Why is my jade plant losing leaves? I cover the possible reasons and common solutions in this article.
Plants are generally appreciated by people for various reasons. Jade plants are especially liked by people because of their looks, which are distinctive and shiny.
The appearance of the jade plant with its glossy green leaves makes them a wonderful addition to your house interiors.
However, even the most loved plants can start dropping off leaves, some of which might lead to heartache among the plant owners.
Jade plants are a common succulent that people love to keep in their homes.
They’re generally low-maintenance, and they’re beautiful, so it can be disappointing when your jade plant starts losing leaves.
Many people assume that this means their plant is dying, but this isn’t necessarily true. Usually, it’s just a matter of addressing the right problem.
Before we answer one of the most common questions asked by many jade plant owners, let us first identify some of the common reasons why your jade plant is losing its leaves.
Leaves falling off your jade plant could be caused by several issues. The following are the most likely causes and what you can do about them.
Why Is My Jade Plant Losing Leaves?: Possible Reasons.
Change in temperature.
Plants need time to acclimate to a new environment, especially if there’s a significant temperature change.
If the plant was kept at a higher temperature and then placed in a much cooler area, it will shed leaves until it adapts to the new environment.
Also, if it’s a sunny window, when you water the plant, the top layer of soil will dry first but the bottom won’t be as dry as you think because of the wetness from above.
The roots sitting in water for a long time will rot and cause root death, which will cause leaf drops.
Always let the top layer dry before watering and make sure all excess water is removed from any saucers or trays that may have been used during watering.
This could be particularly important during cold months when heating systems are running constantly, causing the air to become very dry inside your home.
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Underwatering
The most common reason for leaf loss in jade plants is underwatering. If the soil is allowed to dry out too much it will cause the tips of the leaves to turn brown, and then fall off.
Underwatered jade plants will also become droopy and weak.
This problem should be easy to rectify by simply making sure that you water the plant more frequently than you have been doing up until now.
If you see that the plant’s soil is completely dry and it feels light when lifted, then it’s probably time to water it again.
Overwatering
Too much water can also cause leaves to fall off your jade plant as well as yellowing, root rot, and eventually death if not corrected.
Jade plants do not like “wet feet.” They should be watered only when the top half-inch or so of soil is dry to the touch.
To test for this, stick your finger into the soil up to the second knuckle. If it feels moist, don’t water it yet.
Overwatering can cause your jade plant’s leaves to turn yellow and drop off.
If you think you’ve over-watered, let the soil dry out completely before watering again. You may want to switch to a smaller pot with better drainage holes.
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Pest and diseases
Jade plants can be susceptible to various pests and diseases.
One common disease that a jade plant can develop is leaf drop Jade plant is vulnerable to diseases when exposed to too much humidity.
Humidity causes bacteria and fungi, such as powdery mildew, root rot, and botrytis blight, to spread quickly through the plant.
Too much humidity also attracts pests, such as spider mites and mealybugs.
These pests feed on the sap in the leaves and cause them to drop off the stems of the jade plant.
Insufficient Drainage
If you notice that your jade plant’s leaves are turning yellow and falling off at the bottom of the stem while those at the top are still green and healthy-looking, your plant is likely suffering from insufficient drainage.
Repot your jade plant in a container with holes on the bottom so water can drain easily
Sudden Movement.
If your jade plant suddenly drops leaves for no apparent reason, there’s a chance that it was simply shocked by being moved.
Jades are very touchy when it comes to their location, and even moving them from one part of the house to another can cause them stress.
If you can’t avoid moving the plant, try to make the transition as gradual as possible by slowly easing it into new conditions.
Dry air
A jade plant is generally considered hardy, but it does not do well in extremely dry conditions.
If your home’s air is quite dry, or if you’re growing your plant in an area that receives a lot of direct sunlight (which increases transpiration), the plant may be losing leaves as a result of dehydration.
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Conclusion
Jade plants are some of the most popular houseplants due to their lovely lush green leaves and attractive braided trunks.
They are very simple and easy to care for once you know their secrets. When it comes to temperature, a good rule of thumb is to keep your jade plant at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit for steady growth.
This doesn’t have to be exact, but if your thermostat is set to 65 or lower at night, you should probably move your plant closer to the heat source!
If you don’t know how to care for jade plants, the lush green leaves will begin to fade and fall off, leaving only the bare sticks behind.
Understanding why that happens requires a basic understanding of the plant’s needs.
So actively begin a routine check on your jade plant to discover early signs of falling leaves.
