I've had a wonderful, large jade plant for about 4 years now. I got it as a 10 inch cutting from a friend - it already had a nice brown trunk, and has been growing very well. Well...... I put a new gardenia plant next to it this summer - I know they are prone to spider mites, but this one looked very healthy when I inspected it at the store. Fastforward 2 months, and the gardenia is COVERED in spider mites, as is the jade!

I took the gardenia away, and sprayed the other plants around it with rubbing alcohol. I also watered the plants. All the other plants are still doing well, but the jade had all these leaves on the floor below it 2 days ago!



So... did I overwater it? Or is it much more sensitive to the alcohol than the other plants? I am devastated!!! This is my ALL TIME FAVORITE plant, and it's so naked right now - it's even lost many more leaves since I took these pictures below 2 days ago...

Oh no Lynne, that is just awful. I have no idea what may have caused that but I am so sorry the jade is doing so poorly. I hope it recovers.

Are you gong to try starting those leaves?

Thanks Triss - the leaves were all soft and mushy! So I tossed them all - I do have some other leaves that are sprouting tiny babies now though - I'm just so disappointed because I've never had a jade grow so large and healthy for me before!

hi sorry to but in like this, would you mind sharing with me how your got the leaves to sprout into plants? (if only I read this before I posted my question in the propagation forum)

I hope you are able to save it, Lynne! It is a beautiful plant...

Dianna

Rubbing alchol......?

you killed it ......I never heard of such a thing.
An I am a farmer........Those sprays must be regulated............

I have one of those, but no problems.

Maybe if you can wash it off with warm water, it may revive it ........

Let us know.

dodge

i don't know what should be used for getting rid of spider mites.

i do know that rubbing alcohol will dissapate within a short time.

i also don't know if jades are overly sensitive to it.

rubbing alcohol is standard treatment for many things. usually spot treatments (with a q-tip soaked in the alcohol) to the bugs themselves. i've heard is suggested to spray with it if the infestation is bad. usually a mix of the alcohol and water.

lynne, did you use straight rubbing alcohol or did you mix it with water? if straight, gently washing it down - a drop of a really mild soap in a bucket of water and then wipe down with clear water may help. also, if soil was affected - which may be the case if you soaked the jade really well, you might want to repot it in fresh soil.

it's a well established plant. some tender loving care should help it bounce back. i hope so!! i just love them and that one is a real beauty!!

Lynne, sorry about your lovely jade, I'm just getting into jades myself and have been reading how susceptible they are to rot. I honestly don't think your rubbing alcohol had anything to do with it, but maybe overwatering. Check out this link Bill\'s advice on jade rot.

Best of luck to you!

Lynne, wow... that's a heartbreaker... But you know what? I'm guessing the alcohol has not killed your jade but has made it a bit ill, especially if you've washed alcohol down into the soil when you watered. I feel your pain, I really do!

There have been times over the years that mine have thrown hissy fits when their environment has been changed, e.g., moved or sprayed with something. But jades are hardy and I don't believe this one's headed to jade heaven!

I would take soft cloth soaked in mild soapy water and gently wipe off every leaf. This arduous task is worth the effort. Be sure it's not in the sun when you do this. If you can get it outside and tip it on its side or leave it upright and cover the soil, spray hose it down, getting the underside as well.

Lift it out of the pot and look for rot. If it's very wet, set it on newspaper for a day or two to wick out excess water. I would also replace the top 2 inches of soil with new.

Your jade may take a couple of months to recover and it may lose many more leaves, but it will come back with new growth, not to worry!

In a few weeks, pinch out the new leaves at the end of the stems to encourage growth elsewhere. I would take out the babies at soil level and move them into pots of their own.

kennyso: Leaves can simply be put in potting soil and eventually, they will root. Better to take at least a 2-leafer on a stem - will root much much better. That's my experience anyway

Lynne, post back with picture soon

Thanks Joclyn, mel, and Tomacco!


I did use a pretty strong solution of the alcohol, in water. I do agree, and believe that it got overwatered - whether it was with the alcohol, or water. It has lost many more leaves, and I cut off many of the long, skinny stems. I've planted 1/2 of them already, after letting them scar over for a few days - they are doing well. I will do the others today or tomorrow. I appreciate all the helpful suggestions and concern.

