Question
Hi,
I own two jade plants that seem to be dying.  The leaves are shriveling up and then fall off.  The stems feel hard and are hanging over the edge of the pot.  The good leaves are also falling off without any reason.  I thought maybe it had root rot so i quit watering and now don't know.   Should I repot the remaining good stems?  Please help as I love the plant and don't want them to die.  Thank you

Answer
Bev,

Root rot will not be resolved by stopping watering for a couple of days. It will take 6 months of very careful minimal watering and lots of sun to heal your plants. First lay the plant on it's side and carefully gently remove it from the pot and examine the roots. If you do not see a lot of fine roots and the roots are not holding the soil together in the shape of the pot them you are right you have serious root rot. Is the soil very wet? If it is you need to get what is left of the plant into some dryer soil. If the soil is not wet and the plant has some roots leave it alone and put it back in the pot without disturbing the roots that are left. Save the roots that it does have. If there are almost no roots and the soil is wet and smells sour then you need new soil. Get some cactus soil at Walmart or another garden center and a bag of extra perlite and mix 2 parts of cactus soil with 1 part perlite and repot what is left in that soil back into the same pot or a smaller pot. DO NOT PUT IT IN A LARGER POT! The pot must have a drain hole and a drain tray under it and it must not be a self watering pot.

Then you should water it lightly from the top after you have finished repotting. An hour after watering any time you water always empty the drain tray of all excess water. Jades should never be left with water sitting in the drain tray. They hate wet feet. It causes root rot easily. Then do not water the plant again for 2 weeks or pick up a water meter at the garden center and do not water it until it reads dry for 3 days all the way around the plant. Water meters are under $10.00.  Move it to the sunniest south facing window you have and leave the drapes and blinds open all day. If you have more questions write again. Good luck.

Darlene