Is your Jade plant suffering from transplant shock?
Many plants experience some degree of shock when they are first transplanted, and this is especially true for Jade plants.
It is native to arid environments and not used to being moved around. So, how do you recover your Jade from this issue?
Let’s find out in the following guide.
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Why Does Jade Plant Suffer Transplant Shock?
The Jade plant suffers transplant shock primarily because of the sudden environmental change.
When you transplant the plant, you are effectively moving it to a new environment. The new environment might not have the same temperature, humidity, or light intensity as the old one.
This sudden change can cause the plant to go into shock.
Other than that, the roots may also get damaged during this process. Some of the leaves and stems may get broken as well.
All of these factors can contribute to transplant shock in Jade plants.
How To Recover Your Jade Plant From Transplant Shock
The process of recovering your Jade plant from transplant shock can be divided into two parts –
- Improving the environmental conditions
- Providing the right care
Now, let’s look at the detailed instructions.
1. Provide Enough Light
Jade plants need a lot of bright light to grow properly.
If you are transplanting the plant to a new location, it should be well-lit. Although you shouldn’t be placing it in direct sun, it should still get plenty of bright light.
If it doesn’t get enough light, the plant will take longer to revive from this issue. Moreover, the leaves will also turn yellow and eventually drop off.
2. Maintain The Right Temperature
Jade plants prefer warm temperatures.
I know it’s the most tricky part of this process.
But the ideal temperature range for this plant is between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Of course, it won’t mind if the temperature falls a few degrees below or above this range. But you shouldn’t let it stay outside this range for too long.
Since the plant is already under stress, sudden temperature changes can further damage it.
3. Do Not Move Your Jade Plant Frequently
When the plant is already not doing well, it doesn’t make sense to move it around frequently.
If you have to move it, do it right after the transplant. This will allow the plant to focus on recovering from the transplant shock. And you can certainly minimize the shock effects.
4. Keep The Soil Moist
During the recovery phase, the plant requires a good amount of water.
Water helps in two ways –
- It keeps the plant hydrated.
- It also provides the necessary nutrients for the plant to grow.
So, you should never keep the plant dehydrated for long at this stage.
Similarly, I don’t recommend adding too much water to the plant. It can damage the roots and further delay the recovery process. To avoid this, follow a watering schedule and keep an eye on the soil as well.
5. Add Epsom Salt To The Soil
This compound is known to promote the growth of new roots.
It also provides the necessary nutrients for the plant to grow. So, adding it to the soil can help accelerate the recovery. You don’t need a lot of Epsom salt for this purpose, though!
Here’s an informative video on how to use it for your plant –
Remember, Epsom salt contains magnesium sulfate. And too much of this chemical can damage your plant. So, use it sparingly.
6. Fertilize The Plant Sparingly
This should be done once you see some sign of recovery.
That’s because you don’t want to damage the new roots with too much fertilizer.
Initially, let the plant grow and stabilize itself. Then, you can start fertilizing it sparingly.
As for the fertilizer, you can use homemade compost or any other fertilizer of your choice. It will provide the necessary nutrients during the rebuilding phase.
If you’re not really sure about the fertilizers, do not add anything. You can add them later on when the Jade plant recovers completely.
7. Wait For New Growth
Sometimes, no matter what you do, the plant might need more time.
If that happens, you can wait for new growth. This is a slow process, but it’s worth the wait.
It can take up to 3-4 weeks for the plant to start showing new growth. But it all depends on the intensity of the transplant shock.
So, I suggest you allow the plant to grow at its own pace. Soon, you will see good results for your Jade plant!
What Is The Best Way To Transplant A Jade Plant?
Are there any special tips or techniques you should remember while transplanting a Jade plant?
Of course, every plant is different, and you might need to adjust the process according to your plant’s needs.
But do use the following steps to avoid this issue in your Jade plant –
- Tap the pot gently to loosen the plant and soil around the roots.
- Remove the topsoil from the pot. You don’t have to remove it completely but do it as much as possible.
- Carefully lift the plant from the pot.
- If it’s not coming out easily, you can flip the pot and tap it lightly at the bottom. This should help remove the plant.
- Prepare the new pot with fresh soil mix.
- Place the plant in this new pot and backfill the pot with fresh soil.
- Tamp the soil gently to remove any air pockets.
- Water the plant well and place it in a shady spot.
If you follow these steps properly, you will not have any issues with your plant.
Now, let’s check out the FAQs below.
FAQs
Yes, you can water your plant after repotting.
However, don’t water the Jade plant if the soil is already wet. You don’t want your plant to be sitting in water.
You can transplant the Jade plant once it outgrows its current pot.
As for the season, you should avoid performing this task before and during the winter. The best time to transplant your Jade is early spring or late fall.
It depends on the size of your plant as well as the water content in the pot.
If you have a small plant, it can go for about two weeks without water. The larger plant can survive up to 3-4 weeks without water.
Yes, you can use Epsom salt to help your plant recover from transplant shock.
It encourages the plant to produce more chlorophyll, which is vital for its growth.
You can transplant Jade cuttings the same way as you would a regular plant.
Place the cutting in well-draining soil and water it regularly. That’s all you have to do when transplanting Jade cuttings.
Also, do not overwater the pot even if you don’t see any growth in the initial weeks. It will take some time to root these cuttings in the soil.
Over To You
As you know, transplant shock is fairly common in Jade plants.
But if you follow the above steps, it should help fix this issue.
Meanwhile, if you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you!
Do share this guide with your plant-loving friends and family members.
Amidita Romero says
Hello, so I am a newbie to gardening.
My boyfriend brought me a piece of his Grandpa’s jade plant from California. little did he know during the transporting and time that he had broken the tree off that we were creating a callus on the stem. He brought me the plant and I put it in water hoping it would grow roots. It has grown a great bush of roots and now I am going to transfer it to a pot. The Roots were very white and now are turning a slight brown does that mean root rot has already begun?
Harshad Sawant says
Hey Amidita,
You don’t have to worry about the brown roots in this case. Some of the roots will turn brown or black as they grow, and it’s a completely natural process.
Pat Catanzarite says
Hi Harshad,
Your information is great and will help.
I have a 50 year old Jade that my Dad started from 1 leaf.
It is 5-foot diameter and 5 feet tall with 3 trunks at least 6 inches in diameter.
It is in a 3-foot round pot that is 3 feet tall.
What is the best way to separate the trunks and plant them into separate pots?
Harshad Sawant says
Hey Pat,
I’m glad you found this guide useful.
Since your plant is quite mature, you will need to use heavy-duty tools like sharp pruning shears or knives to cut the trunks from the main plant. You can watch this video for the demonstration – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjki7YobSvU
Once that’s done, your plant might experience repotting stress. So, refer to the tips mentioned in this guide later. Sometimes, the plant might also drop its leaves after repotting.
I hope it helps! Happy gardening!
Nonie Sanders says
The second picture you show on this page is not a Jade plant. It is not related to Jade plants. It is a succulent but not a jade plant. It is Portulacaria Afra, the Elephant Bush, which is easily confused with jade.
Harshad says
Thanks for the correction, Nonie! I know both of them are two different houseplants, but somehow the appearance of leaves got me confused. Anyway, I appreciate your help in keeping me on the right track!
I have updated the photo accordingly. Thanks again!