickly you spot the problem. In some cases though bad pot size or bad soil mix is to blame. It can also be a combination of factors, so as always the key is to know your plants, give them some attention, and never cease to learn…
What are the symptoms of an over-watered Jade Plant, and how to treat it?
Just like the vast majority of succulent plants, jade plants are prone to overwatering. Understanding the symptoms and how to address them will help you make sure your jade plant thrives, and won’t rot in excessive water. Let me list the symptoms first, and then we will look at each one in more detail. So the most common symptoms of an over-watered jade plant are:
- Yellow leaves,
- Soft leaves that start to drop.
- Root rot
Excessive water over a prolonged period of time will hurt jade plants. As a grower, one of your main jobs is to make sure that you spot the symptoms early, and take action to remedy the issue, and save your plant. Before we look at the remedies, let me explain the symptoms a bit in detail, so you do not misdiagnose the problem of your plant.
Related: Do Jade Plants Need Drainage?
Symptom no. 1: Yellowing of leaves
The yellowing of leaves is a natural process. It is normal for them to turn yellow when they get old and about to be replaced. The only difference is that over-watered jade plants show more and more yellow leaves. If it happens, it is a clear suggestion that your plant gets more water than it can sustain.
Why do the leaves turn yellow? Well, it happens primarily due to root rot. Unhealthy roots and stems aren’t able to transfer the nutrient to reach different parts of the plants. As a result, the plant struggles to thrive, and the leaves change color. However, it is also important to remember that sometimes, under-watering, pest infestation,and inappropriate temperatures can also cause yellowing of leaves. That’s why you should check also for other symptoms, making sure you do not blame the wrong cause here.
Symptom no. 2: Leaves are dropping
It is normal for the jade plant to drop some leaves. However, when over-watered, you may notice many leaves dropping every week, and that’s a clear indication that your plants experiences severe distress, and most likely it is over-watering.
Symptom no. 3: Leaves soften
Jade plants have firm leaves, as long as they are healthy. When the leaves become soft, it is always an indication of some problem, and over-watering is one of the issues that triggers softening of leaves. Not surprisingly,too much water causes root rot in succulent plants, and the leaves will soften, lacking what they need.
However, similarly to yellowing of leaves, dehydration can also be the cause of leaves softening. If you want to make sure over-watering caused the problem, check the soil. If it is too wet and the roots are soft, no doubt this is the problem you are dealing with, and you need to take action to save your plant.
Symptom no. 4: Drying of leaves
When the roots don’t function properly, leaves will lack nutrients and will start to dry. However, lack of water can also cause the leaves to dry. That being said, you can easily tell the difference. just like with the previous symptom, you simply check the moisture of soil, either manually, or with the help fo a moisture meter. If the soil is wet, over-watering is likely to blame for the drying of leaves. If the soil is super dry, the plant is dehydrated.
Guide on reviving an over-watered jade plant
Over-watered jade plant can be revived. Just like with any other problem in life, however, early indication is the key here. If the issue is too severe and the rooting system has been damaged to a huge extend, you may not be able to save the plant. But if you sill have some time, you should follow the steps I describe below.
Step no. 1: Remove the existing soil
The soil is likely waterlogged, and any attempt to dry it will fail, or it will take too much time and the plant won’t be saved. Hence the best idea is to simply change it. Before repotting the jade plant into new dry soil, make sure that the wet soil is completely removed from the roots of the plant.
I do not recommend using the same pot again even the soil is replaced. I prefer to change both soil and pot to ensure that the plant is safe. Sure enough you do not have to throw away the old pot. Just clean it properly, let it dry, make sure no pests are inside, and then you can use it for another succulent or another plant in general.
Step no. 2: Remove the affected roots
I suggest you to prune (remove) the most affected roots. Use a clean and sharp cutting tool to avoid additional stress to the plant. When cutting the rotting roots, make sure to remove every affected part–because it is dead already, and leaving it on the plant won’t help it in any way. You know that you got to the right spot when you see the center of the root is entirely white. If you cut the root and see the center is black or brown, keep cutting until the white core emerges. Because black and brown roots are those that have already rotten.. ,
Step no. 3:Place the Jade plant to a new pot
After securing the remaining healthy roots, you can now repot the plant. The first thing I do in a situation like this is to pick the right pot for my plant. It should have an appropriate size. A perfect pot gives jade plant comfort and good aeration and also a good space for the plant to grow.
