Cause The primary cause of rotting jade plants is overwatering. The OSU Plant Clinic has diagnosed overwatering several times. Sometime this results in oedema or colonization by the oomycetes Pythium or Phytophthora.
Symptoms Yellowing of leaves and defoliation may be the first symptom seen. Roots and/or stems become mushy and brown.
Oedema may appear as tiny water-soaked blisters or bumps that appear on the lower or older leaves.
Cultural control
- Water sparingly in the summer and even less in the winter.
- Grow in container media with extremely good fast drainage.
- Re-pot plants sitting in water logged soil.
Reference Brickell, C., and Zuk, J. D. 1996. The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. DK Publishing, Inc. New York.