If you’ve arrived to this page, chances are you’re sitting at home with a sick jade plant, thinking to yourself, “Help…my jade plant is dying!” Although a dying jade plant is concerning, it does not imply all hope is lost! I’ll address your issue, “Why is my jade plant dying?!,” in this post so you may start restoring your lovely succulent.
Jade plants are a wonderful form of succulent that is relatively easy to maintain. Crassula Ovata is their scientific name, however they’re often known as jade plant, fortunate plant, or money plant. They are a popular housewarming gift all around the world since they are traditionally regarded to bring good luck.
It’s always a nightmare to think that one of your beautiful home plants is on its way out, but if you detect a dying jade plant in its early stages, it may be rescued.
Before you can save a dying jade plant, you must first determine whether it is indeed dying! If you have a crassula ovata plant that needs to be revived, you will begin to notice a number of indications and symptoms. The following are common indicators of a dying jade plant:
Jade Plant Leaves Falling off
A jade plant will occasionally shed its leaves. This isn’t always the case. If you bring a jade plant from outside to inside and the temperature changes drastically, it will begin to lose its leaves. The succulent plant should cease losing leaves after it has adjusted to its new temperature.
If your jade plant branches are constantly dropping off, this is the reason for concern and might indicate that you have a dying jade plant that has to be revived. Overwatering, underwatering, temperature changes, poor lighting, or even pests can cause leaves to fall off jade plants.
The leaves of the jade plant are turning brown.
The leaves turning brown, yellow, red, or black is another symptom that may have made you ponder, “why is my jade plant dying?” The leaves of a jade plant do not change color overnight. It will happen over time and may indicate that your jade plant is dying.
The most common cause of jade plant leaves turning yellow or brown is neglect. Older mature leaves will turn a faint yellow color over time. This is a very normal and natural aspect of the aging process. If, on the other hand, the younger leaves are becoming a browny, yellow tint, you should start to question what’s happening.
Jade Plant Is Withering
A wilting, limp, and droopy jade plant is the final typical indication of a dying jade plant. The leaves of a wilted crassula ovata plant will have a shriveled look, which will be highly obvious.
This is frequently accompanied by wet leaves, and it can be caused by a variety of factors, including insufficient sunshine, over-fertilizing, overwatering, and exposure to cold temperatures.
You don’t need to be alarmed if you see one of the following indicators of a dying jade plant. The next step is to figure out WHY your jade plant is dying (which I will move on to next). It is not difficult to preserve a dying jade plant, and I am confident that with the right TLC, we can bring your succulent back to life!
Jade Plant Is Dying
So you’ve determined that your jade plant is dying. Next, we must address the critical question of “WHY is my jade plant dying?” I’ve compiled a list of the most common reasons why a jade plant dies. I’ll provide you answers on how to revive a dying jade plant once we’ve gone through all of these issues.
Jade Plant Overwatered
Overwatering is the most typical reason for a jade plant’s death. Succulents, as we all know, store water. Jade plants are native to South Africa and are hardy in zones 10 and 11 of the United States Department of Agriculture’s plant hardiness zones. This implies they can survive in arid temperatures and live without water for lengthy periods of time.
When deciding how often to water a jade plant, the basic guideline is to wait until the soil is fully dry. And if you’re going to use water, make sure you soak it well. I normally follow the rule of “more water, less often.”
Because the water dries out more rapidly in the heat, you’ll need to water more frequently. Overwatering is more likely to occur in the winter or fall when the plant is more prone to become dormant.
The leaves of an overwatered jade plant will drop quickly, and the branches will have a wet, mushy quality. The jade plant will tumble over if it is not treated.
Rotten Roots
If you’ve gone crazy with the watering (it’s happened to all of us! ), root rot is the next step. Jade plants despise sitting in wet soil or water. After a period, this will surely result in root rot.
This is the most serious problem, and reviving your dying jade plant will be the most difficult. It is not, however, impossible! Root rot appears beneath the surface of the soil, so you may not see it until it has advanced. You should inspect the root system of your jade plant on a regular basis to ensure that decaying roots are not encountered.
The jade plant’s leaves will become yellow, and the branches and leaves will readily fall off as a result of root rot. The roots will be covered in a slimy, brown/black ooze beneath the earth. You should try to wash as much of this slime away as soon as possible.
A fungus that dwells in the soil and flourishes in damp soil causes root rot (hence overwatering being the main cause of this problem).
Temperatures Below Freezing
Jade plants are native to South Africa and flourish in hotter climates, as I said before. So, if you reside in a cooler climate, this might be a plausible explanation for why your jade plant is dying.
Although jade plants are one of the most adaptable succulents, meaning they can thrive in virtually any climate or location, they should never be subjected to below-freezing temperatures.
Pests
Infestation is a huge inconvenience, and it’s one of the most common reasons individuals wind up with a dying jade plant. Mealybugs are the most prevalent pest for most succulents. If you have mealybugs on your jade plant, you should get rid of them as soon as possible.
Mealybugs are inconvenient since it might take a long time to notice you have a pest infestation! They’re small white insects that leave cottony spots on your plant. This may be mistaken for dust! They like attaching to plant tissues and will drain all of the sap from your jade plant’s stems and leaves, resulting in a withering jade plant.
Honeydew is a sticky substance secreted by mealybugs. This is ideal for fungal illnesses like sooty mold to thrive. If you suspect Mealybugs, the most effective treatment is to buy a 70% or less isopropyl alcohol solution (rubbing alcohol). Use a spray bottle to spray your jade plant after diluting it in water.
One treatment is usually enough, but if it isn’t, the bugs will reemerge in a day or two. The therapy can then be repeated until they are completely gone! Spider mites and fungus gnats are two more prevalent pests.
How can you rescue a jade plant that is dying?
You should now have a better understanding of why your jade plant is dying. There are several things you can do to rescue a dying jade plant, including:
Repot
Repotting is the first step in preserving your dying jade plant! If your jade plant has been overwatered or has developed root rot, the soil will need to be replaced. If you have root rot, you should first wash and cut away all of the slimy roots, leaving just the clean sections behind.
A mix of organic stuff like peat moss and inorganic matter like granite or clay makes a healthy soil for jade plants. The dirt sold expressly for cactus and succulents at your local garden center will suffice.
Alternatively, if you wish to make your own jade plant soil, there are several tutorials available.
You’re ready to proceed once you’ve prepared your soil. Jade plants want to be root-bound and only need to be reported every 2-3 years. If you’re repotting your jade plant in the hopes of saving it, you should use the same size container as before.
Pruning
Pruning is merely the act of grooming plants and ensuring that they are adequately cared for. Start with the plant’s elder leaves at the bottom, which will be the first to fall off. You should also remove any long, leggy branches that may droop over time.
Regular pruning will maintain your jade plant vigorous and healthy. It will also prevent it from becoming a weed. Crassula ovata is a refined succulent with a tight, upright appearance.
Propagation
If your jade plant is unable to be rescued, you may always reproduce it! You may then raise a fresh jade plant with love and care. Jade plants can be propagated from a stem or a cutting. A stem with at least two pairs of leaves and a length of 2-3 inches is ideal.
Once you’ve completed your cutting, place it in a dry, warm location for a few days to allow a callus to grow over the cut. You may then place the leaf on top of the dirt and cover the cut end with soil.
Place the new plant in a warm area that receives plenty of indirect sunlight. You should wait around 2 weeks before watering your new jade plant or until the cutting begins to put out roots. You may water the plant like a conventional jade plant after it’s well-established and watch it flourish!