The second thing to consider is fast-draining soil. Inappropriate soil is one factor that contributes to overwatering. This time you want to make sure that you choose the right soil to avoid the same problem again (click here to check my recommended soil on Amazon).
After you’ve done the job, do not water your jade plant for several days. Only give water when the plant seems to have already recovered or when the soil is completely dry. But again, remember that too much water can harm the plant…
Final thoughts
Over-watering can kill jade plants, just like it can kill almost any other succulent. But the good news is that before your plants die, there is something you can do to save them. All you need to do is to watch out for over-watering symptoms, such as yellowing of leaves, softening and dropping of leaves, and root rot.
Once you notice the signs of over-watering, take immediate action. Remember that the earlier you intervene, the better your chances of saving the plant…
Jade plant too heavy and falling over – what can we do?
Jade plant is one of the succulents that can grow big and tall. This isn’t that common for most succulents, and may lead to problems other succulent plants do not suffer from. Such as that your plant starts falling over. But what are the possible causes, and how can you make sure your plant will survive?
To start with, there isn’t one cause only. On the contrary, possible reasons range from over-watering and inappropriate soil selection to excessive fertilization, lack of sunlight, or your plant simply being too big. Good news is that once you identify the problem, you can always address it quite easily. Let’s have a look at all these issues.
Jade plant falling over because it is over-watered
Succulents are native to semi-desert areas. They can tolerate drought. Their stems and leaves store water that makes them resilient to extreme environmental conditions. However, this strength can also be their weakness. Jade plants are prone to over-watering. Like other succulent plants, too much water can harm them.
Root rot–caused exactly by over-watering, can be one of the reasons why a jade plant is falling over. If you think it can be the case, look at the roots. If they are brown, soft, have a bad smell, than almost certainly this is an issue. Another symptom of over-watering is a mushy stem. It actually indicates severe over-watering, and in such a case you need to act quickly.
What you need to do is to replace the over-watered soil and repot the plant. But before you do that, make sure that you remove the affected roots or stems. Prepare a dry appropriate soil (just like this one, my favorite on Amazon, a soil I have only good experiences with) and repot the jade plant. Unfortunately, over-watered jade plants are harder to save than the under-watered ones. In severe cases you may not be able to save them. The roots have rotten to a huge degree, the plant is falling over (since the roots cannot support it any longer), and you may end up having to get a new plant…
Under-watering can be the cause especially during summer
Another reason why the jade plant falls over is actually lack of water. Although jade plants do not need much water, they will not grow well when lacking it. Your job as a grower is to find the right balance here. You do not want to overwater or underwater your jade plant.
This means that you should develop an appropriate watering schedule. There are many theories on this. But the best watering strategy that works well for my plants is the soak and dry method. When watering, the soil should be completely soaked, then you should allow the excess water to drain (it is important to have a right pot, one with drainage hole, designed especially for succulents).
Before watering again, make sure that the soil is already dry. I like to stick my finger into the soil and see if it is still moist. Only when I see it is completely dry will I water the jade plant again. In summer, normally I frequently give water to my jade plants. This is because the moisture in the soil dries faster than in the colder season. Make sure to keep it on your mind, especially if your jade plant starts falling over in summer.
Inappropriate soil can lead to jade plant falling over
Because succulents are accustomed to the soil in semi-desert areas, you should give them similar soil at your home or garden. An inappropriate type of soil can be a reason why a jade plant falls over.
This usually happens when you use soil that does absorb and retain too much moisture. This causes serious problems in jade plants. The problem is that the issue is sometimes nearly unnoticeable. It lingers and lingers, until you eventually notice there’s something wrong and sometimes it can be too late to take action.
Jade plant lacking sunlight may also fall over
Jade plants need sunlight, at least if you want them thrive and not merely survive. Jade plants growing indoors can offer suffer from lack of sun. Their stems become thinner and weaker while their leaves become heavier. As a result, they fall over.
