Jade Plant Care FAQ

Problem
My jade plant stem seems to be rotting near the base. What should I do?

Answer
If the stem of your Jade plant is blackish in color and squishy to touch, than your plant may have stem rot which is typically caused by over watering. If it is stem root, remove the rotten stems as soon as possible to prevent the rot from spreading to other healthy stems.


Problem
My Jade plant has a white material near the base of some leaves. The white materials is silky like and clinging, similar to a spider web. There are also small white flecks on the leaves too.

Answer
Your plant may be infected with spider mites or mealy bugs. Spray your houseplant with a soapy dishwater mixture twice a day for around a week or two. Another home tip to try is dipping a Q-Tip in Rubbing Alcohol. Clean the foliage off with the Q-Tip. You may need to do this for a week or two so don’t stop if things don’t improve immediately. If the problem doesn’t appear to improve, please visit your local garden center for a stronger solution.


Problem
My healthy Jade plant has suddenly began dropping leaves. What’s wrong?

Answer
There could be a possibility of reasons as to why your Jade plant may have begun dropping foliage. Does the pot have proper drainage preventing the roots from sitting in the water? Is the plant receiving sufficient sunlight? Proper watering? Double check your care instructions and then begin testing, changing one thing at a time to solve the problem.


Problem
Do Jade plants need special fertilizer?

Answer
I simply use Miracle Gro’s Houseplant Food. It’s a concentrate so you just add the instructed amount of drops to the water. I use it once a month.


Problem
The leaves on my Jade plant are brownish and slightly wrinkled. They seem almost skinny. What am I doing wrong?

Answer
You may be under watering the plant. A Jade plants foliage should be plump, so when they begin to wrinkle and shrink, many times the plant is not receiving the proper amount of water.


Extra Tip from an Anonymous Reader
If you leave the fallen leaves of a Jade plant, they will begin to root right they fall.


Be sure to read my full guide to Jade Plant Care.