Jade plant diseases aren’t rare, although the houseplant is resistant to harsh weather and conditions. You will see white spots, brown spots, and even leaves turning yellow when there is illness.

Jade Plant Diseases

Hence, we will take you through jade plants’ top diseases and problems for quick care guidelines. We will also suggest the top treatments for its sicknesses to maintain the beautiful houseplant.

What Are the Causes and Types of Jade Plant Diseases?

The causes and types of Jade plant diseases are overwatering, over fertilizing, and bacterial soft rot attack to name a few. Jades are easy to look after, they don’t need extravagant maintenance. Mostly it will have spots of different colors indicating problems. Also, root rot and leaves turning yellow are common.

– Salt Deposit in Water and Powdery Mildew Causes White Spots

Jade plant leaves have a deep green color. However, at times, you will see white spots on the leaves and stems of the tree. It is a common problem with jades. The two leading causes for the white spots on leaves are powdery mildew and mealybugs.

If you live in a hard water region, tap water will contain different minerals and substances. It will develop over the plant leaves and stems over time. Hence, excess salt deposit results in white spots. Placing the houseplant in a shady and too-humid place will cause powdery mildew growth. If you overwater the tree, it, too, causes the growth of powdery mold and mildew.

On top of it, the mealybug attack on the leaves will also turn them whitish. Mealy bugs release a white substance for their protection. It sticks to the leaves and turns them white.

– Overwatering Jade Plant Causes Root Rot

The rotten root is another common jade plant problem besides the white spots. If you overwater the plant continuously for an extended period, the root will receive more than its required moisture. As the soil becomes soggy, it hurts the root.

When the overwatering continues, the root starts to rot. If the roots rot too much, you will smell a foul odor. Wet soil triggers the fungus development. It attacks the root and damages it. If the soil is too wet for an extended period, you will also see white spots on the leaves.

As the root gets damaged and rotten, it fails to transfer the required nutrients to the leaves. So, its food cycle stops, and the plant will eventually die.

– Excess Watering Leads to Yellow Leaves

Yellowing leaves on jade plants happen for multiple reasons. Jades are succulent plants. So, they need less water and are susceptible to overwatering. If you pour too much water into its soil, the root of the jades will start rotting.

Thus, the leaves fail to receive proper nutrition to maintain their food cycle. As a result, the leaves turn yellow due to nitrogen deficiency. Nitrogen is responsible for the leaves to become yellow. Also, other minerals such as magnesium and calcium are necessary for the proper growth of the jades.

With overwatering, the roots start damaging. It results in a mineral deficiency in the leaves. So, it turns yellow and even experiences slower growth. The older leaves will become yellowish first. It also starts inwardly in the leaves and progresses outwardly.

– Three Reasons Why Leaves Drop Off From Jade Plant

Among the top jade plant diseases, leaves dropping off from it is a significant concern. The leaves may fall off from the branches for many reasons. It includes

  • Improper moisture
  • Inadequate sunlight
  • Dropping temperature

Improper moisture happens with high humidity in the environment. Also, excessive sogginess in the soil due to overwatering is responsible for the moisture stress on the plant. Moreover, the soil may have improper drainage and water-clogging, and dampness.

Jades are tropical plants and thrive in high temperatures and sunlight. They are seen widely in African deserts. Unfortunately, in indoor conditions, homeowners will keep the jade plants in shady areas. So, inadequate sunlight reduces chlorophyll production. Consequently, the leaves will lack proper food and nutrition and fall off the branches.

Finally, jades survive in tropical weather. If the temperature falls off suddenly below a standard level, it stresses out the leaves. So, they start shredding off from the plant.

Causes of Jade Plant Diseases

– Inaccurate Pruning Leads to Brown Spots on Jade Leaves

Likewise, the white spots and fluffs on the jade leaves, the brown spot isn’t uncommon. You will see small brown patches in the leaves. These are different from the larger patches you may see in the edge and center of the leaves.

