Well I've always used fans to help jades/ cactus that are thick to callous faster. It's not an exact science, but I've got tons of jade plants. I just let the fan hit the bottom of where the cut is and it lets them callous faster then just leaving them out. Usually I let the fan hit it for 1-2 days at most if it's a large cutting (3 inch trunk or more) then I let it dry for another week just sitting around. Also make sure you sterilize your cutting equipment well. And don't reuse the same soil when you replant if there was rot in it. And don't water it for a week or so after planting I usually callous/ dry them for a week if not more before planting them. It seems like what you are doing is right, but if the rot is in the stem you have to cut above it (healthy tissue) because any little bit can keep spreading it I've got tons of jade, but I'm also in a very good environement for growing them (sunset 24 /coastal los angeles/ USDA 10b) This post was edited by yorkiemiki on Mon, Sep 16, 13 at 13:49

The rot most often starts at the bottom and move up. I believe that the tissue does not brown with age. Take plant out of the pot and inspect the roots. If rotten or dry, cut them off. Healthy trunk will grow new roots. Trunk should be checked for rot; tissue should be light colored without any brown/dark spots or rings. If you suspect rot in branches, check them all by slicing ( - clean the knife/scalpel/blade with alcohol between cuts - ) as you already did until you find healthy tissue. I think that rooting hormone contains some fungicide, but you can dust with cinnamon (I used it on large cuts). I am not convinced that rooting hormone will help growing new roots... Grafting will likely not work...someone here tried but I am not sure if it was real success. See a post by very good grower hanzrobo - click here (there are more posts on same subject). Healthy trunk will grow new leaves and branches. I would not remove any healthy leaves, they actually help plant grow.

Yes, you can cut. Feel the stem. Is it squishy? You will want to cut the stem back until you reach healthy tissue (start at the roots, of course). I see some brown on the stem. I would start cutting there, and work up. Keep cutting until you reach tissue with no black or brown. You want creamy white-green. After you finish cutting, dust with cinnamon to discourage disease and rot. Let the cut stem sit out of soil for a few days (in a dry, dim, cool place). the cut end will feel rough and hard (not moist or juicy). Put it in new DRY soil. I would suggest using 60% perlite and 40% cactus and succulent mix. wash the perlite to get out the dust. Don't breathe in the dust, either- it is harmful to the lungs. Prop up the stem in the soil with rocks, so it stays upright. In a few weeks, you should see roots :) Don't check often for roots, or you may break existing ones. It is best to wait until you see new growth, and then you can water a bit. The soil you have in the picture looks like it has a large contingent of peat. Peat holds water for a long time, and that rots the roots. By doing the above mix, you can avoid rot, but still be careful with watering. To check if you need to water, you can use a wooden skewer. Poke it into the soil, and if it comes out dry, you can water. Good luck! ~palmsandsnow

I’m reporting my jade in gritty mix because it’s been dropping yellow leaves (Several a week). Previously it was in 50/50 cactus perlite and a tiny pot (maybe 3” pot?) and I kept it pretty dry, watering until it ran through maybe once every 1-2 weeks. I wasnt sure sure why it was dropping leaves, but thought it had root rot (again). Here’s photos after I bare rooted it to repot —- they’re brown but I can never tell! Nothing seems particularly mushy or weird smelling and the stem is fine. Should i I cut them all off or just stick it in new gritty mix as-is? I just had had to cut it off a few months ago for rot and I’d hate to lose more / restart it all over again! I struggle with IDing root rot because to me most roots look brown anyway.