Jade plants are popular succulents and are extremely easy to raise.
In fact, you can have your own Jade plant collection by propagating this succulent, too!
If you are a long-time Jade plant owner, you will notice some roots forming on the stems.
When you notice these roots, do not worry, as they are harmless.
However, the roots on the stems still point to the fact that your plant needs attention.
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Why Do I See Jade Plant Roots On Stem?
Seeing roots growing on the Jade plant stem is common, especially when you have had your plant for long enough.
The term for these roots that grow from the stem is ‘aerial roots,‘ which are pink or white.
Aerial roots are a subcategory of a unique type called adventitious root.
Adventitious roots refer to roots that grow from any part of the plant body that generally does not grow roots.
Aerial roots play a different role in different plants.
Mostly these roots absorb air, water, and nutrients from the air.
These roots can also provide structural support in some cases.
Generally, aerial roots form on older Jade plant stems as these roots provide plant support by propagation.
These roots crop up when the succulent grows in humid conditions without water for a long.
Aerial roots help the succulents absorb water from their environment.
When the plant does not receive enough water, it begins to look for other ways to hydrate itself, causing these roots to grow on the stem.
The aerial roots are your plant’s way of telling you that it needs more water.
You will also notice that when the plant does not receive enough sunlight, it stretches upwards.
Aerial roots will also begin to form when the plant does not get the sunlight that it needs.
However, in most cases, these roots do not indicate an underlying condition.
These roots might turn up without any reason, too.
Sometimes, there is no concrete explanation for biological functions, and it is better if you do not disturb the plant too much when you see this happen.
3 Things To Do When You See Jade Plant Roots On Stem
Aerial roots on the succulent stem are nothing to be worried about as they merely remind you to give the plant increased sunlight and water.
When you see the roots, you might want to cut them, especially if they look unruly and ruin the succulent’s overall appearance.
Cutting the roots is not at all necessary.
In some cases, the roots may harden over time if left alone for a while.
Here are three actionable tips for your plant –
1. Water The Plant Deeply
This does not mean you should increase the amount of water or decrease the gap between watering times but water it in a way that the roots get sufficient water.
If you have already watered the plant, you can wait a bit.
Once the soil turns dry, you can carry out this task again.
But do not overwater the plant.
That’s something you want to avoid at any cost.
2. Give Your Plant Plenty Of Sunlight
Succulents naturally grow in dry and arid conditions with lots of sunlight.
If they do not receive the same or at least a good amount of light daily, the roots will begin to appear.
For this reason, you should keep them in a bright spot in your home.
Ideally, I like to keep my succulents near a window so that they can get enough sunlight throughout the day.
So, you can follow the same strategy here for your Jade plant.
3. Dehumidify Your Place
When there is too much moisture in the air, the plant realizes that it can absorb water from the air, too, and therefore grows aerial roots.
This is not particularly problematic, but it is better to dehumidify the air of the room, as succulents prefer dry conditions.
Another reason to dehumidify the room is that when there is too much moisture in the air, the soil remains wet for too long after watering.
It can cause root damage.
If you have taken care of all the above points, do not worry about the aerial roots.
You have done your part in caring for the plant, and the roots will dry up and go away on their own.
You might want to cut the roots once they turn brown and old, as they begin to affect the appearance of the plant.
Do this by using a fairly sharp tool.
Even a fingernail cutter will do the job, as the roots are extremely small.
Cutting off the aerial roots will not harm the plant in any way, so you can do it as you deem fit.
Remember, if you do not wish to remove the roots, that is fine.
It is not necessary but be prepared for the roots to harden or grow thicker, which will make them look like tiny branches.
Aerial roots, while not problematic, can be the first sign of a problem in a succulent.
It is also worth noting that not all succulents grow roots on their stems.
This only happens to succulents with stems.
Succulents that grow fast also tend to develop aerial roots.
If you give your succulent proper sunlight and water, you may not see the roots.
Now, here’s a quick guide on how you can care for a Jade plant with roots on its stems –
| Requirements | Guidelines |
|---|---|
| Sunlight | 4-5 hours of bright and indirect sunlight |
| Water | Water your Jade plant every 7-10 days. |
| Temperature Range | 55ºF - 75ºF |
| Fertilizers | Fertilize the plant with organic fertilizers. Frequency: Every 2-3 months; you may increase the frequency if the plant is relatively big. |
How To Grow A Jade Plant From A Broken Stem?
