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Jade Plant Leaves Turning Brown
Jade plant leaves turning brown can be very upsetting, especially when your plant shows other signs that it’s not happy. Luckily if a Jade plant isn’t getting what it needs it often shows you quite quickly before the damage is too much. Jade plant leaves turning brown isn’t all that uncommon and can be reversed but it’s important you find out the cause as quickly as possible. There are a few possible reasons as to why this is happening but hopefully there are other clues that can help you work out which one it is.
Overwatering Causing Browning Jade Plant Leaves
The first problem we’ll look at is the most common issue people experience with Jade plants and that’s one of overwatering. If you overwater this plant you may notice the leaves turning yellow, brown or black but this on its own isn’t helpful. Another sign of overwatering is that the leaves become squishy when held between your fingers. These leaves may turn black or fall off. The stem may also lose some of its rigidness and start to lean over or some stems may ever break and fall to the side completely.
A Jade plant should only be watered when the soil has been allowed to dry out, then you should give it a thorough watering. The pot also needs to have a drainage hole and it’s important you use a well draining mix that is appropriate for the plant. For example a succulent specific mix with added perlite. You don’t want a potting mix that retains too much water. Try inserting your finger into the soil, does it feel moist? Or is it wet? How long is it staying wet for? Does your pot have a drainage hole? Do you allow it to dry out between waterings? Answering these questions should help you to work out whether you have an issue with overwatering and what to do about it.
If you really struggle knowing when it’s time to water your plant then I would recommend using a moisture meter like this one on Amazon. It’s simple to use, you basically insert the two rods into the soil and on the screen you will get a reading of how moist your soil is. With a Jade plant you should let the reading drop to 1 or 2 before watering your plant. Check the soil in various places to get an average as some areas may be more moist than others.
Jade Plant Leaves Turning Brown Due To High Humidity
Just like issues with overwatering, Jade plants prefer to be dry and don’t need humidity. If you live in a humid region or you’re blasting your humidifier all day for your other plants then this could be causing your plant to be exposed to too much moisture which could be the reason your plant is starting to turn brown. If you like to use a humidifier for your other plants then try moving your Jade plant to a different room. That may be enough to decrease the humidity and save your plant. If you live somewhere tropical then without the help of a dehumidifier you Jade plant may not do so well.
Too Much Sun Could Be The Issue
The second cause of Jade plant leaves turning brown is too much sun which can also cause Jade plant leaves to turn red. A Jade plant needs bright indirect light and can be exposed to some sun throughout the day. However, if that sun is too bright or too intense it can cause sunburn to the leaves which can cause them to turn red or brown. If you’ve already established that overwatering isn’t in the cause and your plant is in a spot that gets direct sunlight then this could be the cause. Try moving your plant away from the light source and seeing if this makes a difference and stops your Jade plant leaves turning brown.
Too Many Minerals In The Water
If you live in an area with quite heavy tap water your plants could be receiving too many minerals from the water you’re using. If you haven’t managed to identify the cause yet then try switching up your water. Use filtered water or rain water and see if this makes a difference with your plant, you may find that it’s something this simple that’s the issue.
Now you’ve discovered the cause of your Jade plant leaves turning brown, you can work to reverse those issues and save your plant. If your plant has just started to turn brown or has dropped a couple of leaves then it may not be too late and you can still reverse the issues. If your plant has collapsed on itself or the main stem has broken along with the brown leaves then it might be too late for your plant but you could still take a cutting and try to create a new Jade plant in its place.
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