Your jade plant should look glossy, green, and gorgeous. But if its leaves fall off, you can be left with an unpleasant sight. If your jade plant keeps dropping its leaves, find out the reasons for this so you can remedy the situation.
Why do jade plants keep dropping their leaves: When jade plants drop leaves, this is a sign something isn’t right. The most common reasons for dropped leaves are overwatering or underwatering. Changes in air temperature, a lack of soil nutrients, and not enough light can also be reasons jade plants drop leaves.
Reasons why jade plants keep dropping their leaves?
As soon as you see your jade plants dropping leaves, it’s time to investigate. Here are the most common reasons for leaves to drop.
Poor Soil Quality
Jade plants don’t need to be repotted too often because their roots like to be in close quarters. However, if your plant is constantly dropping leaves, it may be a sign that your soil needs to be replaced. While you can still use the same pot, you should remove the plant and add fresh potting soil.
Always use a succulent potting soil mix for your jade plant. This will be specially formulated to include absorbent materials such as peat moss.
Overwatering
Unfortunately, you may be spending too much time on your jade plant. While it does need water to survive, too much will lead to poor health.
Jade plants are a type of succulent, which means they need less water than other types of houseplants. Furthermore, their leaves are constructed in such a way that they hold water in times of drought.
You may think that you haven’t watered your jade plant enough, but it is capable of taking the water when it comes, storing it, and then releasing that water to the rest of the plant.
Underwatering
Conversely, you may not be watering your jade plant enough. This primarily happens in the height of summer when it is hotter out and thus water evaporates more quickly in the summer.
The placement of your jade plant should also be considered. If a plant is near a south-facing window in the summer, the sun’s rays are amplified which can cause the plant’s leaves and soil to dry out a lot faster than they would in the winter.
Changes in temperature
The ideal temperature for jade plants is between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Most homes are naturally set to this, so you should be okay. However, summer and winter can bring changes in your home which can shock your jade plant.
Keeping your plant near a window seems like a logical choice. However, windows can be drafty in the winter and frost can appear on the inside of the glass. If the leaves of your jade plant touch that cold window, they can develop frostbite and fall off.
As for summer, the window can amplify the temperature in the room. This can lead to sunscald and more leaves falling.
Not enough light
A bright area is key for succulents like jade plants. They don’t need to be in front of a window but should be in a room that gets a lot of indirect sunshine.
Again, this can be a seasonal issue. Your jade plant may be just fine in one area in the summer when there are plenty of hours of daylight. But in the winter, that same area may be cast in darkness for the majority of the day.
Once fall comes along, you may want to rethink where you keep your jade plants and move them around so they get enough hours of light. Adding artificial light can also be a way to lessen this problem.
Unwanted pests
Even in controlled areas such as your home, pests can find plants. Every time a door or a window opens, pests can come in and look for their next food source.
Spider mites and mealybugs are especially attracted to plants. The good news is that if you take care of the problem right away, you can stop an infestation from happening.
At the first sight of an issue with your jade plant, such as fallen leaves or discoloration, search the plant for pests. Look in all the cracks of the plants and under the leaves for bugs or eggs.
To treat your plant use diluted rubbing alcohol. Wipe it along all surfaces of your jade plant to kill these annoying pests.
Poor drainage
To help with the right ratio of water, you should have a container that has proper drainage. Many overlook this as jade containers are often smaller than other plants.
Use a two-layer system when you can, so the inner container has drainage holes and the outer layer is a decorative pot. You can also use a container that has drainage holes in the bottom but rests on a dish so it doesn’t wreck the surface underneath.
What does an overwatered jade plant look like?
When you overwater your jade plant, the roots try to absorb the excess water. However, this can lead to root rot and you may notice a black or white fungus on the soil.
As the roots die off, your jade plant won’t have an anchor and the plant can actually fall over. And, of course, an overwatered jade plant will have copious amounts of falling leaves.
Will jade plant leaves grow back?
If you correct the conditions that cause your jade plant to drop leaves, then yes, they will grow back. This can take a few months, however, so be sure to exercise patience.
As your jade plant grows, it will naturally drop leaves closer to the stem. These might not grow back so be prepared for some bare spots on the stems.
Conclusion
Jade plants are pretty hardy but like all plants, they need a certain level of care to remain healthy. If your jade plant starts to drop leaves, this is a sign it isn’t well. Take a look at your watering schedule, and the plant’s soil, and check for insects to see what is causing the issue.
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