The main reason for jade plants dropping their leaves is overwatering, explains John Negus. Some leaves may also turn yellow, while the stems of the plants can become mushy. Overwatering houseplants is actually problematic for all succulents.
Jade plants can drop leaves if they are getting watered too often. Be sure to only water the soil when it is 100% dry. Water slowly and deeply till water starts trickling out of the drainage hole, then remove any excess water captured in the saucer.
Your jade plant normally needs a fair amount of direct sunlight, at least six hours per day. If your jade plant isn't getting enough light, this might lessen its vitality and cause leaves to drop. Try moving it to a window with a southern exposure or where it gets bright afternoon light.
Jade plants lose some lower leaves naturally as part of the aging process. Those do not grow back. Some leaves lost for other reasons will grow back, slowly, if you correct the conditions that caused them to drop off.
Changes to the leaves are the first sign of an overwatered jade plant. Leaves can turn yellow and droop, and may eventually brown and drop off. Other signs include the leaves and stem becoming squishy and soft. The whole plant may also appear droopy.
How to Water Jade Plants. Jade plants are succulents (they hold water in their leaves), so they don't do well when sitting in constantly moist soil, so let the top 1 to 2 inches of soil dry out between waterings. Indoors, this will probably mean watering once every 2 to 3 weeks—but be sure to check regularly!
Place jade plants in indirect sunlight.
Too much direct sunlight can scorch the leaves of young jade plants or cause the leaves of mature plants to develop red tips. Not enough sunlight can stunt their growth or cause them to look leggy and stretched out.
If your jade plant has bacterial soft rot, cut off the affected parts using a blade dipped in a bleach solution, and discard the affected areas. Use a solution of Phyton 27 to treat the surviving parts of the plant, and repot in fresh, clean soil. Dispose of the affected parts immediately.
Don't let the pruned parts of the jade go to waste! Leaves and branches cut from the main jade plant can be re-potted to make new jades! Remember though, don't try to propagate from diseased or damaged plant parts, those will need to be disposed of. Never remove more than 20%-30% of the plant.
To encourage health, harmony and thriving business, place the Jade plant in the east direction. And if you wish to promote creativity and children's luck, it is recommended to set it in the west direction. Keeping it either in the southeast corner of the room or your desk is highly favourable and auspicious.
Watch for shriveling and dropping leaves, which indicate that the plant isn't getting enough water, and limp leaves, which indicate that it is getting too much. Insect and disease problems with jade plants often gain a foothold when the plant is stressed by improper watering.
Symptoms of jade plant root rot include yellowing or wilting leaves, brown or blackened roots, and sudden death of the plant. If you think your jade plant has root rot, the first thing you should do is check the roots. If they are brown or black, this is a sure sign of root rot.
Your Jade plant leaves are turning yellow or falling off for a variety of reasons. Common problems include improper watering, pests, and inconsistent temperature changes. The wrong lighting and the presence of disease can also cause yellow leaves. Proper care can help remedy these issues.
Repot young jade plants once every 2 to 3 years to encourage growth. With older jade, repot once every 4 to 5 years or as necessary. Transplant in the early spring, just before the growing season begins. After repotting, don't water the plant for a week or so.
Leggy stems are elongated and have large gaps between sparse leaves. They make a plant look scraggly and unhealthy. Causes include overfertilization and inadequate sun exposure. If an entire plant is leggy, you can cut up to one-third of each stem just above a node to encourage bushier growth.
Rubbing Alcohol. Isopropyl Alcohol is often regarded as the best choice for treating most pest and insect infestations. They are also easy on the jade plant, causing no damage to its leaves.
Too much or too little water plus insects and mites are the main problems. Root rot usually results from a soil mix that does not drain quickly or overly frequent watering. Leaf drop can happen if the plant is allowed to become extremely dry. Mealybugs are the most common insect pest of jade plants.
Traditionally, jade plants grow well as indoor plants in bright but indirect light or outdoors in full or partial sun, but they cannot survive freezing temperatures. If you live in cooler zones, you can still grow these succulents outside, but they must be brought indoors before any chance of frost creeps in.
In this case, use a high-nitrogen, soluble plant food, such as a 10-20-10 formula. Jade plants do well when fertilized with plant foods formulated for African violets. Organic fertilizers, such as fish emulsion, also provide the proper nitrogen for jades to thrive.
If your place doesn't hold a lot of humidity, your jade plant may dry out quickly. You might have to water every five to seven days. If you live in a more humid place, you may only need to water once every other week, or less.
Instead of fully watering your jade plant during colder weather, mist your plant with a spray bottle. During the summertime when fully watering the plant, make sure the jade is placed in a drainage pot, so that excess water can escape and the roots do not drown.
Remove the plant from the pot and change the soil, if draining water from the pot and clearing drainage holes does not correct the problem. Gently remove the saturated soil from the roots of the jade plant. Refill the pot with fresh, moist soil and position your jade plant to its original growing position.
Place your cutting in a sunny spot and change the water every few days until new roots begin to form. It may take a month or two, but after the roots emerge, you can transplant the cutting to soil. How long do jade plants live? Jade plants have amazing longevity and can live for 50 to 100 years when cared for properly.