Jade plants with their thick woody stems and lush green leaves are popular and easy to care for houseplants. However, jade plants can develop wrinkled, yellow leaves that detract from the plant’s beauty and indicate underlying problems. The good news is that yellow, wrinkled leaves on a jade plant can often be fixed with a few simple changes to care.
What Causes Yellow, Wrinkled Leaves on Jade Plants?
There are two primary causes of yellow wrinkled leaves on jade plants – overwatering and underwatering.
Overwatering is the most common reason for yellow leaves and wrinkling on jade plants. Jade plants store water in their thick leaves and stems. They are adapted to go long periods without water. When overwatered, the roots can rot leading to yellowing and wrinkled leaves as the plant struggles to absorb moisture and nutrients. The leaves and stems may also become mushy or translucent.
Underwatering can also cause wrinkled, yellow leaves on jade plants. When a jade plant needs water, the leaves will become soft, wrinkled, and faded looking. Prolonged underwatering will cause lower leaves to turn yellow and fall off.
Other factors like poor drainage, low humidity, pests, and cold drafts can contribute to wrinkled yellow leaves but overwatering and underwatering are the primary causes.
How to Fix Overwatered Jade Plants with Wrinkled Yellow Leaves
If you suspect your jade plant’s wrinkled yellow leaves are caused by overwatering, the first step is to check the roots. Gently remove the plant from its pot and inspect the roots. Healthy jade plant roots are firm and white. Rotted roots will be brown or black and mushy.
If the roots are rotted, you may be able to save the plant by removing all dead roots with clean scissors or shears. Repot the plant in fresh, dry soil in a pot with drainage holes. A cactus potting mix is ideal as it drains very quickly.
Place the repotted jade plant in a sunny location and hold off watering until the soil is completely dry. Then, when you do water, thoroughly soak the soil until water drains from the bottom of the pot. Allow all excess water to drain away after watering.
Going forward, only water when the top few inches of soil become dry. Always pour away any water in the drainage saucer after watering. Low humidity can also contribute to wrinkled leaves, so consider using a pebble tray or humidifier to raise humidity around the jade plant.
Fixing an Underwatered Jade Plant with Yellow Wrinkled Leaves
If you believe underwatering is causing the wrinkled yellow leaves, the fix is simple. Start watering your jade plant more consistently.
Check the soil moisture by sticking your finger into the soil. If the top few inches are dry, it’s time to water. Water thoroughly until water drains from the bottom of the pot. Always dump out any remaining water in the saucer.
In addition to watering more frequently, you can prune away any severely damaged yellow leaves using sterile pruners. This helps the plant conserve energy.
Place the jade plant in a sunny window where it will receive at least 4 hours of direct sunlight daily. Over time, with improved watering and light conditions, your jade plant should start producing new growth with lush green, smooth leaves.
Preventing Future Problems with Wrinkled Yellow Leaves
Here are some tips to keep your jade plant healthy and prevent future issues with wrinkled yellow leaves:
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Water only when the top few inches of soil are dry. Jade plants are drought tolerant so err on the side of underwatering.
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Ensure the pot has drainage holes and use well-draining cactus/succulent mix.
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Prune away any dead or dying growth which can harbor pests and disease.
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Provide bright, direct light for at least 4 hours per day. Low light leads to weak growth.
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Maintain temperatures between 65°F to 70°F (18°C to 21°C).
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Increase humidity around the plant with pebble trays or humidifiers.
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Inspect regularly for pests like mealybugs that can contribute to leaf problems.
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Repot every 2-3 years in fresh soil to replenish nutrients.
By adjusting your watering technique, providing optimal sunlight, humidity, and care, you can get a jade plant with yellow wrinkled leaves back to its lustrous green glory. Consistent proper care will help ensure your jade plant stays healthy for years to come.
Wrinkled Leaves on Jade: Overwatering
Underwatering is easy to fix, but a seriously overwatered jade plant may not survive. Often, a wrinkly jade plant with yellow leaves is an indication of overwatering. In the event that you do not act quickly, the plant could die if the roots start to rot.
If you put the jade plant in new soil, you might be able to save it from root rot. Slide the plant carefully from the pot and trim any brown, mushy leaves. Hopefully, some of the roots will still be healthy and white. Repot the jade in a clean pot, using a special potting mix for cactus and succulents. Regular potting mix doesn’t drain well enough for jade plants.
Be sure the container has a drainage hole. If you put gravel in the bottom of the pot, don’t think that it will drain well; the gravel will probably just trap water around the roots. Water the plant only when the soil is dry. Don’t let water sit on top of the pot; pour out any water that’s still in the drainage saucer right away.
Wrinkled Jade Leaves: Underwatering
In nature, jade plants store water in their leaves, which allows the plants to survive dry periods. If the jade plant’s leaves are thin and wrinkled, it needs more water. If the leaves are full, the plant is getting enough water.
Don’t go by appearance alone, however, and never water without feeling the potting mix first. Ideally, water only when the potting mix is dry nearly to the bottom of the container. If you’re not sure, stick a wooden skewer in the pot to test the moisture level.
JADE plant WATERING (overwatering VS underwatering) OVERWATERED jade plant | MOODY BLOOMS
FAQ
Why are my jade plant leaves wrinkly?
Why are the leaves on my jade plant turning yellow and shriveling?
What does an overwatered jade plant look like?
Why is my jade plant branches shriveling?
Why does my jade plant have yellow leaves?
Often, a wrinkly jade plant with yellow leaves is an indication of overwatering. If the roots are beginning to rot, the plant may die if you don’t address the problem as soon as possible. You may be able to save a plant with root rot by repotting the jade in fresh potting soil.
How do you fix a wrinkly jade plant?
Jades have quite different growing requirements. Here are a few tips for fixing a wrinkly jade plant. In nature, jade plants store water in their leaves, which allows the plants to survive dry periods. The leaves of a well-hydrated jade are plump, while thin, wrinkled jade leaves are a good sign that the plant needs water.
Why are Jade leaves so plump?
As succulents, jade plants naturally store plenty of water in their leaves, which is one of the main reasons behind their plump look. This is because the plant is originally native to the sandy slopes of Southern Africa, where water is scarce. The leaves will retain their fleshy form as long as you keep the plant properly hydrated.
Why are my Jade leaves wrinkled?
There are various reasons why Jade plants may display wrinkled leaves. The most common cause is water-related problems, such as underwatering and overwatering. However, other factors like nutrient deficiency extreme temperature, and natural factors can also be the culprit here.
How do you know if a jade plant needs water?
In nature, jade plants store water in their leaves, which allows the plants to survive dry periods. The leaves of a well-hydrated jade are plump, while thin, wrinkled jade leaves are a good sign that the plant needs water. Don’t go by appearance alone, however, and never water without feeling the potting mix first.
Why is my jade plant Droopy?
Lack of water is just as bad as giving your jade plant too much water. As a result, your jade plant’s leaves become droopy and yellowish. Moreover, inadequately watered plants appear wrinkly and dry. Root rots result from too much moisture in the soil due to overwatering or using poor draining soil.