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Jade Plant Root Rot [How To Save Your Jade]

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Up close Jade plant with green leaves and words at the top saying Jade plant root rot
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Jade plant root rot can happen quite suddenly, especially if you haven’t been providing the best care, or even worse, neglecting the plant.

Unfortunately beginners and even experienced growers can run into the issue of root rot attacking a Jade plant which can cause all sorts of damage and eventually bring the plant to an end.

So if you suspect your Jade is starting to rot then here are some ways you can identify that it is, what causes it and how you can save the plant after everything is said and done.

What causes root rot in Jade Plants?

The number one cause of root rot in Jade plants will be due to overwatering this succulent and it’s pretty easy to do so.

The second most common way this happens is caused by poor drainage whether it be the soil not draining well or if you’re growing in a container without drainage holes.

Or both.

In any of these scenarios, water is standing in the soil for much longer than needed thus starving the roots of oxygen and not actually allowing your Jade plant to provide water or other nutrients the plant needs.

You may think the more water the better the plant will grow, or maybe you don’t think that but I know a lot of people have that misconception, especially beginners.

Using a container that is too large will also cause the same effects as poor drainage will be had as the soil will stay damp and clumped up as well, another beginner mistake.

With all of that being said, let’s take a look at some of the signs that your Jade plant does have root rot.

Signs of root rot in Jade plants

One of the main signs that you have been overwatering and likely have root rot will be yellow leaves that are soft or mushy.

Other signs can include droopy or wilting leaves, soggy soil, a weird odor coming from the roots, leaves turning black, stunted growth and more.

Now some of these issues might not necessarily mean you have root rot but could be signs something else is going on but for the most part these are things to look out for.

If you notice any of these issues then it’s time to have a look at the roots themselves to confirm whether or not you have rot.

If the roots have turned brown, mushy or easily fall apart in your hands then you do have rot.

The roots should be firm and white if they are healthy so you will definitely want to keep as many of those as you can as mentioned below.

How to save

First you want to remove the plants roots from the soil, carefully.

Next you should use some clean sterile gardening shears to cut away all roots that have turned brown or mushy.

Cut the roots as far back as you need to so that only the white roots remain.

You want to keep any and all white firm roots as these are the healthy ones and will be much needed to provide for the plant as you save it and regrow.

Remove any and all soil off of the roots during this process as well as you want no soil that was affected to be used when repotting.

Next you can treat the roots with a good fungicide solution to ensure the root rot doesn’t spread or reappear as easily when transplanting.

Remove all leaves that have turned yellow and soft or have other discolorations that you know weren’t there before you suspected the plant of having rot.

This will make regrowing much easier as the roots can spend all the resources on fewer leaves instead of unhealthy ones holding it back.

Now you want to let your Jade plant dry out for a day or two.

From here you should get a new container that is only one pot size bigger than the one you were using before at most.

Also you will need some fresh soil that drains really well which can be done by using a succulent and cactus soil mix with perlite added for extra drainage if you choose to do so.

Now fill the container about a third of the way full of that fresh soil and place your Jade plant into the container high enough to where only the roots are in the soil and the bottom leaves of your Jade are only touching the top of the soil at most but ideally above it entirely.

Fill around the plant as needed with the potting mix.

Now you can let your newly planted Jade sit for a few days without water while the plant sits in bright but indirect light like usual.

After a few days have passed you should water the soil fully until the water flows through the drainage holes which you should be using.

This will be your best bet at saving your Jade plant from root rot.

There is no guarantee this will always work, especially if the rot has gotten bad enough to where your entire plant looks severely affected which will be more visible leaves having issues and so on.

In that case you may have to throw your Jade out and get a new one unfortunately.

But this process is worth a try the vast majority of the time.

Tips on preventing rot

Now that you know how to save your Jade from root rot, here are some tips at preventing it from happening again.

Use a container that fits your Jade well and especially isn’t too large or you will have problems.

Use well draining soil so that the water doesn’t stand and damage the roots or starve them of oxygen.

Only water your Jade plant when the soil has dried out completely to prevent overwatering which can vary so don’t stick to a set schedule, just water when the soil feels pretty dry to the touch.

That’s really all there is to it.

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