What To Do With Fallen Jade Leaves?

Are your Jade plant leaves falling off?

The fallen Jade leaves can be used for propagation, provided they are in fine condition and not damaged. This plant supports leaf propagation, which means you can encourage new growth with the help of leaves.

Nevertheless, you must follow the right propagation method to root the leaves successfully. If you don’t follow the correct way, the leaves will turn mushy and decay in a few days.

So, let’s learn more about it in the following guide.

Source – Reddit

What To Do With Fallen Jade Leaves?

The fallen Jade leaves can be used for leaf propagation. This is the best way to utilize these leaves. However, the leaves should be free from any damage or fungal/bacterial problems for propagation.

Here’s what the plant expert at Wisconsin University says about the Jade plant leaf propagation –

Jade plant is especially easy to propagate from stem or leaf cuttings. In the wild or when planted outdoors in mild climates, leaves or pieces of plant that break off and fall to the ground will root in a few weeks.

Susan Mahr, University of Wisconsin – Madison

If the plant is undergoing such issues, don’t use the fallen leaves for propagation. The affected leaves will not root appropriately and might spread the fungus into the fresh soil.

Other than that, you can use the dropped leaves as mulch. But you will have to dry the leaves before using them. Alternatively, you can put them in your compost pit.

Here’s a quick chart to know how to use these leaves – 

Leaf Condition	Uses
Fresh Leaves	Mulch, Compost, Tea Preparation, Leaf Propagation.
1 Or 2 Days Old Leaves	Mulch, Compost, Tea Preparation. You may try propagating them, but the success rate will be low.
More Than 2 Days Old Leaves	Mulch, Compost, Tea Preparation
Damaged Leaves	Mulch, Compost
Fungus Affected Leaves	Discard

How To Propagate Fallen Jade Leaves

Since propagation is the most effective way to use these leaves, you can use the following step-by-step method. 

Here’s how to propagate Jade plant leaves – 

1. Collect The Leaves

For this process, you can collect as many leaves as possible. This is because the leaf propagation method doesn’t guarantee 100% success. In fact, you will only see a few leaves propagating roots through this process.

So, it’s better to have more leaves to increase the probability of successful rooting in some of the leaves.

2. Dry The Collected Leaves

Now, this is an important step in this propagation process. 

When you collect the fallen leaves, they must be dried out completely before placing them in the soil or damp paper. This step allows the cut part to dry out and form a callus over the period. 

Eventually, the cut area gets sealed with new tissues, preventing rotting and fungus issues. Therefore, you should allow the leaves to callus over for at least 3-4 days. You can keep them longer, but it will not make much difference. 

The leaves can be kept in a tray or paper towel to callus over. Do not place them in direct sun, though. You don’t want to turn them crisp brown in this process. 

3. Place The Leaves In A Pot

Place them in the pot carefully when the leaves are callused. The leaves should be placed in such a way that the bottom edge should face the soil. This way, the roots will develop from the edges at the base of the leaves. 

It would be best if you also were careful about the placement angle. Place them at a slanted angle so that the edge of each leaf touches the soil.

Use succulent-specific soil or cactus soil for this job. This type of soil is suitable for the Jade plant and feeds adequate nutrients to new roots.

Alternate Method: Keep them in a damp paper towel until the roots are formed. 

When you put them on the paper, ensure it stays damp throughout the period. Don’t let it dry out completely, as it may hinder the root generation process. This is also why you should put the leaves into the soil, as it stays moist for a long time.

4. Water The Leaves

The next step is to water the leaves, which should be done with a garden spray. Do not water them using a water pipe or any such tool, as you may add more water than required. 

For more safety, water the soil before placing the leaves in it. With this approach, the leaves will not get harmed and will remain in the proper position. 

Note: The soil should be damp and not too wet throughout the process. Hence, the watering spray becomes a more handy tool when opting for the leaf propagation method. 

