Question
QUESTION: I have had an indoor jade plant for years. It's about 3ft around and about 2.5 ft tall. It was full and healthy. It started losing leaves and then whole branches. It is quite bare. There is mold at the leaf base. I must have over watered it last year, but also found that it was terribly pot bound. I had to cut it out of the pot. I knocked a large amount of tightly bound dirt and transplanted it. It has been in the cool basement for about 7 months in front of a southeast window. I have only watered it twice in that time. It is still producing new leaves...those look healthy, but it still has mold. How do I stop the mold and how can I get it to fill in and be a healthy plant again. Thank you.

ANSWER: Barb,

You have to make sure a jade is very dry before watering again. They are very susceptible to rot caused by overwatering. There is however a fungal infection that can cause problems and the mold sounds like it may be the problem. I suggest that you try spraying the entire plant with Lysol Spray with the can held 12 inches from the plant. You can use name brand or generic. You should be very thorough making sure you get the fronts and backs of all leaves all the way around the plant. Also be sure to get any moldy areas. Do this every 3-4 days for a month and it should clear up the mold and any fungus the plant has. You should also not water the plant until it is dry for at least 5 days. Good luck.

Darlene

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: After the mold is gone, how to I encourage growth to the middle of the plant where it has become so bare?  Thank you again.
Barb

Answer
Barb,

The best thing to do would be to put it outside where it only gets sun in the morning and not in the hot afternoon. The night temperatures must be above 50 degrees consistently before it can go outside.

When it goes outside you should prune it down around the outside. Then give it a dose of water soluble fertilizer (like Miracle Grow) once a month all summer. That will encourage new growth and the increased sun it gets outdoors will also encourage new growth. If you want it to grow indoors you have to set it next to a south facing window with the drapes and blinds open all day and put a spotlight on it with a CFL bulb and keep it on 14 hours a day. That will encourage new growth in the center of the plant. Good luck!!

Darlene