Jade Plant Leaves Turning Black Falling Off | Save Dying Plant

The Jade plant is also known as a money plant. Most people consider it a lucky plant. This is one of the popular types of succulents. Like other succulents, jade plants thrive in full sun. Like other succulents, this plant does not like to sit on high moisture soil.

Leaves turning black and falling off is an early sign of a dying jade plant. Now you do not worry. We can easily save dying jade plants.

Like other succulents types, the jade plant care is minimal and requires a well-draining soil medium to grow. Under normal growing conditions, the plant grows greener. When you see your jade plant leaves turning black and falling off, you need to be extra careful.

Jade can thrive on very little water. It stores water on thick leaves like other types of succulents.

Why Are The Leaves On My Jade Plant Turning Black?

The black leaves on jade plants and black spots on jade plant leaves are two completely different causes. First closely check the plant stem and leaves. In the above image, you can see that few leaves starting to black colors.

• Black Leaves – Overwatering – plant starts rotting.
• Black Stem – Overwatering – plant starts rotting.
• Black spots on leaves – Oedema/edema – High moisture.

Black spots on the leaves cause the plant to absorb more water than it can expel through transpiration. This issue commonly sees in the winter and early spring months. Black dots on jade plant leaves can fix reducing the watering.

Black leaves and stems can result from several reasons,

• Excessive watering pattern.
• Water retention soil mix.
• A pot in which water does not drain well.
• High humidity.
• Overcrowding plants.

How to Save Jade Plant.

We can apply several solutions to save the dying jade plant. First, you have to identify the exact reason for the issue.

• Immediately cut the watering pattern.

To save an overwatered jade plant, you have to immediately stop the watering schedule. Between the two watering cycles surface and around 2 inches of soil (close to the root bowl) completely dry up. You can simply check succulent pot soil moisture by using a moisture meter or using a dry stick.

When you use a dry stick bury it around two or three inches deeper and let it soak moisture. Pull the stick and check whether it contains moisture. You can read more about my how to water succulent guides.

How to water jade plant.

• • Water directly to soil. If the water remains on leaves it can rot the leaves. The soak and dry method useful on hot summer and sunny days. Rest of the period apply two or three tablespoons full of water according to the plant size.
  • In the winter, use a teaspoon to water jade plants. In winter the plant gets dormant, it requires very little water to survive. This will prevent keeping excess moisture on the soil.
  • Avoid misting and water on the foliage. Misting slows down the transpiration.
  • Water jade plant early morning. Never water afternoon or late night. It will keep the moisture for a longer time on the root system.

• Air Dry the plant.

Before repotting dying jade plants you have to air dry its root bowl. Simply pull the plant. Then carefully remove the root bowl soil much as possible using a brush. Never wash to root using water. Air drying the plant will help fix the root rot jade plant.

Then let it air dry for a couple of days in the shade and do not expose it to sunlight. Fresh air is essential for this, never place the plant in a container. Place the plant on top of the table.

Once the plant air dry report it in a correct well drain jade soil mix. Do not water for two or four days. This further helps the roots damage to heal rapidly.

• Change the soil mix.

Jade plant soil should well drain. If the growing medium water logging its root bowl rotting. Make sure that your soil mix contains proper organic and inorganic materials. You can use a ready-to-use succulent potting mix.

You can read more about DIY succulent soil mix for jade plants. The ideal potting mix jade plant is,

• 50% of Readymade organic potting mix.
• 30% of Coarse sands/Granite/Gritty Mix.
• 20% of Perlite, pumice.

Coarse sands/gritty mix/granites improve the soil drainage and creation. You can use either one ingredient for the soil recipe. Perlite/pumice reduces the soil moisture level and drainage.

• Check the pot contain enough drainage holes and they are not blocked.

Pots drainage holes do not block. Excess water can easily flow out the pots.

When filling the jade soil mixture, cover the drainage hole with a small mesh tape. It will prevent soil from falling out and block the drainage hole. The top of the mesh tape adds a layer of small rock chips or gritty mix.

Finally, fill the prepared potting mix.

• High Humidity.

In high humidity, the environment has low water evaporation. This will increase the soil mixture level, especially a few inches deeper soil.

Therefore move your plant to a close to an open window or door. Moreover, move the plant to a bright full sun area increase the soil water evaporation. Alternatively, you can increase the temperature level to increase the water evaporation.

• Overcrowding plants.

Improving air circulation helps improve indoor plants’ transpiration. This will improve soil’s water evaporation.