Dodge - don't you think this was a bit harsh?!?
(sorry about the very poor pictures!)





(I am editing my own post here, after reading Bill's section on jade pests -
thanks, mel!!!)

Apparently I have confused mealy bugs with spider mites in this instance - my bad!
(used up all 8 graemlins, or I'd post the embarassed one here. I DO know the difference, and the gardenia definitely had the webs and teensy spiders. So, I assumed the jade was the same - but that's even worse now - there were 2 different pests all over the plants. Waaah...)

And, to quote Bill...
Life goes on...

lynne, i'm VERY glad to hear and see (thx for the pics) that that beautiful jade is hanging in there AND sprouting new growth!!!

maybe a real pruning off the tops of the branches (instead of just pinching the newest growth) will do more to help stimulate new growth along the lower parts of the branches? not a major pruning...just an inch or so should be enough.

as upsetting as this was - to the plant and yourself - i think the jade will (eventually) be a much more bushy and beautiful plant!! it's just going to take some extra attention and care and time for that to happen

yes, we all make mistakes...and, hopefully, we learn from them and don't repeat them. i'm glad you posted about this...it's a good learning experience for all of us when dealing with bugs on our jades!

Nice job on the pruning And about those harsh comments... I went back and read them as if the speaker had just inhaled helium. Pretty funny!

Tomacco - you are hysterical!
Thanks so much for adding levity and laughter to my day!

joclyn - I actually have cut off pieces that were 5-6 inches long already!!! That's how leggy and barren the branches had become. I do think I will cut it back some more, so it can fill out more as you have suggested. I wanted to see if it still had life to it, before I wasted my time. I think I'll wait just a few weeks before doing so, as the sun will be lower in the sky then, and the plant will get more through the sliding glass doors, to hopefully help perk it up more.

Thanks for being so supportive, you two!

Tomacco

I am the so called harsh speaker, I didnt inhale helium.............

Sorry if you thought it was harsh I will inform the moderators of this.

dodge

lynne, looks like you are doing something right now, since it is shooting out babies. and if any of the cuttings or leaves are rooting, you definitly did something right. I'd just say you got in too big of a hurry to "help" your baby!

Thanks, Jiffy!
I think you are right - I went a bit overboard in trying to get rid of all of the pests I saw that day. Now I'll know to not be quite as agressive next time

Todays update...

I potted up some of the cuttings today. While I was down there, I took another good look at mamma and decided it was time to take the pruners to her again - severely this time. I ended up taking another 19 cuttings off - don't ask me where I'm gonna put all these?!? I just hope she grows as full and glorious as she was when this all started!

Oh, gosh, I need a drink... Can I get back to you?

Do I interpret that to mean it's too upsetting to look at?

oh, boy!! talk about going on a diet!!!

have you thought about grouping 3 or 4 of the cuttings together? you could stagger the heights and place them close together so that it would like it was one plant...

i'd be willing to send you something in trade for a few of the cuttings...if you think they would travel through the post office well, that is!

since it's obviously got some new growth happening and you didn't take off all the green stuff i think she'll bounce back just fine...

i would just continue with the TLC for the moment...she's had a really good trim - now let her get re-situated. it will be slow going until she's as full as she was before this happened. it'll happen tho, i'm sure of it!

'Twas a shock the first time your photo came up on the screen. Second time around and I'm still in b-fib. But don't worry 3 more drinks and she should loooookk juusstt ffahn Joclyn's right. Just TLC for a few months. Where do you keep yer pruners? I'm coming to get them. (just kidding!)

Thanks, Joclyn - that's just what I planned on doing!

I do pot at least 3 of them up together each time, always have. I'd never have enough room for all the plants I do, if I didn't do that.

I'd be glad to send you some cuttings, but I was afraid to offer any because the plant had the mealy bugs, which was the beginning of all my problems here. I have sent some cuttings in the mail before - I usually use a small box for them. Let me know what you think... I doused the cuttings with soapy water after I cut them, because I did want to use them, so hopefully that took care of any residual critters. They are drying out, and scaring over now. Again... let me know...

