Question

jade brown spots   QUESTION: Hello,
Thanks in advance for your time.  I was hoping you could provide some urgent advice on how to deal with a jade leaf drop problem.  This is quite a large tree.  We bought it several months ago and have been watering it every week to 2 weeks since then (perhaps too often).  We noticed that some of the leaves were turning yellow and easily falling off.  But recently many of the leaves are turning dark and somewhat shriveled.  this is starting to affect quite a bit of the plant!

It is in front of a sunny window but the shade is usually closed, so probably doesn't get enough light.

From my research, seems like this could be a fungus problem.  If so, can you help provide step by step advice on how to deal with it?  We've been planning to repot it since we got it.

Please help save my jade.

ANSWER: Hi Victoria,

Those discolored spots do not look like a fungus problem. It appears to be some kind of physical damage that could be caused by extreme hot or cold temperatures or some kind of exposure to chemical sprays. Root damage is another possible cause.

Having it located in front of a shaded window does mean it is not getting adequate light, but the leaf spots are not a symptom of poor light.

I suggest that you remove the damaged leaves and move the plant to a windowsill that is uncovered throughout the day. Allow the soil to dry about one-third of the way deep into the pot before watering.

One other thought: if you repotted, that may be all or part of the problem because folks often do not repot correctly. If you did repot, please provide me with all the details of when and how you did that repotting.

I have written an article on repotting and Jade care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who sends a request to me at [email protected].

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at: A link to HorticulturalHelp.com



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks.

It hasn't been repotted yet.
My guess (based on your answer) is that there is root rot.  The top of the soil is covered in moss so it is hard to tell if it dries out between waterings, but I'm starting to think that it doesn't.  We've wanted to repot it anyways (it is in a large plastic pot) and that will give me an idea of what is going on down below the soil.

Answer
Hi Victoria,

Remove the moss, but do not repot the Jade. Mature Jades almost never require repotting. I will email my articles on repotting and Jade care that will explain this in greater detail. If you don't like the appearance of the plastic pot, then you can set that pot inside of a slightly larger planter of your choice. This will eliminate the problems that occur when roots are disturbed.

I am concerned that the combination of inadequate light (while the shades were down) and moss covering the soil has prevented the soil from drying out properly between waterings. After you remove the moss, you will have a better idea when the top third of the soil has dried out.

~Will