Why is my jade plant turning purple? This is a very common question from Jade plants owners, and I intend to answer the question in this article.
Knowing the cause of Jade plant problem can be very beneficial in fixing it.
Jade plants are one of those plants that people either love or hate. I adore jade plants.
They have a nice deep green color that lasts for a long time in most cases.
These plants are easy to take care of and can even survive an occasional neglectful owner!
However, every once in a while my jade plant will start to turn purple, and I don’t like it at all.
It’s not that there’s anything wrong with purple, but if you’ve ever had a jade plant (or any other succulent) it should be obvious that purple leaves are not good.
If your jade plant is turning purple, there’s no need to worry.
The change in color of the jade plant is a natural phenomenon and every flower, fruit, leaves of the plant changes its colors once in a while which makes these plants more striking.
To know the possible reason why the jade plant changes color to purple, we need to know a little bit about the plants.
Jade plants are a type of succulent.
Succulents come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, but they all have one thing in common, they change color periodically.
Jade plants are succulents that come from South Africa and Mozambique.
They are referred to as Crassula ovata or Crassula argentea by botanists, but their common names are Jade plant, Dollar plant, or money tree.
Jade plants are common houseplants that are easy to care for. They can live for decades, and even be passed down as heirlooms.
They usually have thick stems and oval-shaped leaves that grow in opposite pairs along the branches. Let’s look at the possible cause of your jade plant turning purple.
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Reasons Why Your Jade Plant Is Turning Purple.
Low Temperature
It is best to keep your jade plant in temperatures between 65°F and 75°F (18°C – 24°C).
Any lower than this, your plant will start to change colors. If your jade plant is in temperatures below 50°F (10°C), it won’t survive very long at all.
You can easily fix this problem by moving your plant closer to the window or getting a heater for the area where it is located.
How Much Water Do Succulents Need?
Diseases or Pest
The plant is susceptible to several diseases, including an infection that causes purple spots on leaves.
This disease is called anthracite. Anthracite is a fungal disease that infects jade plants and other succulents.
The fungus survives in the soil for up to three years and enters the plant through the roots.
This disease causes purple spotting on the leaves and sometimes on the stems of the jade plant.
The spots are usually circular or irregular in shape and are about 1/4 inch in diameter.
The spots may also have a grayish-white center. Anthracite is spread by splashing water, insects and handling infected plants.
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Cold Temperatures
While jade plants can thrive indoors as houseplants in almost any climate, they should be protected from cold temperatures whenever possible.
When a jade plant is exposed to very cold temperatures it can change color to purple and even brown as the cells in the leaves die out.
If you see your jade plant changing to purple due to cold temperatures try moving it indoors, into a warmer spot in your home until it recovers its normal coloration.
Over Watering
If you’ve been watering your jade plant too often, this can be one of the reasons its leaves may be turning purple.
Jade plants are succulents, which means that they have adapted to survive under dry conditions by storing water in their tissues.
When you give your jade plant too much water, especially during winter when it doesn’t need as much water as it does during spring and summer, it will start to accumulate excess water in its tissues.
The extra moisture can cause the cells in the leaves to burst and release a pigment called anthocyanin, which gives them a reddish-purple color.
How often to water African Violet
Excess Light Exposure
If your jade plant’s leaves are turning purple around the edges, it may be getting too much light.
Reduce the amount of direct light your plant receives if its leaves are turning purple.
Jade plants prefer bright light but not direct sunlight, especially in hot regions where they may get scorched by the sun.
If a jade plant is exposed to too much direct light, the edges or undersides of leaves gradually turn red or purple.
The best way to prevent this is to place the plant in an area that gets lots of bright light without any direct sun exposure.
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Inadequate light
If your jade plant is turning purple, it means that it does not have enough light to make chlorophyll for its leaves.
The plant’s color will be affected by the intensity of the lighting in its environment.
If you want your jade plant to turn green again, consider moving it to a sunnier location or providing more artificial light.
Jade plants like temperatures in the range of 55 to 85°F (13-29°C) and can’t tolerate low temperatures.
Does African Violet Need Direct Sunlight?
Shock
One rare reason why your jade plant might turn purple is that it has been moved from one location to another or one home to another.
It may experience culture shock resulting in leaf discoloration for a few weeks as the plant adjusts to its new environment.
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Conclusion
Hopefully, this article answered your question on; why is my jade plant turning purple.
Jade plants can withstand drought but if water isn’t draining well from the pot, then the leaves will stay wet (which will lead to root rot), and that causes grayish-mossy growths along the stems and leaves.
And if your jade plant has been becoming more purple over time to a deep shade of the same color, then it has most likely been overwatered, exposed too close to direct sunlight, and/or cold drafts.
Fortunately, you can fix any of these problems.
