Is Your Jade Plant Turning Red? When You Should Worry About Red Leaves

jade plant turning red - red leaf and red tips

If you’ve got a jade plant turning red, don’t panic just yet! It’s most likely due to one of a few reasons. One possibility is that the plant is getting too much sun and the leaves are burning. Another reason could be that a leaf is dying off and this is natural for the plant. In some cases, jade plants will have red tips on their leaves – this is usually nothing to worry about.

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Keep reading to find out which is the most likely reason you’ve got a jade plants reddening and when you need to worry.

Why Is My Jade Plant Turning Red?

Jade plants are a beautiful, hardy succulent that are easy to care for. But even the most low-maintenance plants can run into problems from time to time. So, if you notice your jade plant turning red, it’s important to figure out the cause so you can take the necessary steps to fix the problem. Or figure out if it even is a problem!

The Variety of Jade Plant

One possibility is that the red leaves on your jade plant are due to the variety you have. Some types of jade plants are bred to have red tips or variegated leaves with red edges. So, if this is the case, then there’s no need to worry about your plant turning red. In fact, it’s probably just supposed to look that way!

(Find the jade plant varieties here and see if you can determine which is yours)

If you’re not sure what variety of jade plant you have, the best way to find out is to ask the person who sold it to you or do a quick search online. One great app I use is PictureThis (not sponsored) because I can take a picture of my plant and it’ll figure out for me what kind of plant I have.

houseplant care journal breathing garden

If it’s not the case of variety, there are a few reasons why you may have leaves turning red.

Too Much Sun Causes Jade Plant Red Tips on Leaves

Jade plants are succulents, so they’re used to living in hot, dry conditions. But that doesn’t mean they can take direct sunlight all day long without any problem. In fact, too much sun is one of the most common reasons why jade plants’ leaves turn red.

If you notice that the leaves on your jade plant are turning red, especially at the tips, it’s probably due to too much sun exposure. The best way to fix this problem is to move your plant to a spot where it’ll get less sunlight.

If you can’t move your plant, you can also try shading it with a sheer curtain or white sheet or umbrella.

Although, if you like the look of the red tips, there’s not too much wrong with keeping it in the light. Just make sure you continue to monitor the soil since it’s getting much more light and you’ll have to water more often. And be on the lookout for signs of your jade plant getting sunburnt.

Leaf Dying Off Causes Jade Plant Red Leaves

Another reason for red leaves is that a leaf is dying off. And this is actually not always a bad thing! If a leaf is damaged or old, it’s natural for the plant to shed it.

So if you notice a red leaf on your jade plant, and it’s a leaf that has either been damaged or is one that’s been on the plant for a long time, it’s just going through the natural process.

You can see that on these two images – one is a leaf that I used to start a new jade plant, and it’s getting past it’s usefulness. The other leaf somehow is just on top of another leaf, not connected, so it’s turning red.

red leaf after it's no longer needed on jade plant
small extra red jade plant leaf

When to Worry About It Reddening

If you’ve determined that the reason your jade plant is turning red is due to too much sun or a leaf dying off, then there’s not too much to worry about. But if you can’t figure out why your plant is reddening, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and take a thorough look at it. Are there bugs eating your leaves? Is the soil too dry or soaking wet? Are these spots on the leaves?

You can also take a look at your roots. Take the plant out of the pot and see how the roots look. Are they white and healthy? Soggy and rotting? Brown, dry and brittle?

With looking at your plant and it’s roots closely, you may be able to find a more definite reason it’s turning red.

Once you figure that out, you can treat it based on the problem. Find which ailment is causing your jade plant problems and then treat it accordingly!

To Sum It Up

There are a few reasons why your jade plant may be turning red. You may even have a jade plant that’s supposed to be red! But most likely it’s due to too much sun or a leaf that is dying off and doesn’t serve much purpose for the plant anymore. If you’re unsure, always err on the side of caution and give your plant a thorough checkup to make sure there isn’t something more serious going on.

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Looking for information specific to Colorado? Check out Naturalist Perspective!

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