Why Jade Plant Leaves Turning Black?

Because of its low maintenance and ability to adapt to a variety of conditions, jade plants are a popular houseplant all around the world. If your jade plant’s leaves have become black, it’s most likely due to root rot, but it might also be due to other factors.

In this essay, I’ll explain why jade plant leaves turn black and how to cure them.

The Jade plant (Crassula), often known as the money plant or fortunate plant, is a succulent, meaning it can survive without water for lengthy periods of time. They are endemic to South Africa, where they can be found growing on rocky slopes with little rainfall.

Jade plants are prone to overwatering because of their natural habitat. This can cause problems like root rot, and you’ll notice your jade plant’s leaves become black as a result.

Jade Plant Leaves are Turning Black and Dropping off

The blackening of jade plant leaves is a typical issue among houseplant enthusiasts! The leaves will often fall off, shrivel, or drop as a result of this. If the problem is not resolved, you will be left with a dying jade plant, which no one wants!

So let’s figure out what’s causing your jade leaves to become black!

Root decay has caused black jade leaves

Root rot is the most prevalent cause of your jade plant’s blackening leaves. This is a terrible illness that causes a plant’s roots to rot and disintegrate. If the leaves on your jade plant start to turn black and fall off, you should inspect the roots right away!

Remove your crassula plant from its container so you can see the roots plainly. The roots of a healthy plant should be white and solid. Root rot causes a plant’s roots to become black or brown and become mushy and sticky.

Root rot in jade plants can be caused by a variety of factors, including overwatering, using the incorrect soil, or using an improper container. If you have root rot, your jade plant may start to tumble over.

Overwatering

The most common cause of root rot in jade plants is overwatering. Because jade plants need dry soil, if yours is moist and wet, you may have overwatered your plant.

Because there are so many variables to consider, such as temperature and location, it’s difficult to say how often you should water a jade plant.

Water your jade plant only when the soil is entirely dry, as a general rule. If you’re going to water it, soak it well until the water is flowing out of the drainage holes. Any surplus water should be discarded so that your plant does not end up resting in a saucer of water.

The major reason of jade plant leaves go black is overwatering, but additional signs include the leaves turning yellow, becoming mushy and squishy, and finally dropping off.

Soil that drains slowly

Using the improper soil type can also cause root rot in your Crassula, which results to black leaves on your jade.

As previously stated, jade plants are native to South Africa, where rainfall is scarce. This necessitates well-draining soil with a mix of organic and inorganic materials.

You may prepare your own soil mix, but I like to buy ready-made soil because it is more convenient. I’ve tried and tested a variety of succulent soils and discovered that the ones listed below are the best for a jade plant.

There are no drainage holes

Using a container with no drainage holes is the final cause of root rot, and jade leaves turning black and falling off.

As previously said, jade plants despise damp, moist soil. If you choose well-draining soil but a container with no drainage holes, your Crassua plant will most likely end up sitting in water.

Use a pot or container with drainage holes on the bottom at all times. When watering, any extra water that seeps out of these openings should be thrown away right away.

Humidity/heat stress causes black jade leaves

We’ve talked about root rot turning jade plant leaves black, but root rot isn’t the sole reason for black jade leaves! Blackened leaves can also be caused by humidity and heat stress.

As previously stated, jade plants are native to South Africa and are typically found on windy mountaintops. This indicates that they are used to low humidity levels. If you live in an extremely hot, humid climate, the leaves may get black and discolored as a result.

A jade plant can get overly humid in a few different situations. In particular, the location of the jade plant in your home. When showering or cooking, bathrooms and kitchens, for example, can get hot and humid. If your Crassula is in one of these rooms, you should consider relocating it to a different part of the house.

Jade plants are more susceptible to becoming black in naturally humid areas, emphasizing the necessity of full light and planting Jade in a shady place.

Pests have turned the jade leaves black

Pests are another reason your jade plant’s leaves may turn black. Jade plant bugs are a pest that can cause a variety of problems. Mealybugs, spider mites, scale, and aphids, in particular, should be avoided.

Before your leaves turn black, you should notice white patches on them. The spread of an infestation is like wildfire, so keep your jade plant away from other houseplants if you suspect it is infested.

You’ll want to get rid of an infestation as soon as possible. The sap from your plant’s leaves is sucked away by most bugs, which is why they ultimately become black. To get rid of mealybugs and aphids on your jade plant, dilute Isopropyl Alcohol 70% with water and spray it all over. Neem Oil is effective against spider mites.

If you suspect pests are to blame for your jade plant’s blackening leaves, learn more about jade plant bugs before treating them.

Fungi

A fungal illness might be the cause of your Jade plant’s blackening. This works in concert with humidity, as fungal diseases are more easily spread in humid environments than in dry ones.

If you have a fungal illness, you will see black patches on your jade plant’s leaves, as well as the entire plant turning black. If you suspect that fungus is to blame for the blackened leaves, get a fungicide spray and keep the plant away from any other houseplants.

Black dots on the leaves of the jade plant

If you’ve seen dark spots on your jade plant’s leaves or black dots on its leaves, it might be due to a variety of issues. Black stains on jade leaves can be caused by overwatering, sunburn, bugs, and fungus.

You’ll want to address the problem as quickly as possible to prevent the spots from spreading. Unfortunately, even if the reason is corrected, these black patches can become persistent and difficult to remove.

Humidity and overwatering in the winter months are the most typical causes of black spots on jade plants. Black spots can also be caused by general harm, such as if you have a cat in your house that may have knocked it over!

How to cure a jade plant’s black leaves

The solution is determined by the reason for your jade plant’s blackened leaves. If it’s due to bugs, for example, you’ll need to get the appropriate treatment to get rid of them.

If the improper soil is the cause of blackened jade leaves, the remedy is to purchase well-draining soil and repot.

If root rot is the reason for your jade plant’s blackened leaves, which is the most typical cause, you’ll need to repot or propagate, depending on how serious the root rot is.

If your jade plant is suffering from root rot, you should be able to preserve it by following these four simple steps:

Remove any soil around the roots of your jade plant by gently lifting it out of its container. Examine the roots to evaluate which areas appear to be healthy and which appear to be sick. Rotted roots are dark and slimy, whereas healthy roots are white and solid.

If the plant still has a good quantity of healthy roots left, the next step is to clip away any diseased roots. Rather than leaving contaminated roots behind, cut straight up to the white healthy parts of the roots. Make sure you snip away all of the brown roots and make an approximate estimate of how many roots you’ll be taking away.

The next step is to remove some of the leaves and branches. This is due to the fact that your plant will no longer be able to support as much plant matter as it once could. A comparable amount of black roots is cut away. Obviously, the blackened leaves should be the first to be removed.

Repot your jade plant with fresh soil once you’ve accomplished the aforementioned instructions.

If the root rot is advanced and you are unable to salvage your jade plant, you will need to reproduce from a cutting and begin over. It’s important to obtain healthy leaves to cut off; it’s pointless to try to reproduce using blackened leaves.

Choose a 3-4 inch long healthy branch from your jade plant to use for the cutting. Allow the cutting to cure in a warm, dry location for 1-2 weeks or until a callus form. This is to prevent the sickness from spreading.

After the cutting has dried, plant it in a container with potting soil and water lightly until it has taken root.

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