In order to solve then problem, you have to provide a good light source to the plant. But before you give the jade plant more sunlight exposure, make sure to remove the affected areas first. Prune the weak stems and retain the healthy ones.
However, giving more exposure to sunlight does not mean that you place the plant in the direct sunlight. Hot sun rays can also cause sunburn. Jade plants tend to shrivel if placed under hot direct sunlight for too long. The ideal exposure is in the morning for about 4-6 hours. The mild temperature is perfect for jade plants. In the afternoon, place the jade plant in the shade to keep them safe from the scourging sunlight.
Low temperatures can also harm your plants
Jade plants do not like low temperatures. If exposed to cold temperatures for too long, jade plants tend to fall over. Some succulents are cold-tolerant, but jade plants cannot thrive well in a cold climate. If they are placed in a cold environment, make sure that the temperature is not lower than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
In winter, I recommend you to provide heat for jade plants. You can use grow light (click here to see my recommended grow light on Amazon, * this is an affiliate link and if you decide to get the light I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, thank you 🙂). It will help them survive cold temperatures, and stay healthy until the spring returns again in full force.
The jade plants need to have an appropriate temperature. Find a perfect place for your plants, the right balance.
Excessive fertilization can be an issue here
Fertilizer can provide extra nutrients to your plants. However, they do not need as much as other plants do. You do not need to fertilize them as often as you’d do plants in your garden for example.
The only time that you give fertilizer is during the summer or spring. During winter where almost all succulents are dormant, it makes no sense fertilizing them, and it can actually kill them, burning their roots. Once the roots burn, there’s no structure to hold the plant upright, it gets too heavy, and starts falling over.
Repot only when necessary
The last common reason why jade plants may start falling over is constant repotting. In my experience, jade plants do not like to be moved from one place too another. Repot them only if really necessary, if the existing pot is really too small for them.
It takes some time until they establish their rooting system in a new pot. And if you move them from one pot to another too often, they will simply struggle with both nutrients and balance, and will fall over. I know that you enjoy caring for your plants, trying your best for them. But remember that at times leaving the plants as they are is the best things you can do for them…
Final Thoughts
Jade plant may be falling over from a variety of reasons. And while the apparent reason is always the same–the plant is simply too heavy, this is rarely the real cause of the problem.
If the plant is too heavy for its roots, it either means that there’s too much water in the stems (and you over-watered your plant), or the root system is too weak to hold it straight (it rot from too much water or burned from excessive fertilization, or it isn’t stable because you repotted it recently), or that one of the other problems occurred, just as I described them.
How to take care of a Jade Plant in a rainy season?
Jade plants are incredibly versatile and they can sustain a lot. However, this does not mean that these adorable plants are immune to problems during the rainy season. In fact, constant rain can cause root rot to the jade plants. This commonly is the problem especially if jade plants are planted in soil with poor draining abilities…
Let me say it straight: Because constant rain can cause damage to jade plants, the best way to save them during the rainy season is by bringing them inside. This is the most you can do to keep your plants safe from excessive rainwater. If you have some extra space indoors, this is definitely the easiest way to make sure your Jade Plants survive the rainy season.
Light can be a problem in a rainy season
Under normal conditions, jade plants need at least four hours of sunlight exposure per day. They just love direct sunlight. At temperatures as high as 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, they can still thrive and look amazing. On rainy days though, it will be a different story…
During rainy season, when the sun hides behind thick clouds, you can use grow light (check my recommended grow light on Amazon) to give your jade plant the light it needs. In my experience though, I found that jade plants can survive several days without direct sunlight. They are hardier than other succulent plants. But if the rainy days go for weeks, jade plants definitely need some light source.
Another thing to remember is that jade plants are not frost tolerant. When the temperature drops during winter, bring them inside. During rainy days or winter, jade plants are dormant. Meaning they are not actively growing. During this season, they do not need much water as they are in summer, so keep it on your mind during the rainy season. It is also important to make sure that you are using the fast-draining soil for your plants (click here to check my recommended succulent soil on Amazon), because you do not want to have them in a soil that retains too much moisture.
