HI i was hoping that someone could help me i've had my jade plant for about 9 months and at first it was fine but as months went by my jade started drop most of it's bottom leaves and now it is all long and all the bottom leaves are gone what can i do to help it and what did i do wrong if someone could help me i'd be thankfull thanks omni
Looks like a pretty dull location? They need bright light (right in a south window), and no watering from Oct through to about March. Either of those strike a bell?
she's about 3 feet from a south faceing window in my house but i'm not sappost to water her at all not even once in that time thanks for the advice though
Jades like it really bright. If at all possible, move it right next to the south-facing window. I'll just be frank with you, I can tell that your plant is not getting enough light. I don't water my Jade at all from late Oct to about now. Some people have to water theirs a wee bit if the leaves start to wilt badly, but that has never happened to me personally. I'm just now starting to give it some small drinks, and will gradually increase the watering. I've also just pruned mine. Some of the branches had gotten long and spindly.
Hi If you don't mind me adding my two cents worth. My Jade plant is right under my big window which faces sort of west. It gets nice bright sunlight but never direct sun in the warmer weather. I water give mine enough water to make all the soil pretty moist ....say a couple of cups and then let it dry out but not bone dry and not for a long at all. This winter I probably gave it a cup or so of water once per month or if the leaves feel a little spongy, then I gave it some water. It is looking really nice. The leaves are shiny and a nice dark green, no leaves have fallen off at all. Too much water will make it rot and die. If you are not sure about the water, buy a water meter and use it before giving it any water or check the leaves and if they are not nice and firm, give it a cup or so in the winter also. That's just how I care for my Jade plant and it's very healthy. I wouldn't let mine go all winter with no water at all. Do what I suggested and you should have a nice healthy Jade plant. Definitely move it closer to the window but out of direct sunshine.
Well, there are two camps about how to handle Jades in the winter. Some succulent societies suggest a bit of water during the winter, and others do as I do, and withhold water for several months (unless of course, the leaves are wrinkled). Being from Victoria, where the humidity is high, I withhold all water, and my Jade is thriving. I'm not sure what the situation is like in Rhode Island, but when in doubt, withhold water. All too often, people will overwater, as to opposed to water correctly in the winter months. Better to not water at all, as succulents can handle going without for long periods of time. Watering has to take into account where you live in the world (relative humidity), what kind of potting medium the plant is in, and how warm you keep your place. For me, considering the above three, combined with what I've read about Jades, and experience, I choose not to water in the winter (unless leaves are obviously wrinkled), which hasn't happened for my 8 year old plant :)
I have a theory as to why we might see conflicting information like that. It's simple, the people who would be looking on the web for how to take care of a succulent are more likely to be new or inexperienced with that particular plant. The inexperienced are also the type of people to wonder why their succulent is not growing and water it until it rots off at the ground. So, the simplest thing to do is just not to water. A jade just isn't going to die from not being watered in winter. I think there are some cacti that, if they are living in a cool home, that will be rotten by spring if they are watered in the middle of winter. Myself, I water when I walk by and go, "oh, you're looking pretty wrinkly". When in doubt, there is no doubt. You can't go wrong by not watering. Read up on where jade plants are from, and you'll learn that there is nothing too hot or too dry that they can't thrive in.
I research tropical plants all the time on the internet, and I would consider myself to have moderate to high experience with tropicals. One has to get to know where the plant is from, and not just rely on sources, that may be 30 years old, and possibly inaccurate about care. I'm not saying all 30 year old books are inaccurate (settle down), but new info is constantly coming to light. So I do not equate inexperience with the need to research. The two camps, I believe, comes from just such a problem. Plenty of sources suggest to not water the plants all winter, believing that would mimic their natural habitat. Other, sometimes newer, sources suggest that natively they are accustomed to some small amounts of moisture through the winter. Living in Victoria, and taking into account my above conditions, I choose to follow the no-water approach, UNLESS, as I've said, I see wrinkled leaves.
My mother and myself have grown many jade plants. I take care of mine based on my past experiences with them. I have killed a few little ones and learned from my mistakes. I have had this one for a couple of years now and it's grown like crazy. I have found that if the leaves are spongy and not nice and firm....then I give it some water even in the winter. It may only be every four to six weeks or as needed. It's very healthy as I said above and no leaves have wrinkled or dropped off.
Just thought I'd add that I have killed a couple of jade plants from not watering and so has one of my neighbours.
Well, if you've killed your plants from not watering, then you need to listen to your plants. I also question whether not watering during the winter is the only reason your plant died. Perhaps I've not communicated my views about watering very clearly. I do not water during the winter not as a rule, but because my plants appear to be thriving very nicely without the water. If they were to start shrivelling, then I would listen to what my plant is trying to tell me, and give it some water (but not very much, and not often, unless it shrivelled again). My plants do not need water during the winter. I watch to see if they do, and year after year, they do not. Some years, if the leaves were to shrivel, I would water them, because I watch and interact with my plants. I feel that I do not have to water because of the conditions of where I live, the temperature of my house, and the potting medium I have planted them in. A lot of people have Jades, and a good number of them are doing very poorly. Cultural problems that the plant for the most part can overcome, or live with. What is particularly difficult to overcome however is when a plant is watered, more than it needs to be for its setting, in the winter. This can be the kiss of death for many succulents. Better to not water, than to overwater, as succulents are accustomed to long periods without water.
I understood you the first time. But thanks again for going over it and making it perfectly clear. I appreciate your detail. Good Luck !
