Help my jade plant come back to life!
July 7, 2011 8:47 PM Subscribe
My jade plant is suffering. How do I help it?
I've had this jade plant for about three years now that was doing fairly well in the beginning, but has become sadder and sadder over time. I always thought they were fairly hardy, but this one is unhappy. Its leaves are very thin and sparse, and the plant is listing heavily to one direction (presumably to reach sunlight). Living as I do in the northern hemisphere, I put it in a south-facing window, but it doesn't seem to be helping it. I water it probably not as frequently as I ought to, but I talked to my mother about how often she waters her plant (about once a month) and it doesn't seem like mine should be suffering that much (I probably water it about the same).
What can I do? I last replaced the soil in November, so that could be an issue, but it was doing poorly before that and the soil replacement didn't help very much.
I've had this jade plant for about three years now that was doing fairly well in the beginning, but has become sadder and sadder over time. I always thought they were fairly hardy, but this one is unhappy. Its leaves are very thin and sparse, and the plant is listing heavily to one direction (presumably to reach sunlight). Living as I do in the northern hemisphere, I put it in a south-facing window, but it doesn't seem to be helping it. I water it probably not as frequently as I ought to, but I talked to my mother about how often she waters her plant (about once a month) and it doesn't seem like mine should be suffering that much (I probably water it about the same).
What can I do? I last replaced the soil in November, so that could be an issue, but it was doing poorly before that and the soil replacement didn't help very much.
Best answer: What Specklet said about the soil, plus
This type plant when stressed makes range-y arms. It's probably way spread out from the "mother" (the part still rooted and not doing well)
This part is risky (IANY Horticulurist) but I'd snap off a branch and put in in the right soil, then water well (not too much, just extra for a new baby) That won't (shouldn't) kill the mother but the baby might burst to life and amaze you with it's vigorous habit.
posted by bebrave! at 9:39 PM on July 7, 2011
This type plant when stressed makes range-y arms. It's probably way spread out from the "mother" (the part still rooted and not doing well)
This part is risky (IANY Horticulurist) but I'd snap off a branch and put in in the right soil, then water well (not too much, just extra for a new baby) That won't (shouldn't) kill the mother but the baby might burst to life and amaze you with it's vigorous habit.
posted by bebrave! at 9:39 PM on July 7, 2011
I was told less watering, then when you do water it, make sure you give it a really good drink then let the water drain out for quite a while.
Then again, I'm not one to ask. My jade plant thrives on neglect and afore mentioned good drink very infrequently - in fact it prefers it when I don't so much as LOOK at it.
posted by shazzam! at 1:08 AM on July 8, 2011
Then again, I'm not one to ask. My jade plant thrives on neglect and afore mentioned good drink very infrequently - in fact it prefers it when I don't so much as LOOK at it.
posted by shazzam! at 1:08 AM on July 8, 2011
Best answer: According to Barbara Pleasant houseplants book, jade plants need:
~4 hours of filtered light year-round (i.e. not direct light, more than 4 hrs should be ok too)
6-week cool 55-60F rest in winter improves the chances that older plants will bloom
fertilizer: from spring through fall, feed every 2 weeks with a balanced fertilizer mixed at half the normal strength; in winter, don't feed
water: allow soil to become almost dry between waterings, but watch for shedding leaves or brown spots on leaves - signs of underwatering
soil: regular potting soil or african violet soil
repotting: repot young plants annually in spring, with plants more than 10 yrs old, repot every 2 to 3 years
re: leaning to the light - all plants do that, all you have to do is rotate them a quarter of turn every once in a while to even things out.
posted by rainy at 6:58 AM on July 8, 2011
~4 hours of filtered light year-round (i.e. not direct light, more than 4 hrs should be ok too)
6-week cool 55-60F rest in winter improves the chances that older plants will bloom
fertilizer: from spring through fall, feed every 2 weeks with a balanced fertilizer mixed at half the normal strength; in winter, don't feed
water: allow soil to become almost dry between waterings, but watch for shedding leaves or brown spots on leaves - signs of underwatering
soil: regular potting soil or african violet soil
repotting: repot young plants annually in spring, with plants more than 10 yrs old, repot every 2 to 3 years
re: leaning to the light - all plants do that, all you have to do is rotate them a quarter of turn every once in a while to even things out.
posted by rainy at 6:58 AM on July 8, 2011
Note that unlike most other succulents, regular soil is ok for this plant.
