Is your Jade plant suffering from the stem rot issue?
Succulents like the Jade plant are prone to this problem, and it is definitely a concerning factor in your indoor garden.
If you neglect it completely, you might lose your plant in a week or two.
So, how do you deal with this issue?
In the following guide, let's learn more about the ways you can fix the stem rot in your Jade plant.
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What Is Jade Plant Stem Rot?
As mentioned earlier, stem rot is a common problem in succulents.
It often occurs because of the fungal activity on the plant.
When there is too much moisture in the soil, the fungus grows on the surface of the soil.
The same fungus spreads on the plant in the later stages, and it primarily targets the tender parts of the plant.
This mainly includes the stem and branches.
It may also attack the leaves, though the first sign of attack will appear on the above parts only.
The Jade plant stem rot can also occur because of the pot's existing root rot condition.
In case you don't know, root rot weakens the root system of the plant.
Therefore, the roots don't work as effectively as they should.
In the end, the water remains in the pot for too long, which makes the whole plant weaker in a few days.
Ultimately, you will see the rot on the stem as well.
How To Identify Stem Rot In Jade Plant
When the plant suffers from stem rot, you will see it affecting the entire plant.
The plant will simply look dull.
Moreover, when you look at the stem, it will probably appear dark brown or black.
It may also have some spots on its surface.
The other way to confirm stem rot in the Jade plant is by touching it.
When you touch the affected plant's stem, it will feel softer than usual.
This is a great indication of possible stem rot in your plant.
How To Fix Stem Rot In Jade Plants
Here's a step-by-step guide to addressing this issue in your Jade plant -
1. Check The Damage On The Stem
When you want to confirm and understand the extent of damage caused by stem rot, you should carefully look at the stem.
Check for any spots or dampness on it.
If the stem rot has already set in, the stem might feel soft.
It will also lose its sturdiness due to this fungal attack.
So, you need to check for these signs as well.
2. Remove The Jade Plant From Soil
Once you confirm the stem rot, you can remove the plant from the pot.
Since it's likely to be an overwatering problem, you will have to take the plant out of the pot for further inspection.
This will give you an even better idea of the possibility of root rot problems in your plant.
3. Examine The Root System
Removed the plant from the pot?
Great!
Now, take a look at the root system.
Do you see any damaged and dead roots on the plant?
If you are unable to find any such roots, try to remove some of the dirt attached to them.
This will help in examining more deeply inside the root system.
If you still can't find anything, you can simply repot the plant with some dry soil.
But if you do notice dark brown and black roots in wet soil, it's a confirmation of the root rot problem.
For further validation, you can touch some of the roots.
Like the stem rot issue, the roots will also feel soft and mushy if there is an underlying root rot problem in the plant.
4. Prune The Rotten Roots From The Plant
Now, it's time to get into action mode!
Get sharp scissors because you will need to prune the damaged roots from the plant.
This is an important step in fixing the root rot problem, and it will eventually help fix the stem rot issue.
So, get rid of the dead roots with the help of scissors.
However, do not perform hard pruning at this stage.
The idea here is to make the plant produce new roots, as these roots will extract water and nutrients more efficiently from the soil.
5. Transplant The Jade Plant
The next step is to transplant the plant.
Since you don't want the plant to sit in the same wet soil, it's a good idea to go ahead and perform the transplant method.
In this method, you will need to place the plant in a new pot with a fresh soil mix.
Both these things are essential because they provide a better environment for the plant.
Also, it helps in eliminating the risk of spreading the fungus issue to other parts of the plant.
While transplanting the Jade plant, make sure you prepare a mix of well-draining soil.
If you are not sure about the mix, you can also get cacti-friendly soil for this plant.
This type of soil is good for the Jade plant and is easily available at garden centers and online stores.
6. Water The Plant Well
It's time to water the plant!
As you have used dry soil during the above process, it's essential to provide enough water to the plant at this stage.
Later, you can reduce the watering frequency and quantity, as the succulents don't like a lot of water.
Note: In case the plant doesn't look in great condition, you should be careful while watering it.
Do not pour too much water in the beginning if you feel it's struggling.
7. Keep It In Sunlight For A Few Days
Sunlight works in two ways, i.e., it allows the plant to get enough light for photosynthesis and keeps the soil dry for long.
So, move your plant to a place in your house where it can receive indirect sunlight for a few hours.
You can also keep it in direct sunlight, but it shouldn't be too harsh.
The Jade plant will not enjoy too much direct sunlight either.
8. Use Fungicides On The Affected Parts Of Your Plant
Now, let's get to the main action!
For this part, you can use some fungicide to spray on the affected parts of the Jade plant.
The fungicides will immediately stop the spread of fungus on the plant.
However, you will have to spray it a couple of times to see the actual effect of the solution.
Meanwhile, you can also make use of organic fungicides like neem oil.
9. Check The Condition Of The Plant Weekly
The bad thing about the fungal issue is it can make a comeback if it gets the desired condition.
Hence, you should always keep an eye on how your plant does after the transplant and fungicide spraying process.
You will have to do this inspection for a couple of weeks.
10. Propagate The Branches In Another Pot
This is a bonus tip!
As you know, fungal attacks can spread pretty quickly and cause severe damage to the plant.
If you want to keep a Jade plant in the house, you should propagate a few branches from the main plant.
You can have multiple Jade plants with this method.
Overall, these are the few steps you need to perform to fix the stem rot issue.
If you perform these steps correctly, it should help revive the plant.
FAQs
Yes, plants can surely recover from this issue, though you will need to be quick in your action.
If you delay the spraying and transplanting process, the probability of the plant's survival will decrease significantly.
You will have to uproot the plant and check the root system thoroughly.
This is the best way to know whether your plant has root rot or not.
The other sign is the plant's appearance.
If it doesn't look fresh and the growth seems stunted, it might be suffering from the root rot problem.
No, you should never use such soil for other garden plants.
You shouldn't even put it in the compost bin, as the fungus may continue to grow in this new medium.
And when you feed the same to your plants, it will damage the plants again.
In this case, you will have to concentrate on the factors causing such problems in your plant.
Once you fix these issues, you should provide good care to the plant.
The Jade plant can live up to 100 years, depending on its growing conditions.
kim says
I have a Jade plant that has been with me most of my life. She is 48 years old. I recently did have a problem with rot 2 years ago, transplanted her, with the assistance of two other persons (she is fairly large) and she seemed to be doing well, until a few months ago. I am unable to find the right size pot for her, clay, in my small, rural area, and looking on line I am having a heck of a time. How can i take her out of the pot since she is so large to work on her? I am sick to my stomach. I have had to amputate some areas recently and I am sick. Please help me. I have never had a problem until two years ago. It has been a constant battle and I am scared.
Harshad says
Hey Kim,
Firstly, you don't have to worry too much about the pot size, as long as it is big enough for the roots and has drainage holes.
If you can't find a clay pot, any type of pot will do.
To take your Jade plant out of the pot, remove any excess soil from around the roots.
Gently loosen the roots and then lift the plant out of the pot.
Once the plant is out, you can then inspect the roots and make any necessary cuts or amendments.
If you are concerned about the rot, remove any affected roots and then replant in a fresh, sterile potting mix.
Water well and keep an eye on the plant, but it should recover given time.
Also, get some help from someone when transplanting, as the plant is quite large.
I hope that helps! Please let me know if you have any further questions.