The jade plant succulent is a one-of-a-kind, beautiful succulent that every plant lover adores. The adorable tiny green leaves quickly capture the hearts. Many gardeners like you and me experience some problems while growing a jade plant.
Falling or curled up leaves or leggy growth and much more. These can result in a dying jade plant. If your plant is facing such issues, you must treat it immediately as it is extremely dangerous.
You may have followed numerous care guides and tips to keep your jade plant healthy and happy, but it may feel like it is all now falling apart! So, the obvious questions that come into your head are, “Why is my jade plant dying?” or ” How to care for a dying jade plant?”
There are several possible causes for your jade plant to start dropping leaves or fall apart. Underwatering, overwatering, a lack of sunlight, being top heavy, too much repotting, and other factors are the most common causes of a jade plant falling over.
But you don’t have to worry a lot! These issues are very simple to solve and manage. By the end of this blog, you will understand why is my jade plant dying and how to revive jade plant dying issue.
Before we get into the jade plant dying reason, let’s take a quick look at the signs of a dying jade plant or how you can tell if your jade plant is failing apart.
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What are the Signs of a Dying Jade Plant?
Fortunately, spotting a dying jade plant is not difficult. These symptoms, however, do not appear overnight. You can examine the plant and know how bad the condition is.
1) Dropping jade plant leaves
A jade plant occasionally drops its leaves. You don’t have to worry too much about it as it is a natural phenomenon. However, if your jade plant branches frequently fall off, this is cause for concern.
It could indicate that you have a dying jade plant that you need to fix this issue. Leaves falling off jade plants could be due to various factors, which we will discuss later on in the article.
2) Jade plant’s leaves turning brown.
Another sign of your problem, “Why is my jade plant dying?” is leaves turning red, brown, yellow, or black. The leaves of a jade plant will not change color overnight. It will happen gradually and may indicate that your jade plant is dying.
You may have neglected care which causes your plant’s leaves to change their colors. They may fall off eventually. Older leaves will naturally turn slightly yellow over time. It is a normal thing and a natural aspect of the aging process.
However, if the younger leaves begin to turn a browny, yellow color, you should start wondering what went wrong.
3) Leggy Growth
It is a significant sign of a dying jade plant if you witness leggy growth accompanied by droopy leaves. Your plant may look sad and dull. The leaves will gradually lose their shine and will become too skinny.
4) Wilting jade plant
A wilting, limp, and droopy plant is the final common sign of a dying jade plant. When a plant wilts, the leaves take on a faded appearance that you can notice quickly. Soggy leaves frequently accompany it.
Now that you know if your jade plant is dying by observing the symptoms, the next step is to identify the factors that cause them. It may not happen due to a single factor, but a combination of factors can sometimes be the source of a problem.
Why is my Jade Plant Dying?
These are the most common reasons that can result in a dying jade plant.
1) Watering Issues
An incorrect or wrong jade watering schedule is arguably the most significant cause of a wilting or dying jade plant. Many new gardeners believe that if you stick to a watering schedule, you will have little trouble with your jade plant. However, this is not entirely correct.
When irrigating jade plants, either over-watering or under-watering can be harmful.
Under-Watering
Underwatering your Jade plant is a slightly less common but still a possible cause. Do you water your plants infrequently? Did you neglect basic care? If these are the scenarios, you may be drying up your plant.
It will cause the leaves to shrivel up and become dry and crispy. They may turn yellow or brown and fall off, ultimately resulting in a dying jade plant. I feel you here! You may have taken the warning not to overwater your Jade plant too seriously.
It is critical to allow the jade plant’s soil to dry between waterings, but once dry, you must water your plant again.
Over-Watering
It is the most common cause of a dying Jade plant. Jade plants have thick, oval-shaped leaves that resemble succulents. They are known to store most of their water in these leaves, so you don’t have to water them too frequently.
Squishy leaves are a common sign of overwatering. You can also witness yellow or black leaves ultimately falling off. You should inspect the soil if this happens to your jade plant. Examine whether it is relatively dry or damp to the touch.
If your little friend is sitting in water for a long time, it could be the jade plant dying reason. It can suffer severe damage.
2) Insufficient Sunlight
Due to a lack of sunlight, your jade plant can possibly die. If you witness any stunted growth, leaf discoloration, curling, and leaf drop, that might signal that your plant is not getting enough light.
