Care tips, Succulents
Does Your Jade Plant Lose Leaves? Here`s Why
May
Jade Plant or Crassula ovata is for sure one of the most common houseplants. It has thick, woody stems and oval-shaped leaves, which makes Jade Plant look like a miniature tree. This look earned Jade Plant high place in a list of most wanted decorative houseplants. Jade Plant can live for a very long time and reach heights of 3 feet (90 cm) or more when they grow indoors.
Like every other plant, Jade Plant naturally drop older leaves as it grows. However, if you notice an increase in the rate of leaf loss, that can indicate a problem. Most of the time, you will need to adjust your watering schedule or check your plant for pests. Some other reasons may be low light or cold temperature.
Water
Your watering schedule can be the main reason your Jade Plant is dropping leaves. This succulent is sensitive to root rot and doesn’t like being too wet. You should never leave your plant`s pot in standing water. If leaves start to turn yellow and drop off, you should first check the soil. If it’s soggy or damp, withhold water and make sure the soil dries out completely. If there are soft sections on the Jade Plant’s branches or trunk, you should remove the plant from the pot and wash the soil away from the roots. Then cut off any soft branches or roots and repot the plant in the new soil mix. You should use a clean pot to prevent any fungal infections of the roots.
If your Jade Plant doesn’t receive enough water, it will start to drop off leaves rapidly. If you notice the lower leaves on your Jade Plant are shriveling up and then falling off, your plant needs more water. You should water your Jade Plant whenever the top inch (2.5 cm) of its soil is dried out. This succulent adds leaves during the summer, so it needs more water during these months. The growing period stops with lower temperatures, but you’ll still need to give it a few drops every now and then.
Light
If you notice your Jade Plant is losing leaves in the winter, it’s probably not getting enough light. Just place your plant closer to a window, but still a few inches from the glass. Be careful, because winter drafts can be damaging for this succulent too. If you fear your window is too cold or drafty, you can always add some more light with an artificial light source.
Temperature
Jade Plants best grow in the temperatures between 55 and 75 °F (13 and 24 °C). Colder or warmer temperatures can cause leaf loss and the frost will definitely kill them. Knowing that, keep your Jade Plant from drafts and radiators.
If you move your Jade Plant in the place with drastic temperature difference, you can cause a leaf drop. When the plant adapts to the new surrounding, the leaves will grow back. To prevent that, you should move your plant gradually, allowing it to acclimate. place your plant in the new surrounding for a few hours, then move it back to the old spot. make sure you’re gradually increasing the time your Jade Plant spends in the new location before you move it there permanently.
Pests
Jade Plant is sensitive to mealybugs and scale insect. Infections caused by these pests make Jade Plant leaves sticky and encourage the growth of molds. They can also cause leaf loss and deformed leaves. If you notice your Jade Plant has pests problem, treat it by dabbing mealybugs and scales with a paintbrush or cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol. You should avoid insecticidal soaps and sprays as they can damage the plant to the point of no recovery. Just make sure you treat pests daily until they’re gone completely.