Meet Sakshi, a proud owner of a jade plant named Jadey. Sakshi adores Jadey for its thick, succulent leaves and resilient nature. However, one day, she notices something troubling: Jadey is shedding leaves.
1. Overwatering:
Sakshi loves Jadey so much that she waters it generously every day, thinking more water means better growth. Unfortunately, the soil becomes waterlogged, depriving the roots of oxygen. This leads to root rot, a common issue for jade plants. As the roots deteriorate, Jadey starts losing leaves. The story here is clear: too much love (water) can sometimes harm more than help.
2. Underwatering:
Another time, Sakshi forgets to water Jadey for several weeks due to a hectic schedule. Jadey, being a tough plant, tries to survive, but the prolonged drought stress takes its toll. Its leaves begin to shrivel and drop off. The lesson? Even resilient plants like jade need a regular drink to thrive.
Watering Routine: Establish a regular watering schedule for Jadey. Water thoroughly when the top inch or so of soil feels dry to the touch. Ensure water reaches the roots, but avoid waterlogging the soil.
3. Low Light:
Sakshi moves Jadey to a corner of his living room where it doesn't receive much sunlight. Initially, Jadey seems fine, but over time, its growth slows down, and leaves start turning yellow and falling off. Sakshi realizes that insufficient light hinders Jadey's ability to photosynthesize and grow properly.
Solution: Jade plants like moderate to bright light, such as morning sunlight.
4. Temperature Stress:
During a particularly cold winter, Sakshi places Jadey near a drafty window to get some sunlight. However, the fluctuating temperatures stress Jadey out. The leaves closest to the window start dropping off as Jadey struggles to cope with the cold drafts. Sakshi learns that jade plants prefer stable temperatures to thrive.
5. Pests and Diseases:
One day, Sakshi notices small insects crawling on Jadey's leaves. She identifies them as mealybugs, common pests that can damage jade plants. Despite Sakshi's efforts to remove them, the mealybugs spread, sucking sap from Jadey's leaves and weakening the plant. Eventually, Jadey sheds some leaves as a defense mechanism against the pests.
Neem Oil Solution: Prepare a solution of diluted neem oil (follow instructions on the product) and spray it onto Jadey. Neem oil is effective against pests like mealybugs and also has antifungal properties.
Why Do Jade Plants Shed Leaves?