Hi, there!

A pic of the plant and the soil mix in particular would help.

It sounds like the soil is the problem...it holds too much moisture.

Now would be a good time to re-pot your Jade and remove all the old soil.
Re-pot into a gritty, inorganic mix of ingredients, such as Pumice, Perlite,
Turface, Quartz, Granite, or other sharp gravel grit. Don't use sand, though.

For a small organic fraction added to your mix, I would recommend fine grade
Orchid Bark (Fir bark). There are myriad mixes, but most here will agree that
fast-draining, porous mixes are just about the best for Jades.

Josh

Hi Josh, thanks so much for replying! Sorry it took a while to get back to you; I'm having a little trouble uploading pictures. Anyway, here's what I have for you (and anyone else who can help). The pictures are really big...I apologize for that; I don't know how to make them smaller.

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I'm actually ninety percent sure it's too late for the poor thing anyway...that bottom leaf with the slight discoloration is completely shriveled up now, and the one across from it has started turning colors. :-(

Start in a small container, you have a problem because of where you live, 'Jade' does not do well in the South, I have friend that is a master gardner, and he has problems with the species, Follow exactly what Josh has told you. Norma

Hi Josh, thanks so much for replying! Sorry it took a while to get back to you; I'm having a little trouble uploading pictures. Anyway, here's what I have for you (and anyone else who can help). The pictures are really big...I apologize for that; I don't know how to make them smaller.

{{gwi:521167}}

{{gwi:521169}}

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I'm actually ninety percent sure it's too late for the poor thing anyway...that bottom leaf with the slight discoloration is completely shriveled up now, and the one across from it has started turning colors. :-(

Thank you, Norma; I had wondered if a smaller pot might help...I will definitely try that, with the soil that Josh mentioned. Will the stalk sprout any more leaves, or is it done for?

Also...sorry about the double posting. I'm apparently having a bad computer day. :-

Howdy, Sara! Thanks for the pics!

My advice is the same as Jeff's and Norma's:
a smaller pot/container will allow the soil-mix to dry sooner. It'll also allow the container to
warm up more readily, which helps with root-growth this time of year.

The stem can definitely re-sprout leaves...just give it time.

Josh

i was wondering if you have been keeping this plant in the sun, if so i would suggest indirect light at best. i would set the stem with the leaves on a window sill or mantle that gets no direct sun light. and wait for it to sprout roots and then put it in a small pot. i would re-pot the stem into a muck smaller pot, and since it has no leaves i would go real easy on the water. and since it is still green and a Jade, i would not give up.

Good Luck
Doug

Hi all, thanks for all the advice; I went out today in an attempt to make a cozy new home for my poor ailing jade. I bought I believe a 3'' circumference unglazed clay pot with a drainage hole and a dish, a bag of perlite, and a bag of orchard bark. They didn't have any kind of mix, except the cactus soil that I've been using. Should I just mix the perlite and the bark, or does it need anything else? I've heard undyed aquarium rocks were good too...

Doug, thanks for the info; it's currently outside and gets some direct light right now. It was inside on a ledge next to a window getting very indirect sun all winter; I moved it out when the leaves started drooping for no apparent reason thinking that maybe it needed more sun.

Sara, you need to gradually acclimate your plants to sun.

Also, I think it's still too cold out for Jades at night...if it's staying out at night.

I'd take it back inside and give it that window-sill light.

If you have aquarium rocks, mix 1 part bark, 1 part perlite, and 1 part rock to make a simple
yet effective mix.

Josh

Hey everyone, thanks for your reading, and all your advice.

Unfortunately, my jade did not survive. :-(

However, I have acquired a new cutting; it's a good size piece with roots growing in two different places already. The roots were already there when I received the plant, but I'm not sure if I should plant the cutting or just let it sit on the soil and establish itself...or if I should put it in water. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

No water - that leads to doom.

Sara,

Put the cutting in a pot with the mix suggested above, don't water it yet. Leave it alone for a few days (one week is more than enough), then water it thoroughly. If you feel the leaves a little bit soft now, keep it to a shadier place, otherwise keep it in full sun window (I assume you keep it indoor now). After water it, you will see new growth very soon. This is really a nice season for acquiring new plants.

Excellent, Sara!

Sorry about the old cutting, but glad about the new.

Josh

Jpsh bless you for helping us out. I just don't want her to lose her plant, I know she can save it but it is difficult to grow them the south or east where ever the humidity is high, I must remind all of you where they grow, they grow on rocky hillsides in Africa where it get the fog for water. This information was received by a man who collected 24 varieties from that hillside, when asked where they were growing his reply was "in rocky soil in the cracks". No Peat moss because it keep them to damp for too long of time, Peat moss it great for Orchids and African Violets but not most species of succulents. They rot. Norma