The Crossula Ovata, or jade plant, money plant, or fortunate plant, is often presented as a housewarming gift. However, having an overwatered jade plant is one of the most typical issues you may face. I’ll go through the indications and symptoms of an overwatered jade plant, as well as how to salvage a dying jade plant, in this post.
Symptoms of Jade Plant Overwatering
Don’t worry if you fear you’ve given your jade plant too much water; you’re not alone! Overwatering a jade plant is a typical problem among succulent enthusiasts. Yellowing leaves dropping off, soft leaves, dry leaves, red leaves, and, of course, root rot and moist soil are all indications and symptoms to check for. Let’s start from the beginning…
The leaves of the jade plant are turning yellow
When you have an overwatered jade plant, one of the first signs you’ll notice is that the leaves are turning yellow. Older crassula ovata leaves will occasionally turn yellow and be replaced by new, fresh leaves. This is very normal behavior. However, if you observe that a large number of the leaves are turning yellow, you may have a watering issue.
When the roots become soaked, discoloration occurs. If your houseplant has root rot, you’ll want to address the problem as quickly as possible. The leaves of the jade plant become yellow because the plant is unable to absorb all of the necessary nutrients. If you ignore root rot for too long, your jade plant’s leaves will ultimately turn black and fall over.
Although overwatering can cause jade plant leaves to become yellow, there are additional factors such as jade plant pests, scale, infections, underwatering, or temperature shock. To figure out the problem, you’ll need to put your thinking gear on and conduct some research.
If you have any of the following symptoms in addition to yellowing leaves, your jade plant is most likely overwatered! It’s possible that a succulent becoming purple is an indication of overwatering!
The leaves of the jade plant are dropping off
If you find your jade plant losing leaves, it’s possible you’ve given it a little too much attention! Getting the right watering schedule may be difficult to learn, and even the most seasoned succulent collectors might fall victim to this common blunder.
Falling leaves on a jade plant indicate that the root system is straining and the leaves are no longer supported. This occurs later on during the overwatering indicators, and you should be able to recognize the problem before the leaf drop occurs. Root rot is generally caused when the roots can no longer sustain the leaves.
Underwatering, bugs, leaf shine, improper soil, temperature, and insufficient sunlight are all factors that might cause a jade plant to remove its leaves.
If just the elder leaves are dropping off your jade plant, don’t be alarmed; this is a normal part of the process. If, on the other hand, a large number of the smaller, newer leaves begin to fall off in huge numbers, there will be a problem.
Soft leaves of the jade plant
This is one of the most prevalent symptoms of a jade plant that has been overwatered. Soft, mushy leaves indicate that you have been watering your succulent plant too frequently! It’s vital to note that jade plants don’t need to be watered on a regular basis.
Succulents are only found in hot temperatures and deserts. They retain water in their stems and leaves as a result of this. It’s because of this that they have a plum look. Watering should only be done when the soil is entirely dry.
Root rot is frequently indicated by soft and mushy leaves on your jade plant. Lifting the plant out of the planter and looking for moist, slimy roots is the quickest method to detect whether it has root rot!
The leaves of the jade plant are wilting.
This is a strange one. Naturally, if the leaves and stems of your jade plant are drying out, you’d presume it’s due to underwatering! Dry leaves, on the other hand, usually indicate that you have been overwatering your houseplant.
When there is a problem with the plant’s roots, it might result in dry leaves. You may have overwatered your jade plant if the soil is moist and mushy, but the leaves are dry. If, on the other hand, both the soil and the leaves are bone dry, you may be drowning.
The consistency of the soil will tell you if you have overwatered or underwatered a jade plant in this case.
Wet soil and root rot
Root rot is one of the most prevalent indications and symptoms of an overwatered jade plant. When succulents are overwatered, they are all prone to root rot. Root rot will, well, destroy your plant’s roots. This means your jade plant will be unable to absorb all of the nutrients it requires to grow.
