I think your plant is telling you what it needs. There don't really seem to be any hard, fast rules about when jades will grow. It just depends its climate. Depending on where you live, it may grow in the winter or summer. They need more water when they're growing.

My jades have been growing since the fall. Last summer I had jades that didn't grow a bit. I was watering them about once a week because I read that was how you're "supposed" to water jades during the summer. They rotted because, for me, they go dormant when it's hot and humid here.

Your branch may have come off because it was weakened (was it kinda shriveled?) by a need for water. Since your plant would perk up after being watered, there's probably no root rot causing the branches and leaves to shrivel.

When you do water make sure you water thoroughly until water comes out of the drainage whole. If there's any water in a saucer underneath the pot, make sure you empty it after about 30 minutes.

this has happened during the winter for our area, when i did water it, it would only perk up for...maybe 3 days at the most, my other jades are fine, and i treat them the same as i did this one(thankfully its still alive though(even though it is only a stump right now) i think i may do something to improve soil drainage when i see signs that it is growing again

3 days? Wow...

I'm stumped. This one is way over my head. Maybe someone more knowledgeable will come along to help.

Hi JMC,

Something is not right there, a Jade (Crassula) shouldn't be thirsty after 3 days. Something tells me the mix is not right, or not draining properly.

I suspect the mix has hardened into something which cannot absorb water & then causes the water to run down the inner walls of the pot & out the bottom. This can explain watering every 3 days & the plant still looking thirsty.

I've heard of this happening & then finally saw it for myself w/ an Xmas cactus given me which potting I didn't check. The rootball was hardened solid like rock. I wasn't able to fix this & lost the plant.

I'd take yours out of the pot & check the rootballl immediately. If it were mine, I'd shake off every last bit of ALL that old mix & then start over w/ fresh mix n the same size pot.

As to rooting the bits that broke off, the best way to do this is lay the bits ON TOP OF the mix, not in it & don't water it. Over time, the little bits will either sprout roots or new leaves or both. Give them good light & wait to see new growth.

i checked the rootball, and you were right....hard as a rock, so i did what you instructed, now i just have to hope that these cuttings root successfuly

Well, good, am glad you got them out of that hardenened mix & that my guess was on the mark & helpful to you.

My quandry now is wondering if/when you should water it. If it's indoors, maybe in a week or so, BOTTOM water it, so it can soak up only as much as it wants (& won't get the actual plants wet like top watering can).

Were you able to crumble off all the old mix (I didn't want to suggest you hose it to get it all off)?

unfortunatly, the old mix wouldnt come off, i guess it'll share the same fate as the X-mas cactus you mentioned earlier, but i got the cuttings that im trying to root in some fresh potting soil.

I don't get it, so if you couldn't get the old mix off, what other instructions of mine DID you follow?

Well, you could try what I had tried & others I've read have tried: soak the old rootball enough that it becomes wet enough to break off, crumble off, &/or take apart the hardened off old mix.

Ohmygod, did you not save the old plant? It's hard to kill a jade. I've taken them out of their old pots when maxed out and moved into a larger pot after shaking or poking away as much of the old dirt as possible, adding fresh potting mix. They don't need much soil but the more soil the larger the plant grows. They are gorgeous when they have this huge trunk, sitting liking a sturdy tree in an oriental type pot or heavy clay pot. Just keep them out of heavy frost, I'm waiting to see if a couple that were out in the open survived. Just cut them back as much as I could, now waiting to see what happens. When soil gets too hard, I soften the soil by heavy watering for a few days, they don't rot that fast, then pull the whole thing out and most of the soil will fall away. They will survive a long time without water especially if planted in ample pots or out in the garden, just don't let them sit in the hot sun.

well, i'm happy to say that my variegated jade cuttings HAVE rooted! :)