The Jade plant is one of the must-grow shrubs for most house plant-enthusiasts. Whether a seasoned gardener or an amateur, you can smoothly grow a tiny jade plant in a magnificent ceramic pot on a coffee table.
Also, the resilience and easy-to-care features make the variegated beauty even more beautiful. But, such a tolerant plant can get sick due to taking care of it inaccurately.
Although the plant can endure negligence, complete ignorance can make the leaves of the jade plant turn brown. Several factors can lead to such conditions. Read the article to know the causes.
Why do your jade plant leaves turn brown?
Your jade plant leaves turn brown because of overwatering, too much excessive sun, or excessive humidity. But you can prevent your jade plant leaves from turning brown by using the following routine mentioned below.
The jade plant leaves can lose their spectrum for thousands of reasons. But an improper watering schedule damages the plant the most.
If the delicate vine stands in a poodle of water for a long time, it leads to discolored foliage, root rot, and even the death of the ornamental herb.
Apart from that, scorching heat, high humidity, pest invasion, and many other things promote the sick, brown foliage on a thriving jade plant.
As a plant parent, one needs to understand what is bothering his houseplant, and it is indispensable because only a proper diagnosis can lead to the appropriate treatment.
So, it is vital to know why your glamorous jade plant leaves have suddenly started turning brown.
Below we have penned down all the common reasons that make your charismatic vine lose its artistic variegation.
Contaminated water can take away the shine of the jade plant
Maybe you water the jade plant regularly. Still, the kaleidoscopic foliage develops brown spots.
Then check the water quality, as the problem can lie there. Often poor quality or too much mineral-enriched water can turn the gorgeous green leaves into brown.
Since tap water often features harsh minerals like chlorine, fluorine, and salt, it can damage the plant permanently.
The roots absorb all these chemicals from the soil and send them to every section of the bush. As a result, those harsh minerals will cause brown spots on the embellished jade plant.
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Inadequate or too much watering can kill the herb
Overwatering and underwatering- both can kill the jade plant swiftly. So, if you locate brown spots on the delicate herb, immediately reschedule the watering sessions.
Improper hydration for a long time can kill the plant. As the embellished bush stores water within its body, it does not need too much water.
So, overwatering can lead to brown leaves, root rot, and even the death of the herb.
While on the other hand, inadequate hydration can also make the shiny green foliage brown.
As the bush spends all its restored water while doing photosynthesis, the leaves can turn brown. So, we suggest watering the herb only when needed. Else the decorative herb can get sick due to inappropriate hydration.
Excessive humidity can even kill the shrub
Jade plant leaves can turn brown due to high humidity levels. Unlike most houseplants, the bush loves to stay in a slightly dry area.
If you grow them in highly humid locations, the magnificent herb can develop brown spots.
Since more than 30-40% humidity does not allow the potting mixture to dry quickly, the highly moist mold can cause brown leaves.
Also, excessive moisture creates a perfect habitat for the pests. So, the high humidity turns the leaves brown and makes the jade plant food for insects.
A rootbound jade plant cannot grow happily
Like most other indoor plants, jade bush also does not like to stay in a smaller bucket compared to its size.
It is because when your jade plant outgrows the tub, the roots get stiff and form the shape of a root ball.
So, if you grow it in a comparatively tiny bucket, the roots get congregated.
Then the rootbound houseplant cannot absorb water, oxygen, and nutrients from the soil.
As a result, the healthy green foliage can grow brown spots all over it. That is why repotting is vital in the case of the jade plant.
Transferring the herb to a larger vessel than the current one helps the herb to grow fast and healthily. But, inappropriate repotting can shock the thriving process and make the leaves turn brown.
Improper lighting is dangerous for the grassy green jade plant
If your cute, little jade plant grows brown foliage, the reason can be the blazing sun with scorching heat.
Generally, the indoor plant cannot endure much light, and direct sun can burn their adorable baby leaves. But, after growing up, it can sit in the sun for a few hours.
Still, the seasoned gardeners never suggest placing the potted jade plant in the searing sun, as it can make the leaves burnt-brown.
Since a jade plant requires at least 3-5 hours of light, try to place it in an illuminated area with indirect sun.
While burning sunlight can roast the jade plant foliage, it can also make the bush dehydrated.
As the plant increases the photosynthesis rate due to the extreme sunlight, the leaves use all the stored water in the process.
So, the phenomenon leads to dehydration and brownish sunburns. Plus, the houseplant ends up having brown spots all over the leaves.
