Sunset Jade

11 years ago

I have had this guy for about 5 years and it has always looked like this....kind of spindly.

It is always growing roots at the joints and dropping branches, you can see them in the bottom of the pot. The branch in the foreground just threw a few 'canteens' off last week so it is shriveling a bit. I also just moved it here from my previous apartment (east window - hence the blue tie so it did not fall over in transit - the blue tie is now gone).

Why does it keep growing the roots and dropping the branches? Is there anything I can do to help it out? I try to leave it be most of the time - I certainly don't want to over-do it with the water.

Featured Answer

paracelsus

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

It's rare to see someone's dying Jade plant killed by too Little water, compared to too Much water, but here we are.

Try to answer your own questions with some simple deductive reasoning. First, it is always growing roots at the joints. conclusion: it wants to find a new source if water because it isn't getting anything from below either because of extreme drought (completely caused by a human), or death of the root system or lower stem because of fungal infection from overwatering.

Second: it is always dropping branches, or canteens (I think you mean segments), seen at the bottom of the pot. conclusion: the plant is resorbing all water and sugars from branches, starting with the smallest and youngest segments, and proceeding to larger and larger segments with greater stores. At some point, dessicated segments fall off.

There is also the issue of long term "spindly" growth, the result of inadequate light, but put that aside for now. Crassula ovata is a survivor. Your plant is desperately trying to survive your care. Please make some appropriate adjustments.

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Comments (7)

breathnez
11 years ago
Most people who do great with typical house plants easily kill jades and other succulents. Growing plants is a nurturing process, and it is common to give plenty of water as part of this nurturing. With jaddes, they don't want to sit in moist conditions all the time. In fact if the soil goes bone-dry and the leaves start to shrivel, this is a more tolerable condition for them. So, before you water test for dryness of the soil. At first you may need to stick your finger in a couple of knuckles deep, but eventually just by the heft of the pot you'll know when the soil is light and dry. What soil do you use btw?

ez
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Melody T
Original Author
11 years ago
About 5 years ago, I used to keep all my jades in the potting mix from the stores, because I didnt know any better. I was over-watering for that soil mix and didnt know it, so I posted on here about it. Now I am using a mix that greenman suggested a few years back.....it has turface, orchid bark, perlite, and some smaller pieces of rock. I live in Kansas so it does get fairly warm here.

I water the sunset when I water all of my other jades, but the others dont seem to have this same issue that the sunset does. All of the jades are outside on an east facing deck - I dont have them set out in the full sun, they are set back a bit under the overhang (I didnt want them to roast in the sun, we have been at or near 100 for many days now).
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Melody

It is difficult to see your mix, all that is visible are few large pieces of bark and fallen off branches, dead or otherwise. Debris should be picked off as it is not only unsightly, but may encourage bugs; and it is more difficult to see and judge if the mix is dry or not.

Something is clearly wrong for the plant looking the way it does besides being etoliated - I am looking at that smaller plant, there is too much space between pairs of leaves, and very same on new growth of the main plant. And quite a few leaves look yellow - are they also feeling soft and water-logged? That would mean it is over-watered.

There is good chance that it may be under-watered as Brad explained very well.

If you can't tell, maybe it should be taken out of the pot, all soil shaken off the root ball. Take photo of roots and post. And take photo of the existing mix too.
breathnez
11 years ago
Ok Melody, I better understand your situation, thx. I agree with what rina suggests directly above. Look also for pests while the roots are exposed. Root mealies seem to be mentioned a lot lately.

ez
nomen_nudum
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
......
kaktuskris
11 years ago
Yes, I would check the root system. If it is very small I might do some top pruning as well.

Honestly there have to be several factors leading to this condition. If it is indeed under watering, I honestly have never seen a Jade look like this because of it.

Christopher