An update on my Jade plant & overwatering/underwatering issues

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Hello. I have a couple of doubts. I hope you'd be patient (:

First, here's an update on my Jade. I have repotted her into a new terracotta pot, with this cactus/succulent mix that I got online. I hope this soil is okay? I've had a hard time finding the right soil!

I mixed it with perlite in 50:50 ratio, with a thin bottom layer of pebbles and perlite (not in this picture) in order to facilitate drainage, and a little more perlite on the top. Rest of the soil is thoroughly mixed.

The next doubt I have is- is the pot size okay? Or is it too small and shallow for the plant?

And next, what keeps me most worried is- are the roots healthy? Is it possible that I disturbed them too much (Have repotted her for the second time now in the last 2 weeks) ? They aren't exactly "mushy" but then again, I am not sure because I was afraid to touch them and disturb them too much! The stem is firm to touch though.

Now the LAST doubt- I really don't seem to understand how often to water them. I was told and have read that it should be watered once in two weeks or maybe twice or thrice a month. I tried doing that, but I see that the soil gets dried up in max 4 days of being watered, and then I'm tempted to water it the 5th day because the soil looks and feels REAL DRY.

I live in India, and though it's winter time here, the day temperatures are around 28-30 degrees, with a nice hot sun. And I let the Jade sit in direct sunlight from like 9 in the morning till 4 in the evening (Maybe that's why she's turning red, so I have moved her to a shady spot now). So how often do I water her?

I don't seem to get hang of the leaf-test thing. When I touched them yesterday they felt thin, and slightly flexible, and if I try to twist them a little, I see some wrinkling. So I watered them but they still feel the same! I don't want to kill her by over or under watering

I know I have a lot of doubts, but am extremely new to this. Any help is highly appreciated.

Thank you !

Queen

Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
you should ALWAYS premoisten your media ... and then water the plant in.. once you have the plant in the media ... that is the only way to insure that it it properly moistened throughout ...

i dont know why you went to all the trouble to get the proper media.. and then immediately cut it with a lot of perlite .... frankly.. i dont know if what you did.. is good or bad ... just info for the future ..

is there a hole in the bottom of the pot??.. if so.. the pebbles are of no use ... and if there is no drain hole.. the pebbles still wont do anything .... next time.. just skip those ...

this plant needs high drainage.. thats the point of the media mix ... and i would not play around with a pot without a drain hole ... it can be dealt with by careful watering .... but it just complicates the whole process ..

you might skip teh garden forum next time.. and add the houseplant forum .... as these are very common houseplants for most of us ...

how and when to water is really a personal thing you have to figure out.. based on your pot.. your media.. your location.. your weather.. etc ... so if someone told you.. or you read.. to water every 2 weeks.. i dont know why they would know all that ... you are on the right track with inserting finger and finding out ...

but again.. if you started with bone dry media.. perhaps that is why it is being a water hog right now ...

try to figure it all out.. without loving it to death ... and good luck

ken

ps: i would not have a recently potted plant in sun at all ... if yo do.. maybe thats why it is drying so fast ... as noted.. most of us grow it indoors in low light ...
Queen thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I will likely repeat some of what was already said, but here are my comments:

1. container needs to have drainage hole

2. layer of pebbles at the bottom doesn't help (if, only temporary and not enough). Best to be avoided.

3. good idea mixing purchased soil with perlite (or pumice, or gravel or few other, inorganic ingredients) - looking at the photo, it looks too 'fine' = often water retaining. Pls. note that I am only judging what I see in photo, and not being able to see it directly.

4. it is usually best to get rid of all old soil from the rootball. even washing it if difficult to remove. Spraying with garden hose helps :) Any damaged rots should be cut off. After, let roots dry up on something absorbent, in shade rather than sun. Good air circulation will speed it up. Few hrs to overnight is usually enough.

5. It could have been potted in smaller pot, but it should be ok since pot is not too deep. Big pot = lots of soil, and it may take longer time to dry up.

6. Do not put new succulents into full sun - unless you know for sure hey have been in sunny position before. Always acclimatize them.

7. Water when potting mix is almost completely dry: get a bamboo skewer/chopstick or even pencil. Insert deep into pot (at least 3/4 deep). Leave for few min; if clean and dry when pulled out -time to water. Watering depends on the temps - mix will dry up faster in hot weather; amount of potting mix and even pot - glazed pots take longer.

8. Some reddish color on leaves comes with good sun, and is desired by many of us. Just remember to acclimatize it in order not to burn it.

Jades are very easy plants to grow. As with all succulents, give them great drainage and light and they will be happy. Do not expect overnight change - it will take a bit for plant to recuperate from repotting and it also depends on your growing conditions. And above all - enjoy it, do not worry about 'testing' it every day.

Any further questions, just ask...:)

PS: you will likely get best suggestions on Cacti and Succulents forum - growing other plants in garden is quite different than growing succulents in the containers...
Queen thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
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Jean
5 years ago
A layer of pebbles NEVER improves drainage.

Deep pots always drain better than shallow pots.

All (growing) pots must have a drain hole.
Queen thanked Jean
Queen
Original Author
5 years ago
@Ken, Rina, Jean

Hello! Yes, the pot has got a nice big drainage hole. I wasn't aware of the pebbles-not-promoting drainage, I'd read somewhere that they help! But I shall bear this in mind and from now, I'll skip the pebbles.

Rina, the soil is actually not that fine, but it isn't too coarse either. It drains pretty fast though, and is super light so I'm hoping the soil won't do any harm to my jade. I'm overcautious about overwatering it. I'll start with the chopstick method, that seems easy.

I guess I never gave enough time to my jade to get acclimatized to the sun, one day she was sitting at the balcony and the next under direct sun :/ Though now I only let her having the morning sun for a few hours and then move it to part-shade.

Thank you guys for clearing all my doubts! I guess I just worry too much (: Maybe I should just be patient and let the jade grow! :D

Thanks a lot ! ^_^

Queen

An update on my Jade plant & overwatering/underwatering issues

Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a

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An update on my Jade plant & overwatering/underwatering issues

Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a

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Jean

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