I have had a large Jade Plant that did very well with little attention for 3 years. I am not sure how old it is, but am guessing that it is pretty old, as the main trunk is 3-4 inches around. In November, after moving it to a spot with less light, I noticed that the stems were getting mushy, so started doing some online research. I cut off the bad parts, but the problem continued.
I then tried repotting it (same pot, new soil - 2/3 potting soil, 1/3 sharp builder's sand) after letting the roots air dry for a week. I also moved it to a spot with more light. I now know it has been in shock, and am trying to save it since the trunk is so big. I have been saving as many good branches as possible, and most are doing OK. I had to cut off a large trunk (1-2 inches around) yesterday because branches had been cut off too close on either side, which weakened it. Does anyone know the best way to root a large woody Jade trunk?
Also, I am hoping to save the main plant, but do not know how to get a trunk with no foliage to put out new growth. There are now 4 good sized trunks with no foliage, and only one trunk that does have foliage. The large trunks have also been growing mold where they have been cut, I assume because it is taking so long for the wound to scar over. I cut the trunks back more to get rid of the mold, and applied a dusting of Rootone with fungicide because I haven't been able to find a plain old fungicide.
I know that I am probably going to lose this plant, but would like to try to save it. Does anyone have any advice for me? I have searched here and elsewhere on the web, but have not found much information on large Jade cuttings and attempting to revive such a large Jade. Any help would be much appreciated. I have attempted to post pre and post rot photos (I'm a newbie). Hopefully it works. Please help! Thanks...

Carolyn

PS: There is a new website dedicated to Jade Plants. It is less than a month old, so there isn't much posted, but the webmaster is looking for contributors. Please visit and contribute: http://www.jadeplant.org

Here is some info I found that Bill had typed up!

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/jade.html
Hope it helps!

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Hello Carolyn,
Just wanted to say Hi, and Welcome
to The Garden Helpers Forum!!!!!!!
That's one mighty big plant you had there.
I'm not tooooooooooo knowledgeable in
the house plants, but the girls gave you some
good advise, Bill may offer some or Will Creed
will be through soon, he's a house plant specialist, Nikkal may know or Njoynit, Boxmonkey showed us a picture like that too, with a ba~zillion flowers on a big jade too....I never knew they flowered before that picture......
So, stick around and enjoy the site....
We have added new sections to the forum with recipes, crafts and hobbies, a banter hall to chat in, so feel free to add your voice to any
of those catagories, or any others we have here,
don't forget if you know any of the answers anyone
else has asked, make sure you answer them, it only takes one person to know an answer!!!
Look forward to seeing you here and talking with you!!!

Weezie

We also have a few members from your area too,
Bess of the Piedmont, Renee, Vikki, GardenCrazy and Champagne.......

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2





http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

Hey! Thanks for the 'official' welcome, Weezie. I've been visiting the website for a while, now, but haven't contributed until now. I'll be sure to check out other posts to try and help others. With all of the searching on the rest of the web I've done, I've stockpiled a nice (although short) list of helpful websites. I'm not an expert, but have some nice plants at home...the remainder of what was a huge indoor garden. All I have left are two Christmas Cactus, a Snake Plant, a Bird's Nest Sanseveria, a Swedish Ivy, a Spider Plant, a new Pothos from my friend, Bob, and a couple of succulents from Grandma who's names escape me. One of them only blooms at around 3AM...anyone know what it is? It's the big one in the foreground...


Thanks also to Boxmonkey...good idea. Since I'm up late anyway, the timing should work out well, even though I don't have a closet (to shut out light from my late nights). I rarely see sunrise (unless I'm up all night), so I'll try adding a few hours of good light once the sun starts going down. My plants were gorgeous when they were in the closet many years ago, but what's the point in having lovely plants if you can't see them? Hopefully when I get out of this tiny apartment, I'll have a whole room dedicated to my plants.

Carolyn

Hi Carolyn,

I am sorry that you have had to preside over the deterioration of your once beatuiful jade. It is very disheartening to watch, particularly when your efforts don't seem to help.

Your jade is sufering from damaged roots that prevent the plant from properly absorbing water and nutrients. When that happens the above ground plant tissues die. Fungus then takes advantage of the exposed dying tissue and causes it to rot. A fungicide might stop that, but it will not change the fact that the roots are no longer functioning.

How did the roots become damaged? Most likely they gradually rotted after the plant was moved to a lower light location where the need for water was greatly reduced. Or perhaps the roots were already greatly damaged due to improper watering before the plant was moved. Replacing the soil may have aggravated the problem. My hunch is that the roots were already largely dead when you repotted the plant.

Does it have a future? Unfortunately, probably not. You can cut off the remaining healthy stem and try rooting it. Any remaining damaged or soft stem tissue should be trimmed off until you reach healthy stem tissue, if there is any. If there is none, then toss it.

If you can prune it back to healthy tissue. There is a small chance that some roots have survived. It will take a long time for these roots to re-establish temselvs well enough to put out new leaf and stem growth. During that time the water must be minimal so that the tender root growth does not rot. This is very tricky and the odds are against you. Keep it in your sunniest window as long as there is hope for survival.

There is not much information available on rooting thick jade stem cuttings because the preferred method for propagating jades is to use healthy new growth stem tips. In good conditions, these tip cuttings can eventually develop into large plants.

You can try to root the large stem cutting, but only if the stem tissue is healthy throughout. Allow the stem cutting to dry out for 24 to 48 hours. Then place it in a small pot filled with a very porous, sandy potting mix. You have to keep this potting mix barely moist for a long time until roots finally develop. Provide lots of direct sunlight. This can take many months during which you will see little sign of anything happening. As long as the stem does not shrivel, you have to be satisfied that you are on the right track.

Good luck to you!

hey carolyn, here's wishing you luck!