When a succulent lacks sunlight, it begins to stretch. It is known as etiolation. It happens when the jade plant does not get enough light/sunlight.
If this problem continues for a long time, your little friend will result in a dying jade plant. The drooping leaves and falling stems make the plant too weak to stand tall and live.
3) Over Fertilization
Fertilizer benefits all plants, particularly the jades. But too much fertilizer may be another jade plant dying reason. Let’s not complicate this and easily understand this. Jade plants enjoy fertilizer; they just don’t require or want a lot of it.
Too much fertilizer is bad for the roots of a jade plant. If the roots absorb too much fertilizer, they will become overly full. They constantly consume nutrients, feeding the plant excessively and causing a dying jade plant.
If you are using fertilizer, use it in an adequate amount. Make sure you don’t use too much to avoid root burn and a jade plant that falls over.
4) Poor Soil
Your jade plant may die if you potted your beauty in the wrong soil. A non-draining soil can cause severe harm to your tiny jade plants. You should use succulent soil that drains quickly and well.
It’s not just the soil that causes it to die; root rot also eats and kills the roots. If the soil does not drain properly and quickly, it will remain wet for several days.
5) Root Decay
If you overwater your jade plants, it can cause root rotting. It is common in the winter when the plant has more water than the roots can absorb. When there is too much water, harmful fungi grow in the root system, eventually causing significant damage to the roots.
Jade plant root rot is extremely damaging because it usually occurs beneath the soil. This situation is alarming. As rotting occurs beneath the soil, you will only notice it in its later stages. Reviving the plant is challenging at this stage, but it is still possible.
Root decay is generally indicated by the leaves turning yellow or brownish. Following this, the leaves and branches will become weak and easily break.
If root rot is suspected, carefully uproot the plant to inspect the root. Damaged roots would be unappealing, with black gunk or slime covering the surface.
6) Cold Climate
Green jades are native to South Africa and adore hot climates. Naturally, if you live in colder weather, this could be a reasonable explanation for why you’re wondering, ‘why is my jade plant dying?’
Though jade plants are one of the more adaptable succulents and can survive in almost any climate or environment, you should not expose them to freezing temperatures.
7) Repotting Too Often
If you repot your jade plant too frequently, it will eventually cause a dying jade plant. These tiny green beauties prefer to be left alone in their environment and do not like to be handled frequently.
If you repot your jade plant too frequently, it will become accustomed to moving around rather than growing in one location. It causes the roots to become unsettled, resulting in one of the jade plant dying reasons.
8) Being Top Heavy
Jade plants can grow to be pretty tall succulents. But they become too big when they can’t stand up straight, resulting in a dying jade plant. The entire plant simply becomes too heavy for the bottom stem and roots to stand on. It causes the jade plant to fall.
To prevent this, try tying some wooden stick or rope to an object that will hold it straight up. It will keep the plant upright and prevent it from falling over.
9) Pests
And pests are indeed one of the worst reasons for a dying jade plant. Every gardener agrees with that! These are something you can’t rule out. In the right conditions, mealybugs, aphids, and spider mites can infest your jade.
Yellowing leaves, stunted brown spots, falling leaves, and limpness are all signs of a major pest or insect infestation. The first step in treating severe infections is to isolate the plant from other plants and remove any damaged parts.
Now that you know all the possible reasons for a dying jade plant, let’s get into how to revive a dying jade plant. No, these steps won’t take much of your time. You only have to take a few measures, and you are all set.
How to Revive a Dying Jade Plant?
First, start by examining what led your jade plant to death. As I mentioned all the possible reasons, figure out your wrong-doings. Once you have calculated what went wrong, follow these guidelines to revive a dying plant.
1) Sunlight
Young jade plants require bright indirect light, and on the other hand, some mature plants (depending on the species) can tolerate more direct sunlight.
You can move your tiny jade plant to a better light source to get enough light. If you don’t have enough natural light indoors, you can grow them outdoors on the balcony or garden. While doing so, avoid direct sunlight on your plants for a long time.
To meet the light requirements of your jade plant, you can use an artificial light source. Eventually, rotate the plant to all parts to receive equal light. These indoor plants need at least 4 to 5 hours of sunlight daily.
2) Water
If you have overwatered your jade plant
You can help our overwatered jade plant by doing the following:
First, stop watering your jade plant and let it dry completely. Prune the plant’s damaged parts and check if the pot has a proper drainage system. If your medium is not draining properly, this might cause root rotting due to overwatering.