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Some microscopic invaders can ruin the foliage
Pests and insects can be threatening to both indoor plants and plant parents. Houseplant gardeners fear such invaders the most because of their destructive power.
It is a surprising fact how those microscopic pests can permanently damage a plant.
So, if you spot some rotten, brown spots all over your jade plant, the reason can be the pest infestation.
In this scenario, the quicker you detect the problem, the sooner your gorgeous houseplant will recover.
Even though the resilient jade plant with a woody stem and oily foliage is not prone to get infected by insects, sometimes mealybug, scale, or spider mites can invade the herb.
Also, the brown-colored scale can reside on the jade plant leaves.
So, next time when you see the brown spots on the green foliage, they can be the scales. Also, mealybugs take shelter in the root system of the houseplant.
All these pests destroy the whole shrub and make the green foliage brown.
Plus, if you overlook the issue and do not take necessary actions immediately, the insect invasion can even kill your adorned plant.
How do I treat brown spots on my jade plant?
Since thousands of factors can cause the brown leaves on a jade plant, you will find countless solutions to fix the issues.
But, for an inexperienced gardener, picking the right solution for the right problem can seem challenging. But, fear not, as we are here to help you out from a difficult situation.
After doing a lot of research and experiments, we have come up with a short to-do list for treating the brown spot issue of the jade plant.
If you can provide the appropriate environment to the shrub, it will create a lush green beauty with an alluring appearance.
But, if you fail to do so and cannot take care of the houseplant properly, it can grow brown spots on the foliage.
That is why we suggest providing an apt atmosphere to the resilient beauty so that it stays healthy.
Also, if you notice some rust-colored spots on the magnificent herb, follow these steps.
They will surely fix the problem. But, always remember that every plant is different. So, if our recommended methods cannot revive your plant, you need to consult some experts.
Your jade plant wants bearable light
Inappropriate light can severely damage the jade plant and make the foliage turn brown.
So, to resolve the issue, you need to choose a bright, proper place that receives indirect sun.
You can select any area near the windows or any tabletop with adequate sun.
As dazzling light can make the lush green leaves turn copper-colored, receiving proper daylight is necessary for the health of your aesthetic jade plant.
Even if your herb gets sunburn, immediately trim the damaged parts of the trailing vine. Also, try not to fertilize the sunburnt jade until it revives completely.
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A proper container helps the herb stay healthy
Since improper tub size can affect the stunning jade plant and make it brown, it is always advisable to select an apt pot.
But, choosing the appropriate bucket for the bush can be a tricky job for amateur gardeners.
While growing it in a small container can damage the foliage, the gigantic tubs can welcome several other problems.
That is why seasoned caregivers always suggest opting for a vessel that is 2-inches larger than the plant. Plus, while selecting a pot for your delicate vine, it will be wise to avoid plastic material.
Do not let the bugs ruin the adorned plant
Often some unfortunate pest invasions can damage the appealing leaves and turn them brown.
In that case, disinfecting the herb is vital to recovering the plant from insect infections. You can mist your decorative jade plant with a solution of neem oil and water throughout the year.
Spray the mixture once a week or as needed to keep mealybugs away from the appealing herb.
Also, if you notice coffee-colored leaves on your ornamental vine, wipe the foliage with isopropyl alcohol, and it will kill the invaders and help your houseplant recover. Also, trimming the damaged areas will help the shrub restore energy.
Jade plants require adequate water and low humidity to survive
Like the succulent, your embellished jade plant also stocks up water for future usage.
That is why improper watering and high humidity can create brown spots all over the glossy green foliage of the plant.
So, try to water the plant only when needed, and it will be better to water the herb when the upper layer of the soil dries out completely.
Also, make sure your jade plant tub features a drainage hole for proper drainage.
Underwatering can also turn the green grassy leaves into brown.
So, if you notice your jade plant wants more water, hydrate it more frequently. But, do not pour a lot of water on a single go, as that can cause root rot.
Water the aesthetic bush when needed.
Plus, check the ambient humidity of the plant since it can survive only in low humid areas. The plant grows fast and features lush green leaves while staying in a place with 30-40% humidity.
Final thought
Houseplants often face issues like pale foliage, brown leaves, and root rot. Usually, such problems appear as trivial problems, but overlooking them can lead to the worst consequences.
That is why people with green thumb always suggest newbie gardeners never ignore any issue, no matter how trivial it might seem.
Identifying the damage and detecting the cause at the right time can save your adorned jade plant leaves from turning brown.
Also, after spotting the problem, you need to take proper action so that your bushy indoor plant elevates the ambient appearance.