Wondering why your Jade plant has no roots?
It’s a common characteristic in plants that are affected by one or many issues.
These issues are the primary reason for the problem.
So, in today’s guide, let’s see how you can resolve these issues and encourage root formation in your plant.
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Why Does My Jade Plant Have No Roots?
Here are the most common reasons that lead to this issue in your Jade plant –
1. Too Much Water In The Pot
Overwatering is the main cause of this issue.
When you water the plant in large quantities or water it continuously, it can have a negative impact on the plant.
Moreover, you will see a lack of growth in the root system of this plant.
The overwatering situation generally creates a lot of stress on the roots, as they can’t extract more than the required amount of water from the soil.
Also, the moisture present in the soil makes things even worse for the tender roots.
The excess moisture will make the roots rot over a period of time.
All these things can limit the growth of roots in this type of plant.
2. Lack Of Nutrients In The Soil
It is the next important cause that can lead to such an issue in your plant.
When you don’t fertilize the plant well, it will not show any growth in existing roots.
However, if there are no roots in your Jade plant, it could also mean you have added too many fertilizers in a short period.
When you overfertilize the plant, it can cause root burn issues.
As a result, the existing roots might get damaged, and you won’t see any new roots growth either.
So, you will need to assess the condition of the roots before thinking of using any revival methods listed in the guide below.
3. Inadequate Sunlight
Now, it may not cause a direct impact on the roots, but you will surely see degrowth in the root system.
If you don’t provide enough sunlight to the plant, it won’t grow efficiently.
This may weaken the root system, which will result in low or no growth in the roots.
The sunlight also helps in drying the surface moisture from the soil in the pot.
So, if you have been growing this plant in a slightly shaded place with the overwatering situation in the pot, you will see some issues with the root system.
4. Harsh Weather Conditions
Similar to sunlight and nutrient issues, your plant might have an issue with the harsh weather conditions in your place.
Whether it’s extreme heat or chilly weather, the Jade plant won’t do well in this type of environment.
The plant needs a slightly warm environment so that it can display decent growth in leaves, stems, and roots.
If you have been growing this plant in inappropriate conditions, you will see issues with the roots.
This generally happens along with the excess watering condition.
So, you will have to confirm the issue properly.
5. You’re Trying To Root The Jade Cuttings In Soil
Apart from the above issues, inappropriate rooting can also be the reason for no roots in the Jade plant.
When you try to root the cuttings in the soil, the soil or environment around them may not be suitable.
Due to this, you won’t see any roots at the bottom of the cuttings.
Eventually, you will have to discard them, as they will begin to rot in some time.
As you can see, most of the above issues lead to one thing, i.e., excess water in the soil.
So, let’s how you can deal with this problem and get some roots growing on the plant.
5 Things To Do For Rootless Jade Plant
If you don’t have any other option than rooting the current plant or cuttings, you can use some of the suggestions shared below.
Also, these suggestions would be useful if you see any degrowth in the overall root system of the Jade plant.
Do follow them precisely and see how your plant responds to them.
Alright, now, let’s quickly take a look at them.
1. Keep The Soil A Little Moist For The Root Formation
You don’t want to grow your plant in dry soil, and this applies to the cuttings as well.
If they stay in the same soil for a long, you will definitely have trouble growing roots for such plants.
Instead, you should make sure that the soil remains moist all the time.
It shouldn’t be completely wet, though!
If you don’t know how to identify the difference, you can put a finger in the soil.
When the soil is wet, you might feel more moisture than the usual condition.
In this case, you should avoid watering the plant.
In other conditions, you can surely water the plant or cuttings and continue to observe the growth.
But as I’ve mentioned earlier, you need to avoid overwatering in this plant.
If there is an overwatering situation in the pot, you should transplant the plant immediately.
2. Keep The Plant Near Sunlight
There are many advantages of keeping the plant near a place where it can receive ample sunlight.
This plant doesn’t require direct sunlight, but it will grow relatively well when it gets natural light for at least a couple of hours in the morning.
So, try to look for a place in your home that offers such conditions for the plant.
If it’s not possible, you can keep this plant under an artificial light source for a few hours.
3. Do Not Root Your Plant In Winter
Winter is not the right season for any type of gardening activity.
It’s that time of the year when you can take a break from these tasks.
If you still want to root the plant in these conditions, you should try to do it in warm places like kitchens.
Kitchens generally have a warmer environment than most other rooms in the home.
So, it will give your plant a better chance to root even in a cold environment.
4. Root The Cuttings In Water
Yes, you should always try to root the cuttings in water.
Even though you can root your cuttings in the soil, water is often considered a better medium for this process.
When you keep the cuttings in water, it allows you to have a look at the progress over the period.
If anything goes wrong, you can quickly make the adjustments and fix the temporary issues.
But the same can’t be done with the cuttings in the soil.
You will never come to know how they are doing under the pot unless, of course, the rot spreads to the stems or new shoots arise from them.
Either way, you just have to guess the condition of the cuttings, which is obviously not the best thing to do.
Hence, you should go for water propagation only.
Note: Do not forget to change the water every 3-4 days.
It’s a very important step and needs to be followed diligently.
5. Cut The Rotten Part And Root Again
Now, if you have planted the cuttings in the soil, you might come across a situation where they begin to rot.
Well, you don’t have to panic in this situation!
Do not throw away the existing cuttings at this stage because they may still be useful for the next round of rooting.
If they are large enough, you can remove the damaged part and put them back in the soil or water.
However, it’s quite necessary for you to cut off the rotten part.
Do not leave any rotten surfaces on these cuttings, as it might cause the issue to bounce back in them.
In the end, the new cuttings won’t grow at all, and you will feel disappointed too.
Quick Tip: If you’re struggling to root your cuttings in soil or water, you can use some fresh leaves for the same purpose.
This plant also allows root propagation through leaves, though you should root it using the soil propagation method.
Now, let’s have a look at the FAQs below.
FAQs
It can take up to a week or two to root the Jade cuttings.
Sometimes, it may also take more than a couple of weeks to see any growth in them.
When the plant has no root, you should examine the condition and try to revive it as soon as possible.
Furthermore, you should remove some fresh branches and propagate them in the soil or water.
Yes, the Jade plant does have shallow roots, but they may spread quite a bit if you plant them outside in a garden.
You can use root hormones to encourage the formation of the root in this plant.
This should be done before placing them in the soil or water.
Along with that, you should ensure that the cuttings receive optimum conditions for this process.
Yes, you can root it in water, and that’s probably the best way to root this plant.
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