You said that ever since you moved into your new place, the jade plant has been deteriorating. Can you think of why it thrived in your old place but is deteriorating in your new place? Is it receiving less light now? Is the window too cold for your jade plant to be near? That's all I can think of from the top of my head.

An east exposure as far north as you are isn't anywhere near enough sun for a Jade. Do you put it outside in summer at all? But the rotting is definitely about overwatering, I'd say. The roots may be ok at this point, but I have a feeling the plant is on it's way out. I would take some cuttings and start over. The other option is to whack it clear back, as described often in this forum, and don't water it until it is BONE dry. If the roots are truly ok and it's dieing from the top down, it should make a comeback from a severely pruned state. But if you have a south exposure, put it in that window and make sure there is no curtain obstructing the sun. It'll look much healthier in a south window.

Denise in Omaha

Thanks! I was reading elsewhere about artificial light with Jades. I think I will give that a try. I live in a townhouse and only have East and West exposures. In the old house there was much more sun.

I will see how it takes to the new soil and lighting and then if need be cut it right down - as heartbreaking as that would be.

I'm not sure if Jades do OK w/ artificial light. I would think the west window would be best for it.

You said you haven't watered the plant for a month or more
and it is still damp ? I think it should have been almost dry by then. When you checked the roots did you put in "all" fresh soil? for good drainage. Note, how many hours of sun you get in each window (East and West) In the East window you should get about 2 hours of morning sun. If the other window is facing West maybe favoring the South a little, you may get 2 hours more sun. Check it out. Don't get too impatient, to cut up your plant It should be getting better every day. Your plant WILL survive. Mine did , with a lot of advice from all these nice people.
Keep us posted.
LOU said that

Sounds like maybe it'stoo cold for the amount of water. I have a couple on a northeastern porch, get small amount of light in am but they did get flowers this fall-winter. We had a very cold week+ here and some of the outer leaves are pitted but still alive. Mine don't get too much water and they have done well. I would increase heat for a while to see if they come out of their slump and dry out the moisture some. It's really hard to kill them.

Artificial light in addition to light from the window would work well. Not instead of though. Adding artificial light for my succulents near my east window has been great. I had a cotyledon that I had to cut back because the growth was really spindly and elongated. After adding the lights the new growth is very compact now. The growth on my jades is fantastic too.

I have no idea how a branch could rot through the center when the roots are fine. I hope someone will have an explanation and chime in.

Good luck!

If I'm not mistaken, begonias are really bad to rot at the branch while the roots are fine, so don't think that's all that unusual.

Honestly, it sound like you seriously overwatered, and there simply wasn't ample drainage. As someone already said, if you haven't watered in a month and the soil was still damp, that had to be some serious moisture.

Mine is in a northeast window, and doing beautifully, tho it's never bloomed (didn't know they bloomed!) . . . I even have it in a pot that has no drainage except the rocks/gravel I put in the bottom of it. But I never water more than once a month, and then I don't soak it.

I hope it survives for you . . I guess there are different varieties, but mine has made several new starts from the leaves that the cat knocks off. I'd try get some new starts just in case it doesn't perk up right away.