Why Is My Jade Plant Growing Spikes?

Are there spikes growing on your Jade plant?

Are you seeing them on the plant for the first time?

If you have never seen something like this in your garden, you will surely get puzzled in the beginning.

But thankfully, there is nothing to worry about. 

In the following guide, I have talked about these unique spikes on the Jade plant.

So, let’s check out the guide below.

What Are Jade Plant Spikes?

To tell you the truth, the Jade plant doesn’t grow spikes!

Even though it belongs to the succulents family, it is not going to grow spikes or thorns on its stem or leaves.

So, what are these new white spikes?

These are nothing but aerial roots of the plant.

Yes, the Jade plant does grow roots on the stem, which are slightly different from the regular roots.

Generally, these aerial roots don’t grow long, and they often appear as if there are spikes on the surface of the plant.

However, these are not real spikes.

You can even touch them to confirm their texture.

They will be soft to the touch and will not have sharp edges at all.

Now, this type of root system is quite common in indoor as well as outdoor plants.

And more importantly, these roots do not cause any problems to the plant.

Yes, they may not look great on the plant, but they won’t cause any harm either.

In fact, these roots help the plant collect more resources from the environment.

Why Is My Jade Plant Growing Spikes?

As mentioned earlier, the spikes you see on the Jade plant are aerial roots.

The reason why you get to see them is because of the lack of watering and sunlight.

Sometimes, the overwatering conditions in the pot can also make the plant produce these types of roots above the surface.

When the standard roots don’t perform their task optimally, the plant does send out aerial roots on the stem.

It might happen in both conditions, i.e., underwatering as well as overwatering.

However, the most likely cause of these new roots is going to be the underwatering issue.

When you don’t water the Jade plant for a long time, it comes under stress.

This stress signal makes the plant produce aerial roots, which act as a supportive system for the plant.

These new roots absorb moisture and nutrients from the air and keep the plant alive for some time.

But it’s not a permanent solution for the plant.

If you don’t water it at all, it will not survive.

So, make sure you water the plant adequately and regularly.

As for the other two issues, i.e., overwatering and lack of sunlight, they won’t be the primary cause of the aerial roots on your plant.

Still, you shouldn’t rule them out.

See if there is an underlying issue with the plant and try to fix it as soon as possible.

What To Do With Jade Plant Spikes?

So, what should one do when one sees such roots on the plant?

Should you remove them entirely?

Let’s find out below.

1. Let Them Be On The Plant

Thinking of trimming the aerial roots?

There is no real need to trim them off the plant.

You can keep growing them on the plant and continue to do their job without any issues.

But if you feel they don’t look pleasing to the eyes, you can surely remove them with scissors.

While using the scissors, make sure you don’t scrape the surface of the stem.

Perform this procedure gently.

However, after pruning these aerial roots, you should water the plant thoroughly.

Don’t let it dehydrate ever. 

If you don’t follow the right watering schedule, the plant will continue to produce these roots over the period.

2. Cut The Branch And Transplant It In A New Pot

If you are a true gardener, you can always make the best out of any situation.

In this case, you can use these adventitious roots for propagation. 

Yes, these roots are excellent for propagation and will grow like normal roots once you put them in the soil.

Now, here is a step-by-step guide to follow this process – 

1. Select the branches you want to remove from the plant. Make sure these branches have enough aerial roots.
2. Get the pruning shears.
3. Cut the branch in such a way that the roots will remain firm in the soil.
4. Get a new pot and place the branches in the soil mix.
5. Water the pot well.

The new plants will emerge from these branches in a few weeks.

So, keep an eye on them.

You can sprinkle some water on them if the soil dries out within 4-5 days.

Once these plants grow bigger, you can transplant them into individual pots.

You can also gift these plants to your friends and relatives.

How To Avoid Spikes On Your Jade Plant?

It’s a natural process, and there is very little you can do to avoid this problem.

But in general, there are a few ways through which you can eliminate the possibility of growing spikes or aerial roots on your Jade plant. 

Let’s take a look at them below.

1. Add Fertilizers To The Plant

The succulents do not require regular fertilizers, but you will need to feed them at least once or twice a year.

Since you have aerial roots on the Jade plant, it means the plant may not be receiving an adequate amount of nutrients from the soil.

To fix this problem, you will have to provide some fertilizers to the plant.

2. Your Plant Needs Decent Sunlight

Yes, that’s correct!

As mentioned in the guide above, the lack of natural light can also lead to the aerial roots in your Jade plant.

Meanwhile, sunlight is essential for the growth of the plant too.

So, you must move the pot to a sunny location if it’s sitting in a dark corner of the room.

3. Fix The Watering Frequency

Lastly, take care of the plant by watering it correctly.

The Jade plant is native to desert conditions, so you will have to mimic similar conditions in your home.

Of course, you can’t make changes to the atmosphere, but you can definitely make the necessary adjustments to the watering schedule.

How often should you water the Jade plant?

It all depends on the moisture in the soil and weather conditions.

However, if your plant is growing well, you can water it every 7-10 days.

During summer, you can increase the watering frequency and water it every 4-5 days if needed.

So, these are the few things you need to consider if you want to avoid aerial roots to a certain extent.

In the next section, you will find some FAQs related to this topic.

FAQs