'Salt' on my Crassula (jade plant)?

17 years ago

Just today I noticed what looks like salt grains on some of the newer leaves of my jade plant. It seems to be only the leaves that are a week or so old, not the newest ones. I don't use a foliar feed, and the grains seem to be colorless.

Any ideas what it could be and how to stop it from coming back?

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Comments (4)

norma_2006
17 years ago
I would need to see a picture. Do your Crassula look as if they are salted, it's could be only the papillae (a small nipple of pimple like projection, rough hair like protrusions, skin). Then it would be just too much water this time of year, and the extra is coming out of the hydathode (little pore like openings, which will ooze if watered too much, stop watering for a month please, and only water when the plant is very dry. Stick a pencil down into the soil to test. Some Crassula grow with this salt like look on the tips or edges of their leaves. Many of the hybrids are bred for this feature. In fact do not water until Spring. Let the plant rest, depending on age, it just may flower for Christmas.

Denise get ready tis the season.
We will be getting 30-60 questions a month on Crassula ovata from all the states east of the Missippii River

Karen how about you getting into this, please
Thanks Norma
florabundant
Original Author
17 years ago
I have been only watering when she gets very dry. I watered pretty thoroughly this last time because the leaves were getting kind floppy when I pressed them between my fingers, not the usual plump, thickness I was used to. Maybe it is just excess water for now.
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Sorry to disagree......If you water every four days in that current mix you will soon be asking us why the plant has now rotted. It's in the wrong type of soil for a crassula. There's way too much peat and no where near enough perlite, in fact I can only see about half a dozen grains of perlite! If you wish to use the soil mix you have there it needs to be cut with at least 50% perlite in order for it to drain efficiently. Best mix IMHO is in thirds of perlite, small grade gravel and c/s mix. It's now probably that dry it's turned hydrophobic meaning it's repelling your rather frugal attempts at watering it. Spraying water at it will not help, it needs rehydrating properly. Best to repot into a better mix that's moist and give it much more light, water after one week thoroughly til all the water has drained, don't let it sit in the run off. As Pointed out, it's very etiolated due to lack of light. Etiolated growth won't revert to normal, but future growth should be tighter and greener. Gill
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Thank you everyone! I will take it out tonight , I'm thinking proportionally less potting mix this time. Do I need to leave the roots out for a few days before repotting? I admit I've put them straight into a fresh mix previously. And then hold off watering for 1-2 weeks? Would you still recommend removing the black leaves if I add that they feel firm and healthy (despite their unhealthy appearance!)? I've just noticed that the poorly coloured squishy ones (most of the leaves on the plant) also look more swollen than the bright green/red ones... definitely over watering / lack of soil drainage.
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Hello Hank. That's quite a dramatic change isn't it? I had exactly the reverse of that phenomenon with a piece of jade that I bought back from southern Spain several years ago. The mother plant was very pale almost lime green, very much like your plant is now, that is what caught my attention in the first place. There was a piece that had been knocked off as it was adjacent to the main paseo/pavement so I rescued it and grew several plants from it assuming they would be this pale yellow/green/red edged colour. Mother plant was left to bask in the full Costa del Sol sunlight and heat, admittedly in what looked like a poor and thin soil and with goodness knows what watering it as and when...dogs I mean as there were a lot being walked! Every piece I cut up rooted and went on to produce the usual deep green leaves I was more familiar with. They have all retained those nice red edges, but it appears to be the change in growing conditions that has caused the colour change in my case, nothing else I'm sure. That said, and this being the reverse, I would definitely unpot yours and inspect the roots as with you saying it's been wet of late, maybe there could be some root issues starting....so just to make sure. The lower leaves should as you say, drop first, upper leaves yellowing is often a bad sign. What kind of mix is it planted in...the original or has it been repotted? Mine are in very gritty fast draining mixes so no rot issues so far...but they do live inside my gh x365.
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fred_grow
17 years ago
Norma I just know you want my help as well fielding questions on jades but you're embarressed to ask aren't you? No need, I'm here for you!
jeannie7
17 years ago
Floribundant, when you water, do you water sufficient to have the plant drain....and does this water sit for any extended time in its saucer?

The allowing for water to be drawn back up into the soil---around the roots, could account for the limpness...the wilting of the leaves.
Succulents will hold water ---as in a resevoir---and need not be watered so much....even less at this time of season when they are not growing.

If this is an old plant...and you allow such drainage to stay in the saucer, and you regularly fertilize, salts from such fertilizer can be drawn back up around the roots---the same water they have just got rid of.

The salt reaction would then show up on the tenderest leaves...the new leaves first. The limpness might be a direct result from overwatering from below.

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'Salt' on my Crassula (jade plant)?

Comments (4)

norma_2006

florabundant
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'Salt' on my Crassula (jade plant)?

Comments (4)

norma_2006

florabundantOriginal Author

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florabundant
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