By the way... do you ever come up this way?
I'm about 2 hours from Philly.
Are you thinking of going to Wrennie's summer camp GH get together in the Catskills?

Tomacco - you have noooooooooo idea how badly I needed those chuckles right now!!!

Are you thinking of going to Wrennie's summer camp get together also?

Lynne, she may look a lil naked now, but once she starts to grow back, you are going to have a much fuller and healthier plant!!!

I would LOVE to take one of the cuttings off your hands, Lynne.

Tonya - I don't mind sharing some cuttings with you, but you did read that I'm not quite sure I've gotten rid of all the mealy bugs on them, right? I would feel just awful if you got a case of them, and it spread to your other healthy plants, as it did mine!

2 hours? you're not far away at all!

only time i've been to ny is to go to nyc...i did go skiing at greek peak one year tho (gosh, that was a LONG time ago tho! )

hadn't heard about wrennie's summer camp thingy...you'll have to send me the details!

i don't think the bugs will be an issue at all...you've treated for them repeatedly, so all should be okay.

i'll send ya a pm

I'm so happy to say that many of those naked branches have the teeniest babies popping out of the tips of them today!!! This mamma is going strong! Hopefully, before long, she will be back, bigger and stronger!

Thanks for all the encouraging words, everyone!

Updating this thread with some pictures of the babies!

Wow! Congrats on the progress!

Tomacco

Look at all those babies!!! Awesome. Looks like you are going to have a fuller and more beautiful jade than ever!

she looks terrific!!!!

i just KNEW she'd survive - such a well established plant can handle a lot!! and the buds are growing so quickly! you're doing a great job!!

I found that a solution of dish soap and water cured my mealy bug problem, I sprayed it on and gently wiped the plants off as best I could. That rid me of most of them. occasional holdouts were killed by a qtip soaked in alcohol. I had a major infestation, and only lost one fledgling jade and the bugs' source - a lucky bamboo I got as a gift. The bugs really liked the Corn plant, but it survived.

A good spray at the sink or shower will wash many of mites away. Also wiping each leaf underside with a moist cloth will remove the missed ones. No this several times to discourage them, but be careful not to over water...if you can tip your pot a bit as you water that will help or just use the wiping method. Never use insecticidal soaps on a Jade...they are extremely sensitive.

To prevent spider mite infestations increase the humidity in the home, especially during winter; dry warm air is prime time for spider mites.

Smaller plants can be grouped together over a shallow dish filled with stones, marbles, ect. then filled with water. The pots will sit on the marbles out of the water. Can do the same with individual pots. You can also also keep a small dish filled with water and sit amongst the plants; it will release moisture in the air around the plants.

Best wishes

It's been almost a month since the last picture.....how are those babies doing??

Yup- Inquiring minds want to know!

Sorry- hiccup

Thanks for asking - the babies are doing pretty well.
I was concerned for a while there - some of the new growth was a very pale green, but they seem to be taking on the darker color now.

Overall view:


Some babies:

Oh wow! Looking great! I was doubtful, too, but gee whiz, it's doing so well!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Yup! Looks real good! ..real real good. I'm glad that it survived everything!

Way to go Lynne!! It is looking good!

How does the jade tree look now?
I hope you let us see how it's progressed once the spring rolls around. And again next fall!

Thanks for asking!

She's doing quite well - that is when the cats don't knock off a new stem, like Amber did just yesterday!

Just took this picture. This is the time of year when my indoor plants do most of their growing. I'm thinking of cutting off some of the bare stems now that the tips are growing - I will definitely root those for new plants!

/clap

she's looking good, lynne!!!!!

Now that's a come back!

The jade is looking great. I'm glad to see the turn around.

Boo yah!

well...

The ENORMOUS diffenbachia that is next to my jade was completely covered in mealy bugs this morning! WAAAAAAH! I sprayed it with soapy water, as there were too many to get with a Q-tip and alcohol, and moved it to another room.

BUT... a few hours later, when checking the jade one more time, I saw some mealies in the crevices of stems! I am so upset and frustrated with this - it's not been a good morning all around, and this was the straw!