It's easier to avoid problems with watering when you use unglazed clay pot - it absorbs water and evaporates it from the outside so you can water more and still avoid waterlogging. It's important that a pot has some pebbles and/or packing peanuts at the bottom (about 1in for 6" pot, 2in for 12" pot) - to make sure it drains properly.
posted by rainy at 7:07 AM on July 8, 2011
It's easier to avoid problems with watering when you use unglazed clay pot - it absorbs water and evaporates it from the outside so you can water more and still avoid waterlogging. It's important that a pot has some pebbles and/or packing peanuts at the bottom (about 1in for 6" pot, 2in for 12" pot) - to make sure it drains properly.
posted by rainy at 7:07 AM on July 8, 2011
I inherited a jade plant a couple years ago, and live in an attic room with west-facing skylights. It is watered infrequently, but thoroughly once a week with "rested" water (to get rid of chlorine).
The plant grows like mad, so much so that it tends to topple over. Recently, I had to stick the three stalks back into the soil after they became so top heavy and uprooted. Of course, there were no "roots," so I was skeptical that it would revitalize. After a couple months, the four stalks have fallen over sideways, and I might just retire the plant to the compost pile.
So, either jades don't grow enough, or they are too prolific and can't support themselves...not sure if this is helpful, just sharing my story.
posted by obscurator at 9:59 AM on July 8, 2011
The plant grows like mad, so much so that it tends to topple over. Recently, I had to stick the three stalks back into the soil after they became so top heavy and uprooted. Of course, there were no "roots," so I was skeptical that it would revitalize. After a couple months, the four stalks have fallen over sideways, and I might just retire the plant to the compost pile.
So, either jades don't grow enough, or they are too prolific and can't support themselves...not sure if this is helpful, just sharing my story.
posted by obscurator at 9:59 AM on July 8, 2011
So, either jades don't grow enough, or they are too prolific and can't support themselves...not sure if this is helpful, just sharing my story.
Jade plants can root from pretty much anywhere, so the toppling over is not a problem in the wild -- the plant would just send down roots and continue stretching toward the sun. As others mentioned, you can fix this by turning the plant every time you water, to keep it from growing too far in any one direction. It might also help to move it to a larger, heavier pot (clay works very well for Jades) and then tie the stalks to some chopsticks for support.
posted by vorfeed at 11:30 AM on July 8, 2011
Jade plants can root from pretty much anywhere, so the toppling over is not a problem in the wild -- the plant would just send down roots and continue stretching toward the sun. As others mentioned, you can fix this by turning the plant every time you water, to keep it from growing too far in any one direction. It might also help to move it to a larger, heavier pot (clay works very well for Jades) and then tie the stalks to some chopsticks for support.
posted by vorfeed at 11:30 AM on July 8, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks folks, I feel like I have a lot of good things to try that will probably work out. The plant is very sparse and spread out, so replanting a cutting might be a good idea. Other than that, I probably need to start giving it fertilizer and putting pebbles in the bottom of the pot.
posted by invitapriore at 10:58 AM on July 11, 2011
posted by invitapriore at 10:58 AM on July 11, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Thin and sparse foliage means it's not getting enough light, but you don't want to put it too close to the window as they can get a bit scorched.
The only other thing I can think of is the jade plant's preferred PH balance, which the internets tell me is 6.3.
posted by Specklet at 9:19 PM on July 7, 2011 [1 favorite]