Question
Spikey growths
I have a jade plant which I rescued from a negligent roommate 3 years ago. Two years ago, another roommate plant sat for me for 3 months while I studied abroad and forgot to rotate it, so it has heavier growth on one side. However, it is robust and healthy with almost no dying leaves and I recently began to propagate it. I water it about once a week and it lives in a south facing window.
My question refers to the spikey growths in the photo. These appeared last September, and I initially believed it was going to flower. It did not, but the growths persist and have multiplied. I recently pointed them out to my mother who is an avid gardener, and she thought they looked like roots! That hadn't occurred to me before, but indeed they do. I have no reason to believe that the plant is suffering from root rot - the trunk has no discoloration and the leaves are healthy. I also repotted it this spring - even more reason to believe that the roots are receiving plenty of oxygen.
I appreciate any suggestions!
AnswerAbby,
They are aerial roots. Jades only grwo aerial roots when they are stressed. Usually the cause is over or underwatering or very high humidity. Watering once a week in the winter months is watering too often. Because in the winter the plant goes semi dormant and the roots are not growing due to the shorter leaves. During the winter you are better off watering them well once every 2 weeks. Also never leave it sitting with water in the drain tray as that will cause root rot quickly. The aerial rooots don't hurt anything. You can leave them alone or trimm them off. Good luck!
Darlene