Watering the jade plant during the rainy season
Like other succulents, jade plants do not like wet soil. When watering, make sure to soak the soil and not the leaves and stems. This is very important during colder seasons. When the leaves and stems are wet, it can cause mold, rot, and other issues.
During the rainy season, I suggest you to use the soak and dry watering method for your jade plant. Soak the soil and leave it dry. Do not water the plant until the soil gets dry for a couple of days. This way you make sure your jade plant is safe from over-watering. To be honest, I found this watering technique most effective, regardless of the season and amount of rain.
Pests and diseases are more common in rainy days
During rainy days and colder seasons, succulents are prone to many pests and diseases. Some of the common pests are mealybugs. They usually hide under the leaves and stems. Luckily they are easy to get rid off. You can eliminate them by spraying them with water with alcohol. You can also wipe the insects with a paper towel with some alcohol on it. Repeat the process several times if the mealybugs stay on the leaves after your first intervention.
If the plant is generally affected by these pests, you can take a more serious remedy. Just throw the affected plants away and propagate a new one. Powdery mildew is another pest you should keep your jade plant from. However, it is less common in the indoor environment.
Final thoughts
Jade plant is one of the hardy succulents. But this does not mean that it is safe from problems during rainy reason. Too much water can definitely cause health problems, such as root rot, infestation with pests, etc.
Caring for jade plants in the rainy season involves making sure that the plants are planted in the fast-draining soil. Secondly, the amount of water and the watering frequency should be regulated. During the rainy season, jade plants are dormant so they do not grow actively. It means they need just minimal amount of water. Finally, look for possible pests and diseases, such as mealybugs, aphids, etc.
How to grow a Jade Plant from a broken stem?
Jade plant or Crassula ovata is one the easiest to grow succulent plants. You can use the stem or leaf to propagate it, and make new plants to enjoy, or give to your loved ones. The stem cuttings will grow easily even if you don’t have a green thumb.
As long as the stem is fresh and not totally damaged you can propagate it. All you need to do is to follow a simple technique which I will describe on the following lines. Enjoy!
Everything starts with the right cut of the stem
The fastest way to grow a jade plant is to start with a stem cutting. You can use any size of cuttings from small to huge ones. But can you still do it with a broken stem? As mentioned, based on my experience, you can. You can still propagate a jade plant cuttings from a broken stem. As long as the rest of the stem is healthy and fresh, it can grow into a new plant again.
The first step you can do is to take the healthy part of the stem by cutting and separating the broken part. But make sure that your cutting tool is clean and free from any debris that could cause damage to the cutting, or other undesirable effect. If you want to do stuff like a pro, get this inexpensive universal garden cutter from Amazon, one which I personally use.
Leaf joints are where the roots will grow
If possible, retain at least 1-3 inches of the healthy part of the stem. This will allow it to have enough space for the roots to grow. Normally, the stem has sets of leaves attached to it. My recommendation is to remove a few sets of leaves. The more leaves you remove; the more leaf joints you have.
Doing this will increase your chances of growing more roots later on. The leaf joints are where the roots will grow. The propagation success rate, in this case, will be higher than if you kept all the leaves on. After cutting the broken stem from the healthy part of the stem, just let the bottom part of the stem to callus. This will take two to three days. During this process, I usually put the cutting on the clean paper towel.
At this phase, avoid watering the cutting. Just let the lower end of the cutting to callus. After several days (as soon as the cutting has callused), you can then transfer it into the top of a succulent soil mix (check my favorite one on Amazon, if you decide to buy I will earn a small commission since it is an affiliate link, which will help me to continue this website). That’s it. All you have to do is to wait for the miracle of nature to happen. The cutting will grow into a whole new plant.
Re-potting a Jade Plant
Plants grow bigger every year, and Jade Plant is no exception. The day will come when the original pot is too small for your beloved plant, and you need to give it more space to grow and thrive. The best season to to do this is in summer or warm season in general. Fortunately, re-potting jade plants is easy. Anybody can do it, following the 4 simple steps I will just describe.
