What should you do if a potted jade plant (Portulacaria afra) drops its leaves during care?
The scientific name of the jade plant is Portulacaria afra; it is a perennial evergreen succulent shrub of the genus Portulacaria in the family Portulacaceae. Grown in the ground, the jade plant can reach 4 m tall, making it a giant compared with our usual potted plants. The old stems of the jade plant are rugged and ancient-looking, and its leaves are small and exquisite, glossy and shiny; its form is either intricate and varied or simple and elegant, and its care is relatively easy, so it is deeply loved by flower enthusiasts.What should you do if a potted jade plant drops its leaves?
1. Causes of leaf drop in potted jade plants
1. Caused by watering
Overwatering causes the root system to shrink, so leaf drop occurs. The potted jade plants we buy from the market are mostly in very shallow ornamental pots, so most people take it for granted that they should add more water; this is a mistaken idea. The roots and stems of the jade plant are succulent, which determines that its water-storage capacity is very strong, but if it remains in a damp environment for a long time, bacteria will breed and cause root rot, which overall shows up as leaf drop, then the stems wither and shrink, and finally the plant dies.
2. Improper light and temperature
The jade plant likes a warm environment, is not cold-tolerant and not high-temperature-tolerant, and its suitable growth temperature is 15°C to 26°C. In winter, if no freeze protection is done, it is prone to cold damage, causing leaf drop and even death. In summer, high temperatures will scorch the leaves; above 30°C it will enter dormancy, and above 35°C there is a risk of death. Therefore, in summer it should be shaded, not exposed to strong sun, and it is best placed in a ventilated spot with diffused light, with watering done in the morning and evening. The jade plant also cannot be kept in a dark environment for a long time; often getting no light is also one of the causes of leaf drop.
3. Branches and leaves too dense
Some flower enthusiasts say that leaf drop when branches and leaves are too dense is a normal phenomenon, but actually it is not. In the short term, the plant drops leaves because of poor light penetration and air movement, but over time this will definitely affect the plant's growth.
4. Too little fertilizer
Besides light affecting the accumulation of nutrients, the amount of fertilizer also has a certain influence. If too little fertilizer is applied during growth, nutrients are lacking; if too much fertilizer is applied, fertilizer damage occurs. With improper fertilization, leaf drop will occur no matter how you care for it.
2. Solutions for leaf drop in potted jade plants
1. Control watering frequency:In spring and autumn, during the jade plant's growing season, it can be watered once every two or three days; in summer, increase the frequency appropriately, but strengthen ventilation to avoid necrosis caused by excessive humidity; in winter, when temperatures are lower, if it is kept indoors in the north, it can be watered once a week; the specific situation should be based on the degree of soil dryness and wetness, and do not rigidly stick to a certain number of days.
There is another point to note about watering: if you find water accumulating when watering (water does not penetrate), then you should consider repotting. This is caused by two reasons: on the one hand, there may be too many fibrous roots, the pot may be too small, causing blockage of the drainage holes and water accumulation; on the other hand, the substrate used by the seller when potting may be impermeable. Both of these aspects will harm the roots of the jade plant. It is recommended to repot and change the soil as soon as possible. When repotting, remove 1/2 to 1/3 of the original soil and replant with new growing medium. Choose a loose, breathable mix of humus soil and sandy soil, or a mix of vermiculite and humus soil. The roots should be pruned appropriately, cutting off weak branches and other branches that affect the tree shape, and cutting off part of the root system. The size of the selected pot should match the crown width of the jade plant.
2. In terms of light: let it get plenty of warm, soft sunlight, avoid strong sun exposure and avoid cold.
3. In terms of nutrient supplementation: during the growing season, apply diluted, fully decomposed cake fertilizer water or inorganic fertilizer once every half month, and remember the concentration must be low.