Have you been noticing your jade plant starting to drop its leaves? If so, youve come to the right place to get answers! In this article, well cover what jade plants are, the common causes of leaf drop in jade plants, and how to troubleshoot the issues.
From overwatering to underwatering, temperature fluctuations, too much direct sunlight, and poorly draining soil, well provide you with the answers you need to know to help your jade plant stay healthy and beautiful!.
Short Answer
Jade plants can drop leaves due to several reasons, such as too much or too little water, sunlight, or temperature.
When a jade plant is over-watered, it can suffer root rot and the leaves will start to drop off.
If the jade plant is not being watered enough, the leaves will become dry and start to drop off.
Additionally, if the jade plant is not getting enough sunlight, it could also cause the leaves to drop off.
It is important to make sure that your jade plant is receiving adequate water, sunlight, and temperature to ensure that it is healthy and thriving.
What Is a Jade Plant?
A jade plant (Crassula ovata) is a species of succulent native to South Africa, and it is one of the most popular plants grown as a houseplant due to its resilience.
It features thick, glossy leaves that can range in color from green to gray-green, and it is often used to create topiaries or bonsai trees.
The jade plant prefers bright, indirect sunlight and well-draining soil, and it is relatively easy to care for.
Despite its hardiness, jade plants are still susceptible to dropping leaves if their environment is not ideal.
In this blog post, well take a look at some of the most common causes of leaf drop in jade plants, and what steps you can take to get your plant back on track.
Common Causes of Leaf Drop in Jade Plants
Jade plants are one of the most resilient houseplants around, but even these hardy plants can suffer from leaf drop if their environment isn’t suitable.
Common causes of leaf drop in jade plants include overwatering, underwatering, temperature fluctuations, too much direct sunlight, and soil that doesn’t drain well.
Overwatering can cause jade plants to drop leaves, as the excess water can cause root rot, which can lead to a decline in the plant’s health.
If the soil is wet for prolonged periods of time, the plant can become waterlogged, which can cause leaves to drop.
It’s important to water your jade plant enough to keep the soil moist, but not too much.
Underwatering can also cause leaf drop in jade plants.
If the soil is too dry, the plant won’t be able to absorb enough water to keep its leaves healthy.
This can cause the leaves to become dry and fall off.
It’s important to water your jade plant on a regular basis to keep the soil moist.
Temperature fluctuations can also cause jade plants to drop leaves.
Jade plants prefer temperatures between 65-85F, so if the temperature fluctuates too much, the plant can become stressed and drop its leaves.
Make sure to keep your jade plant in a location with consistent temperatures.
Too much direct sunlight can also cause jade plants to drop leaves.
Jade plants prefer bright, indirect sunlight, so if the plant is exposed to direct sunlight for too long, the leaves can become scorched and drop off.
Make sure to place your jade plant in a location with bright, indirect light.
Finally, soil that doesn’t drain well can lead to leaf drop in jade plants.
Jade plants need well-draining soil to thrive, so if the soil doesn’t drain properly, the plant can become over-watered or waterlogged, which can cause leaves to drop.
Make sure to use a well-draining potting mix for your jade plant.
Overwatering
Overwatering is one of the most common causes of jade plant leaf drop.
Too much water can cause the roots of the jade plant to become waterlogged and can prevent the plant from absorbing the nutrients it needs to thrive.
If you notice that your jade plant is dropping leaves, check the soil to see if it is overly wet.
If so, reduce the amount of water you give your jade plant, and only water it when the soil is dry.
Additionally, make sure your jade plant is in a pot with well-draining soil, so that the water can properly drain away from the roots.
If the water is not draining away properly, the soil can become waterlogged and lead to root rot, which can cause the leaves of the jade plant to drop.
Underwatering
Underwatering is one of the most common causes of leaf drop in jade plants.
When a jade plant is not getting enough water, its leaves will start to dry out and eventually fall off.
Jade plants need a consistent supply of water in order to stay healthy, but they don’t need to be overwatered.
The best way to make sure your jade plant is getting enough water is to check the soil with your finger.
The soil should feel slightly moist, but not wet.
If the soil is too dry, give your jade plant a deep watering and then allow the soil to dry out slightly before watering again.
Be sure to water from the bottom, as this will help the plant absorb the water more easily.
Additionally, make sure the pot has drainage holes so that water can escape and the roots don’t become waterlogged.
Temperature Fluctuations
Temperature fluctuations can be one of the primary causes of leaf drop in jade plants.
If the temperature around the plant fluctuates too much, or if it is exposed to extreme cold or heat, the plant may experience stress, which can result in leaf drop.
Additionally, jade plants prefer temperatures between 65-75F, so if the temperature of the room where the plant is located is consistently outside of that range, it could be causing the leaf drop.
To ensure that your jade plant is not experiencing temperature fluctuations that are too extreme, keep it away from drafts, air vents, and any other sources of extreme temperature changes.
Additionally, if you are keeping the plant outdoors, make sure to bring it inside during extreme weather, such as snowstorms or heatwaves.
If you are keeping the plant indoors, make sure to keep the temperature consistent by avoiding extreme changes in temperature, such as keeping the windows open during colder months.
Lastly, you can purchase a thermometer to keep track of the temperature of the room the jade plant is located in.
Too Much Direct Sunlight
When it comes to too much direct sunlight, jade plants are particularly sensitive.
They originated in the desert, and while they prefer a sunny environment, too much direct sunlight can be too much of a good thing.
When exposed to more sunlight than it can handle, the leaves of a jade plant will start to yellow and eventually drop off.
To prevent this from happening, make sure your jade plant is placed in an area that receives bright but indirect sunlight.
If your jade plant is in a sunny window, consider adding a sheer curtain to filter out some of the sunlight or move the plant slightly farther away from the window.
Additionally, you can consider rotating the plant periodically, as this will help keep it from becoming lopsided due to uneven sun exposure.
Poorly Draining Soil
Poorly draining soil is often one of the most common causes of jade plant leaf drop.
When the soil doesnt drain well, the roots can become waterlogged and the plant can suffer from root rot.
This can cause the leaves to yellow and drop off.
It is important to ensure that your jade plant is being planted in a potting mix that is well-draining and that the pot has drainage holes in the bottom to prevent water from pooling.
Additionally, make sure that you arent overwatering your jade plant.
Only water when the top 2-3 inches of soil are dry.
To test the soil, stick your finger into the soil and if it feels dry, then its time to water.
If it feels damp or wet, then hold off on watering until the soil has had a chance to dry out.
Final Thoughts
It’s no wonder jade plants are so popular! They are resilient and require only a few basic care requirements to stay healthy and happy.
By understanding the causes of leaf drop in jade plants, such as overwatering, underwatering, temperature fluctuations, too much direct sunlight, and poorly draining soil, you can quickly identify and remedy any issues that arise.
Taking the time to give your jade plant the care it needs will ensure your plant thrives for years to come.
So, take a few moments to check your jade plant’s environment and make any necessary adjustments to keep it healthy and happy!.