Maintain a well-ventilated environment for the plant and ensure that the soil drains well. Now place your plant in a location that receives adequate lighting. It will help the plant to dry quickly and avoid remaining wet for a long time. Use artificial light if you don’t have access to bright natural light.
If you have underwatered jade plant
Start by soaking the jade plant in water for a few minutes or thoroughly water it until the excess water drains. While doing this, do not overwater your jade plant. You can water them again when the soil is halfway dry to avoid this.
Water the soil of your tiny friend becomes dry, but do not allow it to dry out completely. You can examine the soil after every 4-5 days.
3) Repotting
If you are still looking for instant solutions for “How to save a dying jade plant?” repotting is the answer. It can revive your plant quickly by providing a new home. If you have root rot or overwatered your jade plant, you must refill the soil.
If you ignore changing the soil, roots will be permanently damaged, and there will be no point in hanging in there. As a result, treating root rot on time is critical for reviving your plant.
Steps to repot jade plant:
- First, start by gently removing your jade plant from the pot to inspect the roots.
- Now clip down all the brown and mushy roots without harming the healthy ones.
- Allow the roots and plant to air dry for a day after washing them with normal water. Doing this will remove the bacteria.
- Repot the jade plant in a new pot with drainage holes.
- You should use a new, well-draining potting medium to repot your plant.
- Water every few days. It will allow the excess water to drain completely.
Note:
- Before and after pruning, sterilize the tools.
- Keep your plant in good lighting.
4) Pruning
Pruning is simply the act of giving your plants a good haircut and prioritizing their health. Start with the older leaves at the plant’s base, as these will fall off initially. You should also remove any long, leggy stems that will droop over time.
Jade plants are hardy and can withstand heavy pruning easily. You can prune them regularly to keep them strong and healthy. It will also prevent it from looking unappealing. You should keep it tight and upright.
5) Temperature
Temperature significantly impacts jade plants because they cannot tolerate freezing temperatures. Temperatures somewhere between 18 to 25 degrees Celsius are ideal for these plants.
Jade plants can be grown outside if the climate is mild and dry all year. They are prone to wilting and death when exposed to freezing or cooler winter temperatures.
You should bring your plants indoors, away from cold windows and windy areas, especially when the temperature falls below 10 degrees Celsius.
6) Humidity
You should maintain ideal humidity levels around the jade plant, ideally between 30 and 50%. However, a minor variation will not result in a dying jade plant.
You can keep your plant away from humidity-loving plants and relocate it to a better-lit area to keep the environment around it less humid.
They prefer areas with good airflow. As a succulent lover like me, you want to mist them frequently, but No. Avoid misting them and grouping them with other plants.
7) Pests and Diseases
Pest infestation is very upsetting for any plant because it causes the plant to become weak and dull. Mealybugs, and spider mites, are some of the common enemies of jade plants.
How to save a dying jade plant?
- First, separate your jade plants from other plants and move to a new location.
- Remove all the damaged sections. It will help in controlling the pest issue.
- Wash your dying jade plant with soapy water and then with plain water. By doing this, you will remove a lot of pests.
- Now take a neem oil spray, or if you don’t have one, you can make one of your own. Mix 1 teaspoon of neem oil and 2 liters of water in a spray bottle. Spray it on the plants and repeat every 1-2 days.
- Give your plant good air circulation and a dry environment. It will help your plant to heal quickly.
- Make sure to repot your plant in a fresh soil mix once you get rid of all the pests.
- After you’ve finished doing all the work, disinfect the area.
8) Proper Fertilization
You should feed your jade plant high nitrogen or balanced fertilizer to give it a nutritional boost. Water your plants before fertilizing them to ensure that the nutrients are distributed evenly in the soil.
Feed your plant once every 1.5-2 months during the growing season. Do not fertilize your little jade plants in the winter season as they are dormant.
Conclusion
Like most unexpected things in life, you can notice your jade plant dying. Well, you don’t have to worry about a dying jade plant. You can easily bring back a jade plant from the edge of death by examining what went wrong and correcting the measures.
Make sure to properly water the plant, provide adequate sunlight, and place it in areas with mid-range temperatures for it to grow well.
Do let us know what issues your jade plant was facing and how you revived your dying jade plant. We would love to know all about your cute little jade plants.
