Question
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Thanks for your response!...Do you think that if I cut off the bad parts, that it will stop this "rotting" of the plant?  because it seems that it is spreading through the stems...maybe to cut off the bad parts, this will help?....let me know what you think
thanks!(& what kind of porous potting mix would you recommend?)------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Help!  I have a jade house plant that I have had for 10+ years.  I have had it since it was a "baby" and it has grown to be very large and full.  In the last few months, the leaves have been pulled at (my 1 year old) and then falling off....and the worst is now, the "tree trunk" part is becoming squishy and then a green powder appears and it just shrivels up.  This "disease" has moved from each small leaf part and is now in the main trunk and i really want to save it.  What is this?  Can I save my plant?
Please Help!
Daria Dzwil
Answer -
Hi Daria,

I am afraid that the situation isnot good, if the main stem has become soft. That means that it has rotted out and there is no treatment or cure. Without knowing more about your plant I cannot tell you why this has ocurred.

If there are any healthy stems left, you can cut them off, let them heal over night, and then root them in a porous potting mix.

Let me know if you have any questions about this.

Will Creed

Answer
Hi Daria,

If you can post a photo to me at my address below, I might be able to make a better determination.

In general, anything above the rotted stem will eventually die. Nutrients and moisture move from the roots through the stems to the rest of the plant. The nutrients and moisture cannot get past any rotted tissue.

Because I don't know the cause of the rotted stems, I cannot say for sure that removing the rotted portions will lead to the recovery of the rest of the plant. But it is worth a try.

A good porous potting mix for rooting healthy cuttings would be a mix of three quarters cactus mix and one quarter peat moss.

Will Creed
[email protected]