crassulas (jades), Adeniums, Fungicide and Insecticidal soaps

16 years ago

Hi all,

This is my first official posting here at gardenweb, though I have been reading them for a long long time.

My question is this. I have several varieties and sizes of jades and jade like crassulas, as well as a few adeniums. this summer, as the new growth began on my largest jade, I noticed that all of the new leaves have been sprouting up with distorted shapes and features...not in a monstose way, but in a way that makes me think there is a problem. this is also true of the smaller jades. I am guessing theree is probably something eatiing at them when they are still tiny little leaf buds. So, Is it safe to use insecticidal soap on jade plants and other succulents? what about Fungicides? any ideas on what might me causing the leaf distortion? thanks.

B Leland

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Comments (4)

sbinf
16 years ago
I have no idea what could be causing the distortion....some kind of nasty I would assume. I have found that using neem oil has no detrimental effects on my jades or adeniums. You may consider trying that.
bennymino
16 years ago
It could also be a pest of some sort. I think mealy bugs are known to cause distortion of the leaves. If I were you, I would take it out of the pot and examine the roots and soil to be sure everythings ok. Just to be on the safe side, I would wash off soil and put new soil in it. Also, you can wash off the plant with some dish soap and water. (I put in a spray bottle and sprayed it down) Another way is to use alcohol with a q tip and wipe any mealies you may see off. If you don't see any pests, I would still change soil and spray down with dish soap just to be on the safe side. Make sure to use fast draining soil (i use cactus soil with perlite about 1/3 of it is perlite, maybe a little more) I'm no expert, this is just what I would do if it were my plant. Good luck I hope your plant gets better.
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olelander
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for your replies. What would I be looking for in the roots and soil? Can you see mealybugs? I have inspected the plant above the soil and it looks clean and healthy - no bugs or scale that I can see....the leaves just keep sprouting in almost heart shaped formations and other odd shapes. I am planning to purchase a really large (in the vicinity of 50+years) jade that I discovered in a shop two blocks from my house last week, and I do not want to end up with the same problem with that one. Maybe I should just leave them inside year round, although they really seem to perk up when they go outside for the summer.
bennymino
16 years ago
Hi again. you can check the soil to see if the roots look good and to see if there's any pests in the soil. You would see mealies. They're little white/grey bugs, or you might notice fuzz on the plant. If everything is ok with the plant, I don't know what could cause the distorted leaves. I remember a few of my leaves grew in a heart shape too on my jades, but i think it was only a few leaves. The jades will really do a lot better if you can keep them outside for the summer though. Is it an old plant? Has it ever done this before?

crassulas (jades), Adeniums, Fungicide and Insecticidal soaps

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sbinf

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crassulas (jades), Adeniums, Fungicide and Insecticidal soaps

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sbinf

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