I just cannot seem to keep the mealies out of this corner of the room - I have washed down the wood paneling there, the floors, treated all the plants, but those persistant bugs keep returning! Do I really have to just get rid of all my plants there? It's such a great area to grow them by the sliding glass doors!

they might be in the soil. i remember seeing someone post that they can live in the soil.

what i don't remember is whether the advice was to repot in completely new soil or just take out the first couple of inches of soil and replace with fresh.

sounds like the dif is completely infested - what a shame!!! is it too big to put in the shower?? a good rinsing, after spraying with the soap mix, would be a good idea. (the soap can clog the leaves up).

if the jade only has a few, they should be easy to get rid of.

Hey, am hybernating over Winter but wanted to reply with this.

http://www.optimara.com/doctoroptimara/diagnosis/soilmealybugs.html

I would:

1. vacuum out the top 3 inches of soil and throw away. (Yes, I said vacuum)
2. pack a large towel in the void.
3. haul that jade into the shower, lay the pot on its side on the edge of the tub. Spray with soapy water, then wash off the trunk and leaves with warm water spray.
4. take enough good, new soil, mix it with the skelibobs, and toss it in the pot.

Best I can offer

p.s. Granddaughters are all doing well

Hi Joclyn and Tomacco!

The diffenbachia is huge - I tried taking some pictures this morning but the glare from the snow outside made the plant very dark and I couldn't fix it. Will try again in a few minutes. I was barely able to lift it to move it into the next room.

I might be able to move the jade into the shower, but that means dragging it upstairs.

I wish it was warm outside so I could just schlepp all the plants out and give them a good dousing!

I'm so glad your grandaughters are doing well, Tomacco!
Have any new pictures to share with us?

Thanks for asking, Lynne G'daughters are doing very well. I just pruned Gran'father twin and cried when I had to chuck the cuttings. I just have no more room... I will try to get a few pics snapped but I'm swamped with work. Took time out to reply here so you wouldn't think I'd dropped off the face, you know? LOL! Aside from your measley bugs (haha), I'm so glad your jade is doing well

Cheers to all!

Not to take the focus off the jade plant, but here is the diffenbachia that was infested this morning - it's about 4 1/2 feet tall, and really not movable to a shower! I've moved it to another room - it will get morning light instead of setting afternoon light, til I see that it's ok.



I've had it for many many years, and would really like to save it!

Oh, Lynne, that diffenbachia is so gorgeous and healthy looking! !

Now, don't you go dragging that huge plant up the stairs!

oh, boy!! that's a fantabulous dif!!!!

i agree, it IS to big to put in the tub (especially if it's upstairs)...wouldn't happen to have a second bath (with a shower stall) on the first floor, wouldya?!

just take a cloth and some clean water and wipe the leaves down.

and i wouldn't worry about it going anywhere...you managed to get the jade back to good health, i'm sure you'll do the same with the dif!!

if you only saw a few mealy's on the jade, i'd just keep an eye on it...i doubt it's fully infested at this point, so probably no need to do anything with the soil (or to give it a shower either - poor dear's been through enough already!).

i'm wondering why this happened now...in mid-winter...did you bring in any new plants recently??

if so, check it and any other plants for signs of the buggies!

Thanks Mel and Joclyn!

That diffenbachia is actually several stems - it keeps getting very tall, so I cut it back and put the cut end in the soil. No more room now!!! I have other starts of it in other rooms, but none as large as this one.

I didn't bring any new plants into that room, Joclyn. The only thing I can think of, is that it is extremely dry in our house when the heat is on, and somehow these bugs manage to survive somewhere in that corner. I don't think they are the root mealies, since I don't really see them in the soil at all, plus they look different.

That is a beautiful plant. How do you take cuttings off of it? Just snip the top???

Are we talking about cuttings from the diffenbachia?

You can take pieces that are 3-4 inches long.
I let the edges dry out for a few hours, and then stick the end firmly into soil.

You can also take a 3-4 inch piece after the first cutting - with no leaves - let both ends dry out, and lay it sideways into the soil - with about 1/2 of the width of the stem sticking out sideways. It will take several weeks, but you can get new plants from that as well!

Thanks, I'm nervous to cut mine. It's getting thin and spindly, I was thinking that by taking a cutting, it would encourage it to grow out the way. What do you think?