Trauma and stress on the jades are mainly responsible for leaves facing brown spot problems. Usually, it happens when you prune the jades inaccurately. You must shear the jades properly following the jades care guide.

Jades receive the least attention in high-traffic regions of your garden and home. Also, placing it in shady spaces means it receives less than the required sunlight. As a result, the leaves will lack proper nutrition. It triggers the brown spot problem on jade plants.

Sap-sucking plant pests on jades are also the reason for brown spots. As their name suggests, Sap-sucking pests leave on the sap or juice of the plants. Once they find any suitable and juicy plant leaves, they will settle on them.

After that, they will gradually soak the sap from the leaves and thrive on it. As the leaves are deprived of the required sap and moisture, it starts turning brown.

Sometimes, you will see yellow and black rings on jades’ leaves for this. As the pets persist in consuming the sap on the leaves, it becomes browner and blacker. At worst, the leaves fall off and die.

– Aphids Cause Black Spots and Black Leaves

Black leaves and spots are dangerous for jade plants. In fact, it is more alarming than the yellowing leaves. So, you must closely observe the jade leaves to see any blackening. You must react quickly if you see leaves turning black and having black spots.

Aphids and sooty mold will grow on the leaves. As it happens, the leaves start turning black. First, there will be small black patches on the outskirts of the leaves. Secondly, sooty molds will start spreading fast around the leaves.

Secret honeydew on the jades will develop sooty mold on the leaves. Plus, aphids also cause the blackening of the leaves. Aphids suck the sap of the leaves. These pests are translucent and have a slightly reddish appearance. So you may spot them easily. It is a concerning problem because aphids are common crop pests and will kill the jade by eating all of its saps.

– Bacterial Soft Rot Attack

At times, you may suddenly see the jade leaves turning brown and even rotten. It happens because of the bacterial soft rot attack. Soft rot is a common bacterial problem for fresh vegetables and fruits. Plus, it is a gram-negative bacteria and attacks diseased or unhealthy leaves.

Once it starts spreading over the leaves, it will set on the plant gradually. Consequently, you will smell a foul odor coming from the leaves. It happens as the leaves rot. If the problem persists and deteriorates further, the stems will start rotting too. When it happens, you must act fast to treat the rotten leaves and stems of the jade plants.

– Spider Mite Attack

Spider mites are a common enemy of succulent plants, and jades aren’t any exception. Usually, they spread from other plants in your nursery or garden to the jades. If gardens have spider mite infestation, they will also gradually attack the jades.

The mites will mimic the spider-webbing underneath the leaves and their adjacent stems. That’s why it gets the name. What’s more, the mites will live on the sap of the plants. So, it turns the leaves brown and yellow.

The mites are tinier than you may imagine. So it’s easier to identify them after close inspection. You may look for the webs underneath the leaves and stems. It will help you quickly identify the spider mite attack on the jades.

– Over-exposure to Sunlight Causes Red Leaves

Green leaves on jade turning red is the slightest problem for you. As the leaves have red edges and slowly turn completely red, jades will lose their beautiful appearance. It can be distressing for gardeners since jades are ornamental plants.

The green foliage becomes red due to over-exposure to sunlight. If you place the plant in a place with more than 5 to 7 hours of sunlight, it will turn red. Over-exposure to sunlight intensifies its food cycle, which causes the reddish problem.

Finally, the lack of nutrients, water, and temperature stresses the leaves. It may also turn them red.

What Are the Best Solutions for Jade Plant Diseases?

The best solutions for jade plant diseases are proper watering cycles and maintaining sunlight and temperature, etc. Jade plants are prone to various types of diseases and many factors can contribute to such harmful situations.

Knowing the right thing to do for your Jade plant will save your plant.

– Proper Watering Cycle to Solve White Spots, Yellow Leaves and Root Rot

You must maintain a proper watering cycle for the jades. Also, avoid placing it in a highly humid place. Ensure that the indoor plant receives maximum air ventilation and lighting. As you maintain a proper watering cycle and lighting, mildew will disappear.

