Does my Jade plant have rot at the base?
AmyTheArtist
11 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (29)
cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
11 years agoAmyTheArtist
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Jade plant rotting from inside out
Comments (6)*My* suggestion: Start cutting at the top, or ends of the branches, and Don't Stop Until You Find Live Tissue. Toss your cuttings aside for defoliation. Pluck any viable leaves and put them in dry soil to start new plants. You *must* find out how extensive the problem is from the top first. Once you have a salvageable plant remaining, take it out of its soil and completely wash all the dirt from it. From here I will copy/paste directions I gave to another poster re: her c. ovata: "Unpot your plant and completely wash the soil off with spray from the hose. **Note if there is a ball of peat around the root-ball** Check for any dead, mushy or grey roots and remove those with a sharp, sterilized knife. Sprinkle any cuts with cinnamon and set it in a dry, shady spot for a few days to allow the cuts to callus over. Prepare some proper succulent mix. *No Peat* There are as many mixes as their are succulent growers. I use 50/50 organic potting soil and haydite but turface, decomposed granite or even perlite will also work...but *No Peat*...did I say that already? Peat becomes hydrophobic when dry and almost impossible to rehydrate. Since succulents need to dry out between waterings, it is a recipe for disaster. Oust it! Since most commercial growers use peat, it is highly possible that after the first time you allowed your plant to dry between waterings the peat was dried out and has never rehydrated whereby your plant has not had a good drink since you brought it home. Water will roll down the sides of the pot and out the bottom, never giving the roots a chance at it. This is also why you cannot remove a root-ball from a nursery pot and plop into a new pot, adding fast-draining dirt around it...that only exacerbates the problem. (edit: Peat also stays too wet too long, thereby rotting the roots off your plant) Once your plant is re-potted, you can resume a normal watering schedule as it has (hopefully still will have) a nice root system. Don't bother to measure the amount of water you are giving. Instead, drench the container until water runs from the bottom...this time it should drain almost instantly from the soil surface and will trickle thru the "soil proper". You can now confidently (and properly) allow the soil to dry between waterings with no worries." (edit: If you do not have a good root system remaining...Remember, the fewer roots, the less water the plant can consume. Water only as needed; when the surface soil is dry to at least one inch, not because a week has passed ) May I additionally note that the combination of low light and weekly waterings is deadly to C. ovata. They thrive in bright light and drench/dry watering. Also, until I saw definitive growth, I would place this plant outside in *bright shade or morning sun only* so that it has a chance to recover itself. HTH! Losing those family heirlooms is painful. Jo...See MoreIs my jade plant rotting?
Comments (7)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...See MoreJade Plant: Falling over, mushy leaves, but no root rot.
Comments (13)To echo Rina, needing less water doesn't mean to water in sips, though I can see how people could take it that way. When soil is moist, the plant drinks up all it can. When soil dries out, the roots grow in search of moisture(a good thing). When soil is dry and you water it, at first the soil resists water. Thus, to 1. water it until it runs out the bottom then 2. wait a few minutes, then repeat that cycle two more times, you ensure that all the soil in the root ball actually gets wet. The wait time depends on how long the soil holds on to water. There are several factors that go into how fast the water left in the soil evaporates, so you have to evaluate dryness each time before you water. If it were mine, I would prune it back significantly and try to find a better lighting situation. By significantly I mean in this case about 6 inches off each branch. This allows for increased branching, and gives the main branches time to harden off and be more resistant to flopping in the future. I assume that by saying the leaves are mushy, you mean they are dehydrated, floppy, flattened. Is that true? I have never seen rot in the leaves and not in the trunk, so rot seems unlikely in this case. Keep in mind that it is MUCH harder to kill a jade with dry conditions than with wet. Which brings us full circle back to Rina's question about well-draining mix... ez...See MoreHelp my jade plant i think has root rotted and is dying quick
Comments (5)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...See Morecactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
11 years agoAmyTheArtist
11 years agocactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
11 years agomeyermike_1micha
11 years agoAmyTheArtist
11 years agohexalm
11 years agoAmyTheArtist
11 years agogreenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
11 years agopirate_girl
11 years agogreenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
11 years agoAmyTheArtist
11 years agolenle
11 years agocactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
11 years agoAmyTheArtist
11 years agouhohallie
11 years agokaktuskris
11 years agouhohallie
11 years agocactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
11 years agouhohallie
11 years agokaktuskris
11 years agonewestpassion
9 years agorina_Ontario,Canada 5a
9 years agonewestpassion
9 years agoAmyTheArtist
9 years agoraz3
9 years agorina_Ontario,Canada 5a
8 years ago
Related Stories
GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING8 Rot-Resistant Woods for Your Outdoor Projects
No need for chemical treatments on your deck or pergola. These woods stand up to weather, insects and time beautifully on their own
Full StoryNATIVE PLANTSGreat Design Plant: Wild Bergamot, Friend of Foragers
Nourish butterflies and other winged creatures with the tubular flowers of Monarda fistulosa, a pretty pink native
Full StoryHOUSEPLANTS8 Essentials for Healthy Indoor Plants
Houseplants add so much to our homes — and can thrive when grown in the right conditions. Keep these tips in mind
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARDHow to Build a Raised Bed for Your Veggies and Plants
Whether you’re farming your parking strip or beautifying your backyard, a planting box you make yourself can come in mighty handy
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESSmall Carpenter Bees Are Looking for a Home in Your Plant Stems
Provide flowers and nesting sites in your garden for this beautiful, tiny, metallic blue wild bee — your plants will thank you
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Snowberry Pleases Year-Round
Bright spring foliage, pretty summer flowers, white berries in winter ... Symphoricarpos albus is a sight to behold in every season
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Dodonaea Viscosa
Florida hopbush’s lush foliage adds beauty to the arid landscape, while its size provides screening and privacy
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Texas Ranger Explodes With Color
If purple is your passion, embrace Leucophyllum frutescens for its profusion of blooms and consider the unfussiness a bonus
Full StoryCONTAINER GARDENSFreshen Up the Bath With Lush and Healthy Plants
Learn how to choose and care for plants that will do well in your space
Full StoryEDIBLE GARDENSGarden BFFs? Why Your Vegetables Are Begging for Companion Plants
Foster friendships among plants for protection from pests, pollination support and color camaraderie
Full Story
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a