Overwatering is the most prevalent cause of root rot. Check the moisture level of your soil. If it’s wet and heavy, you’ve probably overwatered your jade plant. After that, you should remove your plant from its pot to inspect the roots. You have root rot if the roots have become damp, slimy, and coated in a black/brown muck.
The first thing you should do is cease watering your plants right away. Root rot can destroy your favorite houseplant, so you’ll want to act quickly to prevent it from getting worse. You should take your jade plant out of its container and remove as much moist dirt as you can. After that, gently cut off all of the diseased roots. Finally, repot the plant into new, well-draining soil.
Root rot in jade plants is caused by a variety of factors, including soil type. Succulents like soil that is light, airy, and drains easily. Anything that is excessively thick will absorb much too much water, resulting in root rot and other frequent problems like bugs!
How to rescue a jade plant that has been overwatered
It is possible to preserve a jade plant that has been overwatered. Although root rot is a plant killer, there are things you can take to attempt to save a jade plant if you discover it early enough. To help revive a dying jade plant, follow these three simple steps:
Remove the plant from the damp soil
The first step in saving a dying jade plant is to get it out of the moist soil. Remove the plant from its container with care, removing as much soggy dirt as possible.
Because this can be a dirty task, do it over a sink. Be as gentle as possible to avoid aggravating the roots any further than they already are. Remove as much dirt as possible from the roots without being too harsh. Then you’ll have to look at the roots to assess how much harm has been done.
Get rid of the rotten roots
Cutting away the rotten roots is the next stage in rescuing an overwatered jade plant. Carefully cut back at the rotten roots with a pair of sterilized pruning shears.
The heart of healthy roots should be white. If you’re cutting away and the roots are still brownish, keep chopping until they’re white.
Make a last incision into each root after you’re left with just healthy ones. This will help your jade plant recover by encouraging new root development.
Repot
Finally, your jade plant must be planted in new, nutrient-rich soil. Because you now have fewer roots to work with, you may need to switch to a smaller container. Remember that succulents want to be tucked away, so a container only big enough to hold the root structure is ideal. Use a container that is not too large, as this can result in overwatering!
You should use a mix of organic and inorganic materials in your soil. You have the option of making your own or purchasing a cactus and succulent potting mix. Do not use regular potting soil for houseplants. You should also make sure that the soil you use is well-draining.
Make sure the container you’re using has drainage holes in the bottom so that any surplus water may drain and be discarded.
After you’ve successfully repotted your jade plant, don’t water it for a few days. Only water when you’re sure the roots are fully dry.
Don’t overdo it with the water! You should water your jade plant until the drainage holes are full of water. Ensure that any surplus water is discarded and that your jade plant is not submerged in the water that drains from the drainage holes. After that, you can leave your plant until the earth is entirely dry again.
The quantity of water a jade plant requires will vary depending on its surroundings and where you reside. As a general rule, once every three weeks should be enough, but remember to adhere to the bone dry dirt rule!
Learn More About Overwatering a Jade Plant
How frequently should a jade plant be watered?
As previously said, the frequency with which you water a jade plant is entirely dependent on your living circumstances.
If you have an outdoor jade plant, you will need to water it differently than if you have an interior houseplant.
Again, if you live in a cold environment, your watering schedule will be different from those who live in extremely hot climates, and the amount of water you need to water a jade plant will be affected by seasonality.
Succulents, like any other plant, require more watering in the summer than in the winter.
Follow the guideline of only watering a jade plant when the soil is entirely dry. This may be done once a week or once a month, depending on your preferences. It is entirely dependent on your surroundings.
Conclusion
I hope this post has been helpful and you are now confident in your ability to recognize the signs and symptoms of an overwatered jade plant, as well as how to remedy the situation!
To summarize, this blog covered leaf drops, soft leaves, dry leaves, and root rot as indications and symptoms of an overwatered jade plant.
I also went over the three procedures for saving an overwatered jade plant, which included removing the plant from damp soil, cutting away sick roots, and repotting it into new, nutrient-rich soil.