Goodbye heirloom. Let’s look at each cause in turn to help you identify why your Jade plant is drooping or wilting. Repotting, over-fertilization or temperature stress can also cause drooping. Nor does it help you understand what to do to solve the problem. Some growers lift the pot to see if it’s still heavy with moisture. 7 Ways To Make It Bloom, How To Water Indoor Plants While On Vacation, Jade Plant Overwatering – Symptoms And Solutions. When in doubt, remember it's better to underwater than overwater a jade plant, as long as you don't leave it in bone-dry soil for extended periods of time. As exotic and intriguing as the plant is, resist the temptation to fuss over it. Jades are easy to shape through pruning and amenable to being rootbound in small containers. Don’t fertilize for at least a month to avoid burning new roots. A jade plant lacking in sunlight will start to droop, shrivel, and eventually drop leaves. Those droopy leaves won’t stand up again straight so you can cut them off all at once or gradually. The plant goes dormant over the winter and needs even less. Move your jade plant to a place with better lighting. If you overwater your jade, it will quickly develop root rot and other problems that can cause it to droop. If you’re nervous because the plant needs a lot of pruning, you can do it in stages. Jade plants prefer at least four hours of direct sunlight each day but are able of surviving in bright, indirect light. Plants that are not receiving enough water often shed their leaves rapidly. Consider treating the cuts with fungicide. Jade plants prefer dry conditions. Without water inside the plant’stissues, you start t… It may seem logical to water a wilting jade plant, but that could be the killing stroke. Your plant will tell you when it needs water. Jade plants have delicate stems that injure easily if placed against stakes, walls, twine and other objects, so it's best not to try to support them in this way. Another frequent guest, scale, causes leaf yellowing well before drooping is seen. Also called the Money Tree for its fat oval leaves, the Jade Plant is long-lived and can be passed down for generations. If lack of light is the problem, your plant should start to perk up within a few weeks. Another reason for their popularity is their easy propagation: new plants root readily from leaves or stems that fall on the soil. Healthy growth will emerge below the cut. If you don’t particularly like the look of your jade plant at the moment, say because it grew in a little leggy and you’d like to give it a second chance, placing it in a better lit location, to grow in leaves that are much more dense, you might want to use remedy #2 and prune your succulent instead of … Light. Root rot from overwatering or poor drainage is the most serious possibility – infected stems wilt before falling off. If your wilted poinsettia's soil is severely dried out, place the plant in a tray of water for an hour to allow the plant to soak up plenty of water. When the foliage on a jade plant is drooping or you appear to have a dying jade plant, the usual cause is improper watering. Water a Jade Plant every time the top inch (2.5 cm) of its soil is dries out. Afterwards, let the plant drain for at least five minutes. Yellowing Of The Leaves Inadequate Sunlight. Perhaps I can help clear up the confusion. If allowed to progress, root rot will kill the whole plant. It makes a great set-and-forget houseplant. To do so, use sharp scissors or a sharp, clean knife to cut the drooping stem where it meets the main part of the stem. A few simple fixes can bring your plant back to life and prevent future drooping and stem or leaf damage. Leave it out in the fresh air for a couple of days. The fascinating Jade plant is a favorite of beginners and experienced growers alike. Jades don’t mind being rootbound—they’ll just stop growing larger. A. Thoroughly soaking the soil mimics the infrequent rainstorms the plant enjoys in its natural habitat. Cut away the affected roots and stems, and knock away old soil. Sunburn shows up as brown spots on the leaves, so acclimate an indoor plant when moving it to a sunny spot outside. If you can't correct it, you'll most likely have to prune your plant, according to Ron Smith, a horticulturist at NDSU Extension Service. Oddly enough, having too much watercan actually lead to the same drooping plants you get with too little water. They develop an attractive reddish tint around the edges of the leaves (this is a sign of adequate light) and are much more likely to flower in profusion. Jade plants need to spend at least four hours each day in bright or direct sunlight, according to Clemson University Cooperative Extension. If your tap water is heavily mineralized consider using filtered water. 