Question
Hi,

I have a HUGE jade plant my grandmother gave me 3 years ago when she died.  She grew the plant 30 yrs ago from a cutting and when I got it my grandpa had been watering it daily.  I dried the poor plant out and repotted it 3 yrs ago and it has been happy as a clam.  I pruned it back this year to make it a bit more manageable size.  This spring when I moved it back outside I noticed the base of the some of the trunks that come up and go back in the soil are now squishy and have brown goo in them.  I think there are little gnats near the base too but unsure.  How can I treat this?  this plant is a bugger to repot and is in a 30 gal container already so I would prefer to treat in place if I can but if not I will do what I have to.  Thanks!

Answer
Hi Melissa,

I'm afraid your Jade is suffering from root rot. The squishy stems and gnats are good evidence of that. I cannot imagine any Jade is HUGE enough to warrant a 30 gallon container unless the plant is double potted and actually growing inside of a much smaller pot.

Jades do not tolerate soil that stays constantly moist. In a very large pot, the excess soil acts like a large sponge and retains water for a very long time, causing the roots to rot. Because Jades require the soil to dry about halfway down into the pot, it is very difficult to tell when the soil has reached that level of dryness so overwatering is very likely with a very large pot.

Downsizing from a pot that large is very difficult, so perhaps it is best to leave it in that pot. However, you will have to alter your watering routine. First, remove any loose soil that you placed on top of the original rootball. Then, get a dowel or probe to determine when the top half of the soil has dried out. When you water, add just enough so that the top half of the soil is dry again within 7-10 days.

I don't know how extensive the root rot is so I cannot predict how much if any of your Jade will survive. As a precaution, I recommend that you take as many healthy tip cuttings as you can and start rooting them in case your big Jade doesn't make it.

I have written an article on Jade care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who sends a request to me at [email protected].

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com