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Cacti & Succulents

Is my jade plant rotting?

10 years ago

I really can't tell. It is browning from the base up, and I can't think of any other explanation. However, its leaves look green and firm and the trunk is firm as well. I don't think I have been watering it too much because I've watered it maybe once every two weeks or so. Another reason I was afraid of rot was because I've seen little black gnats flying around my room, and sources on the internet have said that they could be a cause. I also took my plant out of its pot to check its roots directly, and they looked perfectly normal.
Is it just coming of age? I know the pictures of jade plants I see have brown, bark-like trunks. Is that what's happening to it?
Thanks,
Rebecca

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Comments (7)

Tohkano
Original Author
10 years ago
Here's the picture of the whole plant. He looks pretty healthy to me, minus the trunk... There's some sunburn on the leaves, but that's it.
cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
10 years ago
To answer your question, no, not yet. Since you're watering it so little, it's delaying the time until the plant shows the effects of soil that's not porous enough. As a quick fix, you should repot that into that soil that's been cut with 50% perlite - it needs more porosity. There's been a lot written on good jade soils here (do a search for them if you want to have a more refined and possibly more improved soil than that recommended), and there are a lot out there to choose from. Unfortunately, yours isn't a good soil to have that Crassula ovata in for an extended period.

This post was edited by cactusmcharris on Tue, Oct 1, 13 at 22:40
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This is my first season with large Jades indoors, and I've only had a couple of brushes with rot, though admittedly not with a rooted plant. This being said, here's my 2 cents. Jades seem to decline quickly once rot sets in. If she were mine, I would not water till new growth is evident. Keep her in a bright room and wait. I wonder if bottom heat would help her? As in treating her like an unrooted cutting. Considering she has no leaves. Also, if the logic that roots have been lost then (either to pruning or rot) the plant has decreased use for water, do not water. I've read where once rot starts in a well rooted Jade, the prognosis is poor & the author did just as you ended up having to do, cutting back till there wasn't much left. The plant eventually succumbed. Hindsight being what it is and all 0_o I feel as though you don't have much to lose at this point so bottom heat may not be such a bad idea. I think if I should come across this issue with any of mine, I might cut my losses & cut the plant off at the knees & attempt to root. To sum up, bottom heat, bright warm room, no water till little green nubbies appear on the trunk and hope for the best. Good luck & please keep posting. Antoinette
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dimitrig
10 years ago
It is not rotting. It is developing bark. That's totally normal.

Once every two weeks is not enough water in my opinion let alone too much. I water mine a few times per week without any problems. However, make sure the soil is drying out between waterings.
Tohkano
Original Author
10 years ago
I just repotted him in a soil that said it was a succulent soil that was fast draining, so I dunno if that would be it. Also, once every two weeks was a rough estimate- it feels like so long in between waterings because I try my best to put it off, but it's probably more like once a week. :P
I figured it was his bark developing, bur I wanted to make sure. I've hardly been able to find anything about that stage of his development! I'm a first time jade owner and I'm super attached to Steve, so I don't want anything bad happening to him. ;_;
thank you so much for your responses, by the way!
andy_e
10 years ago
Let me guess: Miracle Gro cactus and succulent soil?

Regardless, it's clear from the picture that your soil won't drain fast enough. Mix that soil 1:1 with perlite, pumice or turface.
Tohkano
Original Author
10 years ago
Yep, I'm pretty sure that's it. Before he was in this generic potting soil that just happened to be in my garage, but after doing a little research I found that that was probably not the best soil so I just changed the soil a couple of weeks ago.
I'll look into the perlite, thanks for the advice!
americangolden
10 years ago
When using a soil mix like you have, it is better to water too little than too much. This will help avoid root rot that you are talking about.

In regards to your picture, your Jade plant is developing its bark. This is a cool process which transforms the green stems into wood looking bark. This takes place on areas that are old enough and will continue to happen as your plant ages and more stems become old enough to transition in the process. Good luck with your Jade plant! They are wonderful plants to grow.

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