5. Jade plant does best with four or more hours of direct sun, but they will survive in bright, indirect light. Either of these would cause the roots to rot to the point where they can’t take up enough water for the leaves anymore. Because they thrive in a dry climate, they love the arid conditions of most homes – a nice break from struggling to provide humidity for tropical plants. If necessary, supply it with artificial light. Watch for signs of drooping in your plant. When soil gets very dry it can resist water, especially if it contains peat. Luckily, it’s really easy. Poorly-Draining Soil. Q. Let’s look at what can go wrong and how to fix it. While dropping leaves is a natural process for this plant in optimal conditions and in certain seasons, when your plant is dropping leaves because of the lack of sun, it could be a bad sign. They originate from China and have attractive and waxy green leaves that have a fleshy texture. A half-and-half combination of cactus potting soil and perlite or pumice works great. Often, it can be hard to distinguish between over and underwatering jade plants because the symptoms look the same. If its branches are stooping downward and bowing to the ground, that may also be a symptom of a problem. If you overwater your jade, it will … If young leaves fall off untimely, it may be a symptom. Warning Keep your poinsettia plant away from cold drafts. Lack of light for Jade. It slows drying and inhibits the probing you need to do to decide when to water. Rather, water your jade plant when the top of soil is just dry to the touch. Inadequate light conditions cause a plant to develop deep-green leaves and drooping stems. If you already have a mixture with peat, realize it will take extra soaking to re-moisten it. However, its heavy leaves tend to make the Jade top-heavy and prone to drooping if the stems are weak. Don’t reuse the old soil with active pathogens. Too Much Water. Limited worm castings or compost are a good addition: they provide a safe—though imprecise—base of nutrition. A Jill-of-all-trades, Lillian Downey is a certified Responsible Sexuality Educator, certified clinical phlebotomist and a certified non-profit administrator. Drainage and Overwatering. Prune back branches that are drooping by clipping the branch where it intersects with the trunk. I had a healthy jade plant for several years. The Jade (Crassula ovata) is an African succulent that has become a popular houseplant worldwide. Too little water is a lot better than too much. If the roots are white and odorless, they are healthy … if they’re brown, mushy and smell bad, you have a situation to deal with. Carefully begin a proper watering regimen. Or if you are mainly looking to shape your jade plant, prune individual leaves or partial sections of branches. Skinny stems don’t thicken up, unfortunately, even if you start giving them the right light—improved conditions only affect future growth. When you have too much water, or simplythick soil that doesn’t drain, the roots are smothered and are notable to draw in water properly. When most plants begin to droop, you can stake them to offer additional support and to correct the direction of growth. Jade plants can be sensitive to salts in tap water, so water with filtered or distilled water if your tap water is not ideal. Answered by Heather on June 21, 2011 Certified Expert . Whichever you prefer, don’t feed them during their cool-weather dormancy. She's also written extensively on gardening and cooking. smartgardenguide.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and other Amazon stores worldwide. A sunny window with a southern exposure is ideal. You may notice that your jade plant is losing leaves or that its leaves are dropping off. It’s also possible that overwatering or poor soil drainage are the culprits when your jade plant starts to sulk. If left unattended, the drooping pieces can rot and harm the rest of your plant. A Jade plant can start dropping its leaves for the following 8 reasons: Incorrect watering (overwatering or underwatering) Poor drainage Poor soil quality Insufficient light Pest Infestation Temperature fluctuations Natural renewal of older leaves Using leaf shine products One amendment to be wary of is peat, because it has a tendency to repel water when dry. In spring, summer and fall, keep the soil lightly moist. Repotting is much more traumatic to the plant than pruning. On the flip side, a plant that is receiving too much water can also face the threat of … Add sphagnum moss on top if the inner pot shows. Leaves which have fallen from the plant will often root by themselves, and produce a tiny plantlet. An older plant will be fine with repotting or soil refreshment every four or five years. Use a sharp, sterilized blade and cut just below a node or where a stem meets its main branch. What happened? If your jade plant extends too widely and its branches appear to be hardly able to carry the weight of its leaves, it may be a symptom of a problem. Overwatering drowns their roots and creates anaerobic conditions for pathogens of decay. Upend the pot and gently remove the plant. Jade plants are very similar to cacti and are in the succulent family. Infrequent watering are generally best for a jade plant, one to two times a month during spring and summer, and only once a month during fall and winter, yet … Nothing causes a spindly, droopy jade like poor lighting. The sure way to tell the difference is to check the roots. Poorly draining soil is a primary cause of root rot, so it’s crucial to get the mix right. In any case, the symptoms of their most common pest, mealybugs, are dented or pitted leaves instead of wilted stems. Try to save it with these steps: The plant can recover if it’s