- The first step is to make sure that the soil is dry. This is the reason why the warm season is the best time to change a pot of your jade plant, since the soil is usually drier in warm and dry weather,
- The second step is to gently remove the pot and make sure that the roots are free from the old soil. It is also important to remove all the dead roots if there are any.
- You can now place the jade plant in the new pot. Then fill the pot with fast-draining soil.
- After re-potting the jade plant, leave it for several days preferably one week without water. Then begin slight watering the plant. This will avoid root rot or other issues related to watering it too early, or simply putting in too much water…
Do Jade Plants need drainage?
Most succulent plants need suitable soil, fitting climate (within the limits of their adaptability), and a fitting pot. Like many succulent varieties, one can easily over-water jade plants, especially when they have little experience with succulent growing. And that’s what basically explains a short answer to the question.
Jade plants do need pots or containers with drainage holes. The drainage system keeps them safe from over-watering. What’s more, it helps with aeration in soil, which is again important for a healthy growth of a Jade Plant.
Drainage hole is not the only thing your Jade Plant needs
Aside from pots or drainage holes, jade plants need just the right soil. Perfect soil for jade plants has a great mixture of coarse components such as ground bark and pumice. These ingredients help increase aeration thus keep the plant safe from rotting (as a result of excessive moisture in the soil).
The best thing about jade plants is that they can grow with minimal or almost no care. As long as they get their needs, they are good to go. If you want to grow jade plants on almost autopilot, I suggest that you add a few pebbles in the bottom of the soil. In addition, make sure that you give them the right soil.
Related Article: Jade Plant Drooping: Here’s What to Do
Terracotta pots are fantastic for jade plants
To achieve the very best results with your plants, you should put the perfect soil into a perfect pot. One of the best pots you can try for your jade plants is the old terra cotta. The reason why I recommend this material is that these pots are porous and provide a fast drying process for the jade plants. These pots are safer for the plants than plastic or ceramic pots. You can also check my favorite terracotta pot on Amazon.
If you are living in a humid area, however, where the rainy season lasts longer than you like, then using the orchid pot is a good idea. Orchid pots are perfect because they have a lot of openings that provide a better draining system for the plant, even better than the terracotta pots.
Another thing that you should consider is the size of the pot or container. Smaller plants, of course, may only need smaller pots or containers. Let them grow in such a small environment until they are big enough to re-pot.
How to tell if a Jade plant needs water?
When your jade plant starts losing leaves or develops spots on the leaves, it is a clear sign that you aren’t watering it enough.
When this happens, you know that the jade plant needs water. a secondary indication is a really dry soil. Not only on the surface though. You enter a finger in it and see it is really dry even few centimeters below the surface. That’s a clear sign it needs watering.
How to tell if a Jade plants has root rot?
Jade plants, like other succulent varieties, have sac-like structures that serve as a water reservoir. These microscopic structures make the plant drought-resistant. However, the same feature makes jade plants vulnerable to over-watering. Because water is already stored in the plant’s system, giving the plant too much water will cause rotting.
But how do you know that the jade plant has already developed root rot? All succulents have similar over-watering symptoms. The common sign is the development of white spots on the leaves. This problem usually occurs during cold seasons such as winter or cloudy weather. If you are living in humid areas, it is important to take the amount of water you are giving to your jade plant into consideration. Too much water will cause rotting something that you don’t want to happen.
When should you move a jade plant to a larger pot?
As jade plants grow bigger and bigger, you cannot keep them in small pots. The roots and stems can become bigger over time. In this case, you can transfer the plant to the larger pot.
But the best time to move the jade plant to a larger pot is when its root system is too large for the pot. In a technical term, this is called root-bound. When the jade plant reaches this point, you can re-pot it. After doing that, the plant should grow faster and healthier in the larger pot.
In some cases, though, jade plants can manage to further grow in a small pot. People have different opinions on this matter. It means that you can implement your strategies here. As long as how you don’t kill the plants, you’ll be okay.
Jade Plant Drooping – Causes and Remedies
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!
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.
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.
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…
May also interest you: Aloe Vera – Most common issues and remedies.