If you have placed the leaves on the paper towel, spray it gently with water. You may cover the cut or end part until new roots sprout from the base.

You should water the leaves every week without letting them dry out entirely. 

5. Keep The Pot In A Bright Location

Finally, you should keep the whole setup in a bright spot in your home or garden. 

You don’t have to provide direct sunlight to the leaves; just a few hours of indirect sunlight should be fine for leaf propagation. The place should be nicely ventilated so that you can avert the chances of any fungus attack on the leaves. 

Once you’ve placed the pot in the right location, neglect it for 2-3 days. Thereafter, you can observe the growth on alternate days or every week. 

The root formation may take a couple of weeks, so you must wait for the natural process. When the roots begin to form, follow the same watering frequency until you see fresh leaves at the base. 

Do not transplant the leaves at this stage. Wait for the leaves to grow properly, which may take a month or two, depending on the surroundings.

You can watch this entire Jade plant leaf propagation process in the following video –

Expert Tips To Propagate Fallen Jade Leaves

These leaves generally have a low success rate when it comes to propagation.

But there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of success.

Here are a few tips for you –

1. Pick only the ones that are free from any damage.
2. Do not water the soil too often.
3. Let the surface of the leaves touch the soil. This will increase the chances of propagation.
4. Do not add fertilizers to the soil. It can be harsh on delicate leaves.
5. Keep an eye on the leaves and remove the ones that start to wither away.
6. Be patient, and do not expect results overnight. It can take a few weeks for the leaves to sprout new roots.

How To Avoid Leaves From Falling Off Your Jade Plant

Well, you would never want to see your Jade leaves falling off, right? So, how do you avoid this issue?

Let’s find out.

1. Do Not Overwater Your Jade Plant

Overwatering is the most common reason for leaf drop issues in Jade plants.

When you water this plant excessively, the roots cannot soak up all the moisture from the soil. Eventually, it leads to root rot and leaf drop.

Initially, you will see weak leaves falling off the plant, but the issue will spread to more leaves if you don’t act quickly. So, do not overwater the plant. You should only water this plant every week or ten days.

2. Provide Sufficient Sunlight

Jade plant does well in bright and indirect sunlight.

If you keep this plant in a well-lit spot, you will see the difference in the plant’s growth. The leaves will have much better color and appearance, and the plant will produce new branches in no time.

Apart from that, the sunlight also keeps other issues at bay. It will allow the plant to dry out quickly and curb unwanted fungus growth significantly. So, keeping the plant in natural light is an added benefit.

As for the leaf drop problem, you must be patient and work on other standard care practices to avoid the issue.

3. Prune The Plant Regularly

Pruning helps stimulate growth and allows good air circulation in your Jade plant.

Hence, there are dual advantages of light pruning of the plant. Moreover, it will also prevent any leaf drop problems.

Depending on the plant’s growth and external conditions, you should prune this plant every six months. Do not prune the plant if the weather is not conducive.

4. Use Well-Draining Soil

Since the succulents like Jade plants don’t prefer overwatering situations, you should consider using well-draining soil. This soil doesn’t retain water in the container and leaches surplus water from the pot.

You can prepare this soil at home using soil elements like perlite, sand, etc. You should combine them with regular potting mix, homemade compost, or other fertilizer. Use the ratio of 1:1:1 for potting soil, compost, and perlite. If you don’t want to prepare soil mixtures, get commercial mixes meant for succulents and cacti plants.

Besides, you must use a pot with some drainage holes. If feasible, use clay pots instead of ceramic or plastic pots. Clay pots provide better conditions for the plant.

5. Use The Right Fertilizer

Even though indoor plants do not exhibit the same growth as their outdoor counterparts, you should provide them with the right fertilizers.

You can provide compost or vermicompost every month during the growth phase of your Jade plant. Lower the frequency when the winter sets in.

If the plant is small, fertilize it every 2-3 months. Overfertilizing can also lead to leaf drop, root burn, and yellow leaves issues.

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