Question
I have an old, 20+ years, large Jade plant.  I live in Denver, CO and some summers I put the Jade outdoors.  This summer I did not because I was traveling and did not want it unattended. Last summer I repotted the plant and put it into a slightly larger pot - it sure needed it as it was very root bound. It is now in a 12 diameter pot and the pot and plant are more than 3' tall.  I will e-mail you a picture as well.

I am familiar with its habit of loosing a few leaves a week.  However, in the past month weeks it has started dropping lots of leaves.  Just now I counted more than 70 leaves that it has dropped in the past 3 weeks.  Most of the dropped leaves are desicated but 15 - 20 are fresh.  

The plant looks healthy, covered with stiff shiny green leaves.  I water once or twice a month with tap water and usually water until some appears in the saucer. When I touch the plant 2 or 3 fresh leaves fall off.  One lower branch of the plant is becoming more horizontal, rather than more vertical.

Can you help me understand what is occuring and what, if anything, I should do?  I love this plant and am worried about it.   Thanks for your help.

Answer
Susan,

The sun is high in the sky right now and not shining in windows well so most likely it is just not getting enough light. As they get older it's lower branches will drop a bit and tend to be more horizontal. It is a sign of it's age.

If you are going to be home for awhile you might put it out in it's usual location. Not too sunny so it doesn't sunburn.

The only other reason would be too much or too little  water. This  plant needs to dry out well between waterings but it needs watered at least once a week.

Good luck.
Darlene