A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2002 Another Jade Plant Problem

We have had our jade plant for approximately 4 months and have not moved it from a sunny windowsill since we brought it home. It did fine for the first month or so, but now the leaves are drying out. They look wrinkled and shriveled, then they fall off. There is no new growth on the plant. We water once a week. Any advice on this? Thanks!

If it is just some of the lower leaves on each stem that are shriveling and falling, don't be alarmed; Jades do that periodically.

If the leaf drop is more extensive, then the shriveled leaves mean that they are not getting enough water. A weekly watering may actually be too much water. If the roots are kept in constantly moist soil, they will rot. When roots rot, then the stems and leaves have no way to get water, so they shrivel. Always allow the top third of the rootball to dry before watering thoroughly. That often takes more than a week.

If you repotted your jade into a larger pot, that may be contributing the root rot.

Would we be better off repotting the jade into different soil, i.e., succulent or cactus-type potting soil? Or is just plain potting soil ok for jade plants? Also, if we repot the plant into a smaller pot than what it is in, would that help?

If your jade is in its original pot and soil, then there is no reason to repot it.

If you repotted it yourself, then it is best to undo that repotting by removing the soil that you added around the original rootball and then putting the plant back into its original pot.