If your jade plant leaves are turning black and falling off, you may be wondering what’s wrong! It can be alarming to see this happen, especially if you are not sure why. In this post, we will explore some of the possible causes of black spots on jade plants and have some solutions to help save the plant!
*This post may include affiliate links. When you purchase items from these links, we will receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, to help support this website. Thank you for your support! Read more ->
Too Much Water: The Main Cause For Jade Plant Leaves Turning Black
One of the most common reasons why jade plants leaves turning black is due to too much water. The plant itself is starting to rot, roots, leaves, and all. This can be because of two different reasons:
Overwatering
Overwatering is the main cause of black leaves on a Crassula ovata.
If you think your jade plant is being overwatered, check the soil. If it feels soggy or mushy, that is a sure sign you are watering too much. If this is the case, you’ve likely found the cause of the jade plant leaves turning black & falling off. Overwatering can also make your jade leaves turn yellow!
Too Humid
Another possibility for jade plant leaves turning black is too much humidity. If the air around the plant is too moist, it can cause the leaves to turn black and fall off. This is most common in areas with high humidity, such as bathrooms or kitchens.
Some plants love humidity, but the jade plant is not one of them. Give this plant a drier spot to live in.
Black Spots On Jade Plant
If you’re seeing black spots on jade plant, rather than the entire leaves turning black, there can be a few different reasons this is happening. Be sure to check the soil first and humidity around the plant to rule out those issues from being the cause.
The other reasons you may be seeing black spots on your jade plant can include bugs, injury, or sunburn.
Bugs
If you see black spots and notice bugs around the plant, that is likely the cause. Be sure to check for aphids, mealybugs, or scale insects. These can all cause black spots on jade plants!
Injury
If your jade plant has been injured, that can also result in black spots. This could be from being dropped, hit, or anything else that might cause bruising.
Sunburn
Jade plants need bright, indirect light to thrive. If they are getting too much direct sunlight, it can cause the leaves to turn black and get sunburned.
Saving Your Jade When Jade Plant Leaves Turning Black & Falling Off
Immediate Steps
If you see your jade plant leaves turning black & falling off, it is important to take action right away. The first step is to check the soil and make sure it is not too wet. If the soil is soggy, you will need to let it dry out completely before watering again.
Or you need to change the soil completely. Follow the same instructions that can be found on overwatered jade plant, and repot in well draining soil in a pot that has drainage holes, and DO NOT water your plant.
At this point, check for rotting roots and remove them now too. You also want to remove any of the blackened leaves.
Last Effort
If your entire jade plant’s leaves are turning black and falling off, your last effort would be to propagate your jade plant. Cut off a branch if you can that have green leaves still, and place it in soil about 2 cm deep. And only gently water it if you have to.
You may also be interested in: do aloe leaves grow back?
Future Care
Once you’ve gotten your jade plant back to mostly green, the steps you want to take to keep it alive is most likely going to involve watering less.
Only water your jade plant when the soil feels dry to the touch, and water less in the winter than summer months. With the cooler days, plants just don’t need as much water.
Another helpful tip is to water in the morning so that the warmth and light of the day will help lessen the hours the jade plant’s roots are just sitting in damp soil in the dark.
Final Thoughts On Jade Plant Leaves Turning Black
If you have a jade plant that is turning black, there are some steps to take in order to save it. First, make sure the soil isn’t too wet and give your plant time to dry out if necessary. Second, check for bugs or injuries that could be causing black spots. Third, try moving your plant to a brighter location. And lastly, if all else fails, you can try propagating your jade plant.
If you’ve got other cacti that are turning black, find out how to take care of those here!
With some care, you can get your jade plant back to its green self in no time!
