Question
Help.  I have been all over the net and nothing is really answering my question.  I have a very old jade plant that was given to us.  Its 40 years old and its just gorgeous.  We normally take it outside but this year my husband just thought it was too much trouble since its so huge and we decided to just leave it inside. It takes two people to lift it. It is in a west window with no blinds or shades so we thought it would be ok.  

For the last couple years we had it in a south facing window during the winter and it actually bloomed. Then we moved.  Now we have no south facing windows.  

Here is the problem.  I started to get a lot of leaf drop.  Then I started to notice mold spots on some of the leaves.  I took the leaf to the nursery down the street and they said its environmental and to move it to a better location.  Easier said than done.  The good news is that there is no root rot and I have been wiping the mold off with rubbing alcohol.  I bought a grow light thinking that the extra light might help until the leaves outside fall off and allow the jade to get more light.....I just don't know if I am doing enough.  I read somewhere that a fungicide could help?  

We have city water.  We water it every 7-10 days and this jade plant has three huge trunks.  The one in the middle is the size of a small dinner plate.....ANY ADVISE....help me save this plant!

Sincerely,

Kari

Answer
Kari,

My best advise is to leave the grow light on at least 16 hours a day and keep it within 12 inches of the plant. I would not spray it with a fungicide, jades are very sensitive to any chemicals. I do reccommend that you cut back the watering to every 14 to 21 days. Jades will die from too much water sooner than from too little. You might try spraying Lysol spray in the air around and above the plant on an every 2 day basis as long as you see any signs of that mold. But do not spray it actually on the plant. It will kill funguses in the air. If you have an east window that would get more light that might be a better location for it. I have an older jade that I keep in my east facing bedroom window. The rubbing alcohol will not hurt the plant but keeping it dryer should get rid of the mold.  Good  luck!

Darlene