Propagating a Jade plant is one the easiest tasks, almost as easy as growing the plant itself.
You can grow a Jade plant from a broken stem the same way you can propagate from a stem cutting.
Ensure that the broken stem is fresh and strong so that it can grow into a new plant.
- Separate the stem cutting from the broken stem. Use a cutting tool that is clean so that it does not damage the plant.
- Salvage the healthy part of the plant so that there is enough space for the roots to grow.
- You will see that there will be a few leaves attached to the stem. Leave a few leaves on the plant’s stem itself so that the new jade plant will have more leaf joints.
- Leaving the leaves on the stems will increase the chances of more roots, as the new roots will grow from these leaves. The success of the propagation rates will be high if the leaf joints are there on the stem.
- After the broken stem is cut from the good part, let the callus form over the bottom part of the stem. During this time, place the cutting on a paper towel and let it rest for a couple of days.
- Do not water the cutting during this time, and let the callus form over the bottom of the stem.
- When the callus is formed, plant the cutting in a soil mix suitable for succulents.
Follow these steps and watch how your new Jade plant forms over the next few weeks!
FAQs
Yes, Jade plants are one of the easiest plants to propagate.
It is even possible to regrow a new plant from a broken jade plant stem.
The steps to propagate are quite easy to follow, and you can do so without prior experience with propagating.
The roots of the Jade plant are small and shallow.
They are better kept in smaller pots; planting Jade plants in bigger pots can lead to overwatering.
Jade plants also do not need to be repotted often.
Usually, aerial roots are meant to stay above the soil level as they are indicators of a need the plant wants to fulfill.
It would be better to propagate a Jade plant from a stem cutting rather than plant the aerial roots.
When succulents experience root rot, they start drooping, turning yellow and mushy.
When you notice this happening, lift the plant gently from its pot and examine its roots.
If the root rot has set in, the plant’s roots will turn dark brown or black.
If this is not treated immediately, your plant will not survive.
If you have a stem cutting, allow the cutting to rest on a paper towel for at least 2-3 days until a callus has formed over the bottom of the cutting.
Then fill a shallow container with succulent soil mix and place the stem cutting.
You will soon notice that roots have started growing from the cutting.
Over To You
So, are you worried about the Jade plant roots on the stem?
Well, you don’t have to think about it too much!
It’s just a natural behavior from the plant, and you should enjoy this little magic from nature.
In case you are still not sure about it or have any queries, please let me know in the comments.
I will try to resolve them for you.
If you liked the information provided in this guide, do consider sharing it with your friends and family.
Hi- my large jade plant’s branches grew too much to 1 side, & it broke at the soil level. It has rooted in a glass within a box that supports the branches. With a delay in repotting, the ‘new’ roots have discolored & for the 1st time there are aerial roots. I had hoped to save my jade intact (but how to balance it?), but now I think there are fewer options, and I’m very thankful to have come across your article & the opportunity to share the situation and ask for advice. I can provide photos if helpful. Thank you!
Hi Kathy,
As you rightly said, it’s quite difficult to revive a broken plant.
I think the best thing to do in such a case is to prune some of the branches and root them in water or soil.
My 30-year-old jade plant has root rot. I noticed this three years ago. I started cutting off large portions and have several successful large jade plants from those cuttings.
Now, I have the jade in a new pot. Last spring I removed it from the soil, cut away all the dead roots and repotted it. Unfortunately, this was not successful. I still am having some softening of the large branches, and it seems they go one at a time.
How can I save the plant? I believe I can cut all the large branches off above the soil line and then repot them after they dry at the cut.
Is this possible? Because the large cuttings I took initially have lived and become lovely, healthy plants it makes sense that I can do that with the remaining plant branches.
HELP, please. Sincerely, Jill Nudo
Hey Jill,
Thank you for sharing the issue in detail.
Firstly, you should correct your watering schedule. Do not water this plant unnecessarily.
Let the soil dry out completely before watering.
As for the current issue, do not cut off too many branches at this point. It will harm your plant and slow down the entire recovery process.
Try to revive the main plant by providing more dry soil, changing your watering schedule, and allowing enough sunlight and airflow around the plant.
If you feel the plant won’t survive even after these processes, you can surely consider pruning and planting more branches at that stage.
For now, you can perform light pruning on this plant.
Love the information
Thank you, Barb!
I’m glad you liked this guide.