Hi everyone, I stumbled on this wonderful site while looking for information on how to care for my jade plant. I've killed one already, now my second one also looks like its in trouble, so trying to save it. I love them, and have bought another 2 recently. I'm confused about the watering part, how much water should I use? Do I take care of it like a phalaenopsis orchid? Water thoroughly and then let it dry out completely? My jade has been dropping few leaves everyday, and its worrying me. Some of the leaves dry up but some looks healthy but drop anyway. Please help me! Here's a picture of the leaf.
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=6rsgsj

Hi there and welcome to the forum, I'm going to go ahead and move your post to the houseplant section where you'll get a lot more replies....

Laura

I got a varegated jade(smaller leaves than yours with white edges)I had mine get leaves like that when was getting too much sun.I don't water mine alot but I don't let the soil dry out either.I usually just let the soil stay dry to the 1st knuckle bone of index finger.I had some fall off also when was in that brighter spot.It sits on porch,but is behind a post now so is blocked from sun and no more leaves have browned.My soil is a mix of potting soil/peatmoss/gravel from fish tank.it gets westerly sun now...south sun not good.I hope that helps.
your also warmer more huh...they say when they are mature they can flower.my mom had one like yours when I grew up.I killed her small potted one(they don't make good ashtrays)her larger one I rember when it was taller than christmas tree.I bet it was 9-10 ft tall.I never seen it flower.shes not on now or I'd ask.when she moved part broke so she has 2 meduim sized ones now.she shines the leaves with mayonaise.they also do best with steady 55 temps& I don't think they like humidity well.I water mine about once weekly and empty the saucer out.I'll give a lil more water durring growth spurts& if you break stems off they will bush out.

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I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!

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Some leaf drop is normal for a jade. And leaf that is shaded by other leaves may well drop off. It will usually either create a root to help support the weight of the plant at that joint or a branch. When it is growing you can water it very well and then let it dry like was described in an earlier post. During its dormant time it can go without water for a very long period. Fertilize during the growth spirt. Good luck with your jade.

Dear tkhooper and weezie,

Thanks again for the reply. Actually I've been reading about the jade plant for the past 2 days on the internet. I'm still confused about the leaves dropping because something like 8 to 10 leaves drop from it everyday for the past week, and it's not a really big plant. Worried that it'll be naked very soon. That's what happened to my 1st one...

When you water, do you water the whole plant including the leaves? And I don't see any roots on the trunk at all...

I just read about it today. I just moved it nearer to the window today. Hopefully it'll like it there. Will keep a look out for that brown edges. By the way,

I went out just now and just bought another jade... he he he... Couldn't resist, this one has got that brown edge on the leaves, and I've put this on the east facing window.

Do you usually leave the plant alone after buying it or do you repot? I'm not sure what kind of potting mix it comes in. I'm worried its not the right mix...

It depends on the condition of the plant. The potting soil I have is one special for succulents. When I first got my jade is was four pieces of stem and almost totally purple in color and the soil in the pot was mud. So I did repot. I still lost three of the four starters but the one that remained has made up for it many times. It is green with a very slight purple edge and has started 3 babies pretty much on it's own without my help. 2 were from leaves dropping like Weezie explained and one was an air root that I severed from the main plant.

My big jade has stopped dropping leaves, or at least nos. of leaves dropped is getting less and less, so I'd like to say thank you to all of you who's helped me. It looks like it's gonna survive after all... Here's a picture of it now.



I've decided to try and propagate my mini jade. After you cut it and let it callous, do you just stick it in a pot? I have some potting mix for cactus. Do you need to water the soil after that?

Here's a picture of the sad fellow. He's been losing a lot of leaves, but the trunks are still turgid, no sign of softening, just dropping leaves like mad. I've left the leaves there just in case they become little jades...


Anyone can please advise me? Do you use scissors or a knife to cut it? How big a pot should I use? Will I need to repot the new jade again afterwards? That is if it survives...