It may be compacted because there is too much peat in it. Once peat dries out, it is very hard to re-wet again. Are you having a hard time rewetting it? Either way, I think it's definitely time to repot. Use a more loose, free-draining soil mix. Don't use just plain cactus and succulent mix (most people think that is good enough for succulents, which is what a jade is). I recommend buying a bag of cactus and succulent soil and a bag of perlite or pumice (perlite seems to be easier to find, at least for me), and mixing about 50% soil and 50% perlite/pumice. This will give the roots lots of air to breathe, and will also make the mix loose so that it won't compact.

Another solution (if you can't repot right now) is to put the pot in a bucket or something filled with lukewarm water (I hope it has bottom drainage holes!), and let it soak for a while so that it re-wets the soil. But I would only do this temporarily, since it seems that your soil mix is way too dense for a jade, and this will only happen again.
Do you have a picture of your plant/soil?

Good luck,
Gabi

Actually Gabi, whenever I water it I make sure to poor the water in the middle and watch that it actually gets absorbed into the soil instead of out the sides. Sometimes I do bottom water it too...but I agree that it should be repotted though I am a little nervous to do it. I have perlite but only regular houseplant soil so I will go and buy a bag of what you suggested above.

Yes - there are drainage holes!!
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Here are the pics you requested.
MANY thanks for your advice Gabi.
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GORGEOUS jade!! Regular potting soil is pretty similar to C+S soil. So if you already have it, just use that. As long as you add a lot of perlite you'll be fine. I can understand that you're nervous to repot...that's a big plant and you will probably need a second person to help you. If you have a slightly bigger pot, I'd keep that close by in case the jade is rootbound. The roots like to be snug, but since you don't like repotting, you might as well go up in size now so that you won't have to repot again soon! Glad I could be of help. Good luck with your repotting job :)

Gabi

Thanks for the encouragement!! I am new to houseplants (...about a year now since moving into my own place) and am trying not to make too many fatal mistakes. So far so good....it helps to have this forum to get advice from nice ppl like you, Gabi : 0 )

I do have one more question in the same vain...once I pull it out of the pot, should I break off the soil a bit? tease the roots? do any cutting?

If I use my regular houseplant soil would you still suggest 50% perlite?

I know just what you mean...I became a plant lover as soon as I bought my own place. It just makes it so much more cozy. But you have to be careful or else your house will look like a greenhouse in no time!!

I would break off all the old soil and tease the roots gently. I'm no expert at all, but by the way you described the soil, I don't see a need for ANY of it to stay attached to the roots. If the soil is dry it will make this project much easier. Yes, you can still do 50/50 regular soil and perlite, in my opinion (but to tell you the truth, it's probably better to use C+S soil and perlite, but if it's a real pain to go get it then you should be ok...I've potted a bunch of little jades in regular potting soil and perlite and they are doing just fine).

As for cutting (I'm assuming you mean the roots), that's totally up to you. It will most likely stimulate new growth. Also, if you're plant is potbound and you don't want to pot it "up", you should probably trim the roots to give it more space. (it might not be a bad idea to prune the top of the jade also to keep it balanced and to also stimulate fresh compact growth...if you want, do a search on the C+S forum on jade pruning).

I hope that helps!
Gabi

Well I'd like to respectfully disagree abt the old soil. If you wet the soil well BEFORE repotting, you'll likely be able to soften this hard, compacted soil & shake off as much of it as possible. I feel this would be best as leaving in on the plant will keep it hard around the rootball & prevent the plant from drinking freely, which is the aim of changing the mix & repotting it. Breaking off the old soil will also break some roots too & it'd be best not to do that. If it were mine I wouldn't tease the roots either, unless they're encircling the bottom of the pot.

If in repotting, you see any dry, brittle roots, those are dead & can be cut off, otherwise I wouldn't trim the roots, it's not necessary. These are strong, tough plants can withstand lots of abuse (other than overwatering), so while you may be nervous abt doing this it's OK, you needn't be.
C&S mix w/perlite would be just fine for it, 50% would be fine, it's not too much.

