skip to main content

Cacti & Succulents

Small jade tree with shriveled leaves...why?

17 years ago

Hi! I'm new to this forum. :) I got two tiny jade trees this past June at a farmer's market. They're about 3-4 inches high. When I first repotted them, I watered them a little too heavily (soaked them, actually) and gave them a little fertilizer, which I have learned, from reading on this forum, is not a good idea. Since then, I have watered them only every 3-4 weeks, and only given them 1 cup to a 1/3 cup water each time. They have never really grown, and now the bottom half of the leaves (by which I mean all the leaves on the bottom half of the plants) are shrivelled and drooping. However, they are still perfectly green.

Does anyone have an answer? I've searched over a few forums, but nobody seems to have asked my question. (Though I'm sure someone has...I'm student teaching right now, and believe me, it is a rare student who actually asks a question that wasn't asked by another student two minutes beforehand...) Thank you so much!

littlemary4Him :)

Sort by:Oldest

Comment (1)

Denise
17 years ago
Hi fellow Nebraskan! It actually sounds to me like you've been UNDERwatering your Jades. In the summer months, I water mine at least once a week, sometimes more. And when I water, I flood them until it comes out the drainage holes. Of course, you don't want them to sit in the excess water, but they should be thoroughly watered and then allowed to dry out before they're watered again.

When you repotted them, did you put them in an appropriate sized pot? A good size is one that is only a bit bigger than the rootball. And the soil you use is important, too. A cactus mix with some added perlite is good - a standard potting mix would be too heavy and wouldn't allow it to drain fast and dry out as fast.

You'll find a ton of useful information on this site about Jades sine they're probably the most grown of all succulents. With a little practice, you can become an expert grower of these great plants! Here's one of my many...
{{gwi:574224}}

Denise in Omaha
Related Discussions
Small Jade Plants
Q
Comments (21)
Sure, Luke, that would work (if I'm picturing it correctly). From which pot will you remove the bottom - the 4.5 inch? You needn't, as the roots will exit the drain holes and happily delve into the gritty mix. You might want to give your Port's even more room, of course. They'll grow fast, I tell you... I rooted a large cutting last year in a one-gallon black nursery pot, and I still have it in that container. I'll re-pot this Spring into something wider but shallower. Josh
...See More
How long does it take a jade to look like a little tree???
Q
Comments (26)
Hello! I'm sorry. I admit I got too desperate. And thank you for the reply (: I'm new here so no idea how this place works. I thought probably I was never going to get a response. Yes the soil doesn't look right to me either. My gardener potted it in that. The soil is water retaining and fine-grained. And yes, the pot has got drain holes, and I keep emptying the water tray. I'll change the soil, and repot it. And what sort of pot should I use? The current one is a plastic one. Should I replace it with a clay one when I repot it? And is the pot size okay or should I get a bigger one? Thank you so much! Was really helpful! ^_^ P.S: I live in India. And hey, I'm also worried about those white marks you see on the leaf surface. Are they water marks or some disease?
...See More
Variegated jade branch from a green jade tree?
Q
Comments (47)
Thanks for inquiring Marguerite! Well, it's been a struggle... The large piece finally seems to have rooted and drank some water, it hasn't gown at all and it lost a couple bottom leaves. I added the fine sand as there were roots poking out. There was a tiny little variegated piece, it shriveled and died. A couple months ago there was a tiny solid green jade cutting that needed a home, so I stuck it in. I just started to use weak dosage of Foliage Pro, so hopefully it will put out new growth soon. Nancy
...See More
Jade tree (rot?)
Q
Comments (5)
Yeah, that would be stem rot. I find my various crassulae plants need far more water than I was led to expect, but it turns out they're thirsty succulents in my heat zone. I water them just before/just as the leaves begin to shivel, which can be as little as twice a month or as often as twice a week, depending on where they are. (The tiny terrarium ones are meant to stay small, so they only get small waterings when they dry out, while my biggest one gets a good drench about monthly.) With yours, there's no root mass at all but the leaves aren't shriveled, so they're probably pulling moisture from the stems. I would cut off the trunk(s) and root the pieces in a well-draining C&S mix. Once there are a lot of roots, repot into a grit + perlite + C&S blend. The good news is that there is probably healthy stem tissue above the rot lines, so you've got a good chance of getting a few healthy jade plants out of it.
...See More

Related Stories

MOST POPULAR The Most Incredible Kids' Tree House You'll Ever See?

By Sarah Greenman

Duck your head to enter this unforgettable Dallas wonderwork, lovingly crafted with imaginative delights

URBAN GARDENS 9 Ideas for Styling a Pocket of Outdoor Space

Want to enjoy your outside space this summer without a long-term investment? Check out these nifty, flexible outdoor decorating ideas

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Cedrus Atlantica ‘Glauca’

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

With its blue foliage and variety of shapes, blue atlas cedar earns its place in the sun

CHRISTMAS 20 DIY Ornaments to Give or Keep

By Annie Thornton

From classic to quirky, easy to more involved, these Christmas ornaments will perk up your tree or make a great gift

PLANTING IDEAS Great Garden Combo: 9 Plants for an Intriguing Entrance

Layer trees, flowers and shrubs around an archway to create the feeling of a year-round doorway to adventure

GARDENING GUIDES Grow a Beautiful Fall Garden in a Pot

Welcome autumn with 7 gorgeous plants that thrive in containers and enliven your porch or patio throughout the cooler season

DECORATING GUIDES 8 Space-Savvy Gardens

By Vanessa Brunner

If a windowsill or a small balcony is the only garden space you have, look to these smartly styled plant plots for inspiration

SMALL SPACES Calm Yourself in a Former Hippie Commune’s Tiny Hut

By Mitchell Parker

Need to relax? Check into this simple, secluded lodging at a New Mexico retreat and say, “Om”

ART The Beauty of Bonsai — Living Art, Rooted in Harmony

By creative jewish mom.com

Create your own emblem of nature's balance with an art form dating back 1,000 years

FALL GARDENING 7 Reasons Not to Clean Up Your Fall Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Before you pluck and rake, consider wildlife, the health of your plants and your own right to relax

Sponsored

J.S. Brown & Co.

77 Reviews

Columbus Leading Full Service Design Build Firm

More Discussions

Free plants or cuttings

5

Can I trim this plant?

1

21 year old Jade Plant 4ft tall Pruning Repotting Questions Concerns

3

Easter Cacti in bloom

4

6