Question
QUESTION: I have a wonderful Ming Aralia, which was, until about a week or so ago, quite healthy. I admit that I can become over-attentive to my house plants at times, and given it's past vigor, I thought no harm would come from an extra watering (to flush out salts/deposits before fertilizing). To my dismay, the leaf stems on almost the entire tree were drooping by the next morning.

   I know Mings don't like 'wet feet' so I decided to let it dry out some and see if it would clear up. I used a copper soap fungicide (Concern brand) on the lower trunk letting it seep into the soil and into the roots, as well as the leaves and stems. I made sure that a lot of it seeped into and immediately surrounding the root-ball, which, after days seemed to have no effect, at least none which I could note.

   As the plant worsened, I decided to remove it from the soil it was in and re-pot it in better-draining, sterile soil. After a few days, and with the plant looking worse, (almost all leaves deteriorating rapidly), I took an emergency step and re-potted in a high peat content, well -draining, 'seed-starter' soil. I gently removed the damp roots, and found the soil around them heavy and caked-on, really saturated but not 'muck' like swamp mud or something.

ANSWER: Hi Micah, You are right about them not liking wet feet.  Once the damage is done, the best results come from cutting it back (which may remove all the foliage), letting the soil dry and applying a root stimulator with your regular watering. Put it in a window with bright light and it should re-sprout rather quickly.
By cutting it back, your take some of the pressure off your new developing roots.  You will not need to water often.  Let the soil go fairly dry and never let water stand in the saucer after you water.  If the stem has become soft at the soil surface, discard the plant and buy a new one. As long as the stem is firm, you have a good chance of recovery.  Jim

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QUESTION: It appears that my entire question was not shown. That's okay. I have already applied 'Messenger' and cut back most of the minor stem growth. I found the root ball and very bottom of the stem shedding it's bark, it came off with ease, and underneath I found fresh white roots, (looked brand-new). Despite the fact that the rot did seem to go a bit above the soil line, I buried the Ming in a light 'seed starter' soil, and wet it down with a little more 'Messenger Gold' and water. I can't help but think by the look of the emerging white roots everywhere beneath the old peeling parts, that my Ming may recover despite the damage suffered. The bark line is still cut a little bit above the soil, which worries me. Can nutrients get to the rest of the tree? Or should I fill the soil up to the new bark line? A quick answer may save my Ming. Thank you in advance, once again.

Warmest Regards,
Micah Metts

ANSWER: Hi Micah, I would not bury it deeper, but I would wrap peat moss around the lower trunk as if you were air layering it. Dust the trunk with a rooting hormone, wrap the moist peat moss in plastic and new roots should form there.  We don't risk the trunk rotting further from the soil and if the lower roots fail we'll have the new roots to be planted once developed.  Jim

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QUESTION: My Jade, out of no where, began to droop, (that is, all the major stems, the ones that are tall enough, are bent over, almost as if they cannot hold their own weight.) If this is a disease, what can I do? I am considering attempting to re-pot all the stems, I have various types available, most are light and mainly peat based. I had used a product called 'Messenger' on it recently, apparently a protein which turns on growth signals in plant cells, etc. I also used a 10-54-10, in other words, a bloom or flowering fertilizer, on it. I was told by people running an exemplary plant nursery/store in the wholesale district of NYC that it was fine for jades. They insisted that several of my plants could benefit from this highly acidic fertilizer. (I needed to buy it anyway because I have an African violet and several coleus plants.) I was careful to use less fertilizer than suggested, as I know succulents don't need a lot of fertilization.    

When I saw it in this condition, I thought it needed a good watering, ( though I had been very carefully watering the stems of some transplant jade cuttings almost daily, I was sure to be very narrow in my watering, and only let a small stream of water run down each transplanted stem, not effecting the soil of the entire plant, or so I believe).

When I checked the soil around the plant, w/ the exception of the small areas where the trans-plants were, the soil was bone dry. I felt that I had neglected the Jade as a whole, being so careful to water only the cuttings. So I gave the entire plant a thorough watering, letting any excess water run out of the bottom until it was well drained.    

After the watering the plant did not change at all. It seemed to be as bad as before, no better, no worse. What should I do? Could this be a disease, a fungus, or (I have not changed the soil in this plant since it was acquired over a year and a half ago) would a changing of soil help? Could it be a classic case of built up salt and mineral deposits beating down my plants? I have no idea. Please help. And thank you in advance for your consideration.    

Warm Regards,
Micah Metts

Answer
Hi again, a "weeping" jade plant is usually caused from a watering problem. Too little or too much can result in the loss of feeder roots needed to absorb water. Root or stem rots may have resulted from overwatering.  Accumulated salts usually don't cause this sort of effect.  You now have 2 plants wilting which makes me believe a disease is involved.  Go to your local garden center and try to find Agri-fos by Monterray.  If they don't have that, buy whatever fungicide they recommend to control Phytophora. Apply a soil drench on both plants per label instructions.
Worst case, you may have to root limbs of the jade.  Take the cuttings and let them callous over for 2-3 days before planting.  I'd root them in sand so we limit the possibility of disease.  Jim