Beautiful plant by the way, you've obviously been caring for it well, keep up the good work!

I agree...trimming the roots is not "necessary" (unless they are dead like PG said). But it can certainly give the plant a nice boost. Also, Lauren, you didn't say whether you were keeping it in the same pot or going up in size...but if you're keeping it in the same pot you really might want to consider trimming the roots so that you won't have to repot again in the near future. I personally would pot up so that the plant can grow even bigger! It depends on what you're looking for though. Some people like to keep their jades small (and even turn them into bonsai), while others like them to be huge (mine is almost 3 feet tall and in an 18" diameter pot). If you do decide to go up in size, then make sure you don't go up more than 1-2 sizes. Let us know what you decide to do.

About the soil....I find it pretty hard to "shake off" wet soil. If the goal is to get rid of the compacted soil, I think a lot more of it would come off if it were dry. The only time I wet my soil before repotting is if I'm planning on keeping the soil on the plant (so that it comes out in one big solid mass).

Gabi

To clarify further, since the post speaks of soil compaction ... my limited experience with soil that's compacted (mostly in taking over plants from other people) is that the soil becomes a solid mass, hard as a rock & impenetrable. It becomes hard & brittle, so it doesn't shake off, rather chips & breaks off, taking parts of the roots with it, which I would want to avoid, the breaking off of healthy roots that is.

Maybe "shaking off" wans't the best term to use, when the soil is wet it can be crumbled off w/ one's fingers or even raked off w/ a fork, getting off most of the old mix w/out breaking any of the roots, that would be my aim.

Yikes! That potting medium is so fine textured that it has become exceedingly hydrophobic. Roots don't fare very well inside those hard, dry pockets of peat. If that were my plant, I'd soak it before attempting to remove that old stuff from the roots. Then, as the others have suggested, a 50:50 mixture of potting soil and perlite will solve the problems in the future. Water the plant in well, after the transplanting.

Just remember that jade plants have to be watered correctly on their watering day. After you've allowed this pretty plant to dry out after the last watering, be sure to drench it thoroughly. You want that entire soil volume to be soaked. And then...you let it dry out again!

Be watchful with the extra perlite; you may find that you'll need to water more frequently than you are used to.

I am so pleased with all of your advice and feedback but only wish one (or all of you!!) lived in Montreal and could come over and help in exchange for tea and snacks...! : 0 )

To respond to some of your comments...

Pirate girl - yes, the roots ARE encircling the bottom of the pot ( before watering the plant, it easily lifts out of the pot so I saw that there are roots that are dry and brittle. I will cut these off). Also, I get what you mean about wetting the soil and then use my hands to gently pull away the old soil...

Gabi - I plan to move Jade up a pot size though that will depend on the state of the roots once I get my eyes on them. If I have to cut away alot of dead ones, then I will probably repot in the same size, only maybe clay so it won't topple over.

Rhizo - I have been careful about NOT overwatering Jade...I also know to give her a big drink when watering time does come around. It has been difficult to hold back since most rookies like me often make the mistake of overwatering...

THANKs to you all for your help and compliments...!! I will post again after I repot!

Lauren, I would use a clay pot to pot it in if you can. Jades do get top heavy. I repotted one once that was 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide and it took 2 people.
If you trim the roots I would trim the top if you can.
I agree with pirate girl see if you can wet it first before breaking it off. Not good to break pieces off while dry. Peat is bad!

Let those pieces lay out for a few days to callous over then pot them. Very little water until they root. Maybe just mist the soil otherwise they may rot if too wet.

Hi All, Read the discussion points just now. I have a concern regarding my newly bought jade plant. It's potted inside 10 cm pot very handy. It came with a nice flowey soil but after I started watering it daily the soil became rock hard. I don't know whether i am overwatering it or maybe something else. Because winters started too.