not too far gone. I’ve written several other articles about common Jade plant issues, as well as a complete guide to Jade plant care, so read the following articles for further information as required. Undemanding, it doesn’t like being disturbed and thrives on benign neglect. Jade plants growing in full sun (where they thrive in moderate climates) do not ever need pruning. Insufficient light causes legginess and thin stems which droop under the weight of heavy leaves. Try moving your drooping jade to a window with southern exposure. If you want to encourage growth, you can repot them in a container one size up every two or three years. Overwatering in winter is the most common reason for a dying jade plant. Use a quarter-strength dilution of a balanced fertilizer. A yearly dose in the spring or summer is usually fine, though some owners choose to make light applications monthly in the growing season. Combined with underdeveloped leaves and leggy growth, this may be a sign of inadequate lighting. It’s normal for them to wrinkle slightly as watering time approaches, but they shouldn’t become discolored or fall off in groups. My Jade plant’s leaves are spongy and have red edges. You can only save the parts that haven’t started to rot. If the plant starts to drop its leaves, if leaves start to shrivel, or if brown spots appear on the leaves, it is an indication that the plant needs more water. Crassula Arborescens Undulatifolia. I did some rooting successfully, but all of a sudden the leaves started to droop down instead of stretching out. You may not see the problem coming and only notice when, after watering, the leaves fill up and drag the stems down. This opens leaf pores, lets the sun through, and helps discourage pests. While they're typically sold as small plants in 4- to 6-inch pots, they can grow several feet tall with thick, woody stems. That happens when you transplant a larger Snake Plant – many of the leaves droop. Fertilizer can burn the shallow roots and shock the plant, so apply a liquid solution to moistened soil. Besides getting mushy brown roots, the stems of a plant in crisis turn soft and damp. Why Does My Jade Plant Have White Spots On The Leaves? An unglazed pot is the best Jade container—put it into a larger decorative pot if it bothers you. The leaves will also grow smaller and darker and lose their shine in low light. Overwatered jade plants might also have leaves that are dry or too soft to the touch. When checking the list of potential reasons, the first thing to rule out is root rot. Jade plants can be propagated with either leaves or stem cuttings. When you do water a Jade plant, soak it thoroughly. Water a jade plant if the leaves begin to droop, a sign that it has dried out too much. Empty any cache trays below the pot to ensure there’s no stagnant water under the roots. Be strong. Adjust Your Watering Frequency. The cure is simple: Carefully remove the plant from the pot and remove as much soil as possible. Watch the leaves. The plant is not necessarily unhealthy but is not receiving the sunlight necessary for compact growth and red-tinted leaves. What can I do to fix it? Don’t worry: Jade plants are quite amenable to pruning and are easy to shape. Let the plant rest in its new soil a week before watering. Problems from overwatering can look similar to underwatering, since the roots of a plant infected with root rot can’t transport water and nutrients to the leaves. If necessary, a grow light can fill in the missing lumens. Initially I expected root rot, However the roots seemed ok at the time, I've not looked at them since as I don't want to disturb the plant. I’m here to share my experience and help you have more success and enjoyment growing plants. The plant takes a rest break in winter and needs less water. White spots on leaves are typically harmless mineral deposits coming through. 50°F (10°C) to 55°F (°13C) at night is ideal. If you can't place it in a sunnier window, supplement the lighting it gets by placing it under a lamp with a fluorescent bulb. Outdoors, Jade plants like full to partial sun, but not scorching hot rays. Jade plants aren’t heavy feeders and do well in poor soil, but they still need nutrition to grow strong stems and avoid drooping. Instead, try to correct the drooping. Overwatering is dangerous for Jade plants. Incorrect Watering. If it is completely dry, water your plant thoroughly. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Don’t water your jade plant on a schedule. It is also possible that your jade plant is drooping because you are not giving it enough water. Plants typically grow upright, but branches droop in poor sunlight or if the weight of the leaves becomes too heavy. Jades are sensitive to change and enjoy neglect. Overwatering or dryness can do that to a plant. Leaves drooping on jade plant. Enjoy your stay at Smart Garden Guide. Fortunately, this problem is easy to fix. Let’s examine the plant more closely to understand its needs and see what’s going wrong. Periodically wipe the leaves or rinse them off at watering time. If you find your jade plant drooping, you may wonder what’s going wrong. This unique succulent is so durable that it’s called the Lucky Plant and is given as a traditional housewarming gift.