For the pesky mealybugs, treat the plant with neem oil. It would eliminate the pests soon from the jade plant leaves. If the problem persists, you may use commercial pesticides with accurate measurements.

Solutions for Jade Plant Diseases

The main reason for root rot on jades is overwatering and wet soil. So, stop watering the plant immediately. Then, remove the soil around the plant and check the root. Use scissors or a pruner to remove the damaged roots carefully.

Finally, apply fungicide on the soil and try repotting the plant. You should ensure proper drainage for the jade plants. Also, water the ornamental tree once a week. Usually, 2 inches of water every two weeks is enough for jade plants.

– Maintain Sunlight and Temperature

You must ensure that the plant receives at least 6 hours of proper sunlight. If you keep it in indoor spaces, place a light near it. Many incandescent bulbs will mimic the natural sunlight to propel the food cycle of the jades.

Next up, maintain 40°F or above temperature for the jades throughout the year. If the temperature falls below 40 degrees in winter, use alternative ways to increase the heat. You can use incandescent bulbs or a heater.

– Solution for Brown Spot, Pests, and Black Spot

While pruning the jade leaves, ensure proper trimming of the branches. Also, observe the plant and remove any browning leaves. It will help to stop the browning issue from spreading on other leaves.

For the sap-sucking pests, you must identify the type of pest attack. You may photograph the pest with your smartphone and contact the local gardening shop. Their expertise will help you identify the pest species and suggest the right pesticide for it. Also, you may apply silver-colored mulching on the soil. It will prevent pest attacks for better protection from brown spots.

Thankfully, getting rid of the aphids and sooty mold from the leaves is easy. You can use your hand to wipe out the mold and pests from the leaves. Wear gloves and run your hand over the leaves. It will wipe out the pests successfully.

Spray a mixture of dishwater soap and water on the plant. It will kill the mold. You must also provide the plant with enough sunlight. It stops the fungal and mold growth on the jade plants to ensure their proper growth.

– Prevention for Bacterial Soft Rot

The remedy of the bacterial soft attack for jades has two parts. First, you must ensure proper treatment of the attacked leaves and stems. Secondly, you should take preventive measures to keep the bacterial attack at bay.

See the leaves fast, when you see the soft rot symptoms and experience a bad odor. Then, trim the attacked stems and leaves. Then, you must report the plant. Use soil with proper drainage for this purpose. Next, ensure preventive measures for the bacterial soft rot problem.

You should follow the jade plant care guide to maintain your health. It includes maintaining adequate lighting, avoiding overwatering, and correctly placing the plants indoors.

– Prevent and Get Rid of Spider Mite Attacks

Leaves attacked by spider mites will lose their vigor due to inadequate nutrients. So, they die quickly. It suggests that you eliminate the spider mites faster. You may use a clean cloth to rub the jade plant and remove the mites.

correct jade plant problems

Alternatively, spray lukewarm water to kill the mites. There’s an option to use essential and horticultural oils to control spider mites’ population. You must choose insecticides if the mite infestation isn’t negotiable with the homemade solutions.

Remember that the insecticides must contain either pyrethrin or permethrin. Or else the insecticide won’t kill the mites.

Conclusion

Jade plant diseases aren’t unheard of. From brown and black spots to aphid and spider mite attacks, jade plants undergo severe problems.

  • Stems of jade may become leggy due to low-light exposure. If you place them in low-light conditions, the stems will become sluggish and look stretched.
  • You should allow the jades to receive enough sunlight and mimic their natural habitat to trigger its blooming season. It will increase the number of flowers.
  • If you overwater the jades to cause white spots, mold growth, and bacterial attack, you must report it. It’s difficult to treat the plant without repotting it.

With fantastic vibrance on the green leaves, jades are fabulous houseplants. Once you find the correct jade plant problems and solve them, you will love its vibrancy and excellent appearance.

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