ðŸŠī Plant Doctor
← All plants

Jade Plant — common problems

Find the symptom you're seeing for the likely cause and fix.

Leaf drop

Likely cause: Allowed to become extremely dry.

Fix: Keep consistently moist during the growing season; water when soil surface dries slightly in spring/summer.

Root rot

Likely cause: Soil that drains slowly or overly frequent watering.

Fix: Use well-draining cactus mix; reduce watering, especially in winter.

Leggy / stretching growth

Likely cause: Inadequate light.

Fix: Provide 4+ hours of direct sun daily; a south-facing window is ideal.

Mealybugs

Likely cause: Common pest.

Fix: Wipe off with a rubbing-alcohol cotton swab; avoid insecticidal soap, which damages jade.

Source: extension care guide. Symptoms often overlap — match the conditions (light, watering, humidity) to your situation.

Other houseplants

Pothos4 issuesMonstera (Swiss Cheese Plant)5 issuesSnake Plant (Sansevieria)4 issuesFiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)4 issuesPeace Lily5 issuesSpider Plant4 issues

General care guidance from university extension sources — not a substitute for diagnosing your specific plant and conditions. How this works.