What causes jade plant leaves to drop? Causes and solutions

The jade plant (Crassula ovata) is a succulent subshrub with fleshy leaves that is extremely easy to grow, so many people keep one at home. However, during cultivation, the leaves of the jade plant often drop for no apparent reason or fall off at the slightest touch, leaving people at a loss. So what causes jade plant leaf drop? How should it be solved? Let's take a look.

1. Improper watering

When overwatering causes the potting soil to become too wet or waterlogged, this can very easily cause the jade plant's leaves to drop, and may even lead to root rot. But if the plant is not watered for a long time, causing the potting soil to become too dry, the plant can also drop leaves due to dehydration.

Solution: When overwatered, drain and ventilate promptly to reduce the humidity at the bottom of the pot. If root rot has already occurred, prune promptly and replace the potting soil. When dry, water promptly, but the first watering should be appropriately smaller in amount; too much water will lead to poor root absorption, so watering should be done gradually.

2. Unsuitable light

The jade plant needs a fair amount of light to grow. If it is kept in a shaded environment lacking light for a long time, its branches and leaves will grow leggy and weak, and will fall off at the slightest touch. In summer, excessively strong light can also cause leaves to drop due to lack of water.

Solution: For a jade plant kept in a shaded environment for a long time, move it promptly to a place with gentle light, then gradually increase the light, otherwise the leaf drop will worsen. Under high temperature and strong light in summer, provide appropriate shade and let it receive scattered light indoors.

3. Low-temperature freezing damage

In winter the temperature is cold. If sufficient cold protection measures are not taken for the jade plant, the plant may freeze, the leaves may congeal into clumps, and after the ice melts, the plant will rot, wither and die from freezing.

Solution: Before winter arrives, move the jade plant indoors to a warm place for the winter to avoid freezing at low temperatures. It is best to keep it in a spot indoors with ample light for care.

4. Disease

If the jade plant contracts black rot, its root system will rot extensively, making it unable to breathe normally and absorb water and nutrients, so the plant will gradually wither and die, and the leaves will gradually drop.

Solution: Black rot in jade plants is very difficult to cure. If not treated promptly, the plant will soon die. Generally, the potting soil needs to be replaced promptly, then the rotted roots pruned and disinfected, and the plant replanted anew.

  The above is an introduction to the causes and solutions of jade plant leaf drop. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.