Jade Plant Watering and Fertilizing Tips, and Causes and Solutions for Soft, Dry Leaves

The jade plant, also known as the jade plant or the money plant, among other names, is a fairly common succulent. Its stems and leaves are very thick, plump and adorable, and it stays evergreen all year round, making it deeply loved and sought after by everyone. But some growers' jade plants have actually developed dry leaves. How can this be solved and dealt with?

How to Water and Fertilize a Jade Plant

1. Fertilizing tips: Generally, when we fertilize, it is not simply a matter of scattering the fertilizer in and being done with it. There is a certain technique to fertilizing as well. Before fertilizing, we can loosen the soil appropriately to make the soil a bit more loose and airy. This allows the roots to fully absorb the nutrients from the fertilizer, which is what enables it to grow better. Also, when fertilizing, be careful never to let the fertilizer touch its roots or its leaves, otherwise it will easily burn the roots and leaves. When fertilizing, try to apply the fertilizer around the edges, so it is less likely to fall on the leaves or the roots.

2. Watering tips: When watering, do not use too strong a stream of water to wash over it, otherwise the soil in the pot will become uneven, and it is also not good for the roots. We can spray its crown with a small spray bottle once or twice a day. If you have forgotten to water it for a long time, then never just pick up the spray bottle and start watering. Instead, we should wrap its trunk with an absorbent cloth, and then spray the crown with water. This way, we can prevent its roots from being damaged. Try to spray a little water on its leaves as well. This can also keep its leaves very glossy for a long time, looking fresh and green, which makes people feel better just looking at it. So watering also requires attention.

Causes and Solutions for Soft, Dry Jade Plant Leaves

1. Cause: In fact, soft leaves on a jade plant are a common phenomenon when repotting. This is mainly because during the repotting process, its roots suffer varying degrees of damage. Damaged roots weaken the plant's ability to absorb water and nutrients, and in severe cases it may even be unable to absorb them at all. The plant then enters a state of dehydration, and without water to sustain them, the leaves slowly become soft.

Solution: You can prune off all the old leaves, diseased leaves and pest-damaged leaves on the lower half of the plant. This reduces the waste of water and can also improve the survival rate. At this point, do not blindly take other measures either. Simply wait for its roots to return to normal, and the leaves will slowly become plump and tender again.

2. Cause: After repotting and watering, placing the jade plant in direct sunlight to bake causes it to dehydrate. This not only makes the leaves soft, but also severely affects its survival rate after repotting.

Solution: First, move the plant to a place with diffused light or partial shade and good ventilation. This allows the jade plant to return to normal. Do not keep the soil in a constantly moist state. When watering, first observe the soil. Only water when there are cracks on the soil surface or it has turned slightly whitish. If the soil is not dry, watering is strictly forbidden. Water only when the soil has dried out completely. This is very effective for helping it return to normal growth.

What to Do If a Jade Plant Does Not Bloom

1. Suitable lighting

The jade plant prefers places with more sunlight, so if the light is not quite sufficient, it will also be less likely to bloom. Therefore, we can place it in a spot with fairly abundant sunlight that is also warm. This is the key to it blooming. So if your jade plant does not bloom, check whether it is caused by inadequate lighting, and whether you often keep it in a rather shady place. If so, then you need to change its location and move it to a spot facing the sun.

2. Water control

The jade plant is a succulent plant, so it is fairly drought-tolerant. Remember never to water it too much normally, otherwise it will easily cause waterlogging, which makes its roots more likely to rot. So when should you water? You should wait until it is dry before watering, and you should wait until it has dried out completely before watering. This kind of appropriate watering can also help it bloom faster. Finally, remember never to let it be exposed to heavy rain, otherwise it will easily drop its leaves.

3. Fertilizing

During its growth period, it is generally fertilized once every 7 to 10 days, usually with a relatively dilute liquid fertilizer. Remember never to make the fertilizer too concentrated, otherwise it will easily burn its roots. Do not use concentrated fertilizer just to make it bloom faster; this is also one cause of it not blooming. Also, when fertilizing, do not let the fertilizer fall on the leaves, otherwise it will burn the leaves as well.

4. Soil

Sometimes if the soil's air permeability is not particularly good, it will also be less likely to bloom. You can check whether your soil is loose and whether its drainage is good. If it is not good, then you need to replace the soil and repot it, replanting it. This way, with good aeration and loose soil, it can be encouraged to bloom sooner.

Growing Habits of the Jade Plant

The jade plant is native to southern Africa. It is a succulent in the Crassulaceae family, genus Crassula. The jade plant likes warm, dry and well-ventilated environments. It has poor cold tolerance, likes sunlight, and tolerates partial shade slightly.

After growing for many years, the jade plant will develop into a shrub, with the stem clearly becoming woody. Its fleshy leaves are opposite, growing densely at the top of the stem or branches. The fleshy leaves are long ovate, slightly curved inward, with a slight leaf tip. The leaf color ranges from green to red-green and is glossy. When the temperature difference is large, the edges of the leaves turn red while the center of the leaf stays green, which is very beautiful. Proper water control and strong light exposure can give the whole plant a very beautiful red-green appearance. Under normal cultivation, the color is green with a bit of red edge. In low-light conditions, the plant appears green. The flowers are clustered, with small white or white-pink flowers, cross-pollinated between different plants, and it does not bloom easily.

As described above, if the jade plant is grown well, its ornamental value will also increase. So when dealing with plants, everyone should still understand them and care for them well. At the same time, they will repay you. Even in the midst of a busy schedule, occasionally admiring a gorgeous jade plant will make your body and mind feel more relaxed and happy!