Jade Plant Turning Red or Jade Plants Leaves Turning Red And Soft
Jade plants (Crassula ovata) are among the easiest to mature and hardiest houseplants, creating them an excellent choice for the beginner or inert indoor gardener. However, if you begin to see your jade plant turning red, you may wonder what is wrong with it and what you ought to do to fix the problem.
Don’t you worry! We are here with an article to share about various factors that affect the color of your jade plants along with what you need to do to fix the problem. This post also includes information on different varieties of Jade plants and some basic guidelines on how to care for your jade plants. Happy reading!
Your jade plant leaves turning red, is it good or bad?
There are roughly 200 species of Crassula or jade plants. Many of them have inherently reddened tips, like the golden jade tree. This plant has almost lime-green leaves adorned with reddish edges. Other varieties could be Botany Bay, Harbor Lights, Silver Dollar jade, or Silver Jade.
Many other types commonly have a red border on the leaves. So if the jade plant turns red, examine for the variety and see if it is characteristic of the plant. A jade plant with red edges is not necessarily bad and may be part of the color of the plant’s leaves.
Varieties of Red Jade Plants
A red jade plant doesn’t necessarily mean that there is something to worry about it. In fact, it is typically an alluring quality that many people appreciate. This discoloration has a natural cause.
Some jade plant varieties are naturally red on the leaves and margins, and other bright colors are also attractive. Below are some of the considerably familiar types.
Sunset jade – inherently bright yellow foliage with pink or red trim.
Crosby’s compact – old leaves are green or yellowish with red trims, while fresh leaves are colorful red throughout.
Gollum (aka hobbit) – long, thin, finger-like foliage with bright red fringes on top.
California red tip – this type has large, thick, dark green leaves with red pinpoints.
Tricolour – variegated leaves of pink, white, and green with bright reddish hues.
More about Red Jade Plants
You can control the amount of red that the leaves of a jade plant developed by controlling the amount of light, water, and nutrients they receive. However, if you want your jade leaves to remain glossy and dark green, there is nothing wrong with that. This is accomplished by growing them under specific conditions as mentioned below.
- Maximum Greenness: Grow in fertile, well-drained potting soil, fertilize monthly with a semi-strength houseplant fertilizer, and place jade in moderate indirect light. Set it in water when the soil is dry.
- Reddish Leaf Tips: Grow in rich, well-drained potting soil or a low-fertility cactus mix and place in partial sun. Decrease the frequency of watering the jade plant.
- Maximum Redness: To keep the jade plant leaves red, consider growing them in less fertile soil and placing them in direct sunlight all day long. The more sunlight and less fertile soil, the redder the leaves. Keeping the soil dry for a long time also promotes the reddening of the leaves.
Underwatering can turn jade plant leaves red and soft
If Jade leaves turn red and become soft or wrinkled, it is probably due to a deficiency of water. With intense dehydration, they often darken and become burgundy or almost purple. Water it carefully and deeply, within a few days leaves should expand back within a few days. If you watered regularly, scan the stem to avoid rotting. Jade plant leaves turn red and soft when they are dry.
Why does my jade plant have a red spot on it?
Pest infestation is one of the main reasons for the small red spots or spots on the leaves. Examine them carefully for indications of damage and treat the disorder instantly before it can spread.
Jade turns Red and then Brown
If jade plants turn red and then brown, there is probably a sunburn or you place it in intense amounts of direct sun. This is very common when you take a houseplant outside or a plant that is in shade to full sun. It takes time to get used to the strong rays. So move the plant to a shady spot and give it several weeks to get used to the sun.
My jade plant turning brown and dry
If red leaves are blistered, cracked, or have brown spots, it’s probably due to too much sun exposure. To avoid burning, move it to the shade and acclimatize slowly for several weeks in the sun.
Jade Plant Leaves turning red and falling off
- It is familiar for jade to drop dead or otherwise injured leaves and this can happen for other concerns listed above. But when it begins to drop full red leaves, it’s usually due to overwatering.
- Make sure the soil is absolutely dry before watering again. I also urge using a soil moisture meter so you can hold the perfect amount.
Why is my jade plant turning yellow and red?
The Jade varieties need plenty of direct sunlight to keep their color. Otherwise, the decorative color will fade. Here is a list of factors other than sunlight affecting the color of your jade plants.
- Too Much Moisture
- Too Much Nutrient Supply
- Pest Infestation
- Overfertilization
- Spider mite pests can also cause yellow leaves.
Under fertilization and its effects on Jade Plant Leaves
- If you don’t like the redness of the leaves and haven’t been fertilizing your plants, it may be time to start. It should (if the plants are well watered and don’t get a lot of sun exposure)
- Now you know what’s causing it. You can determine if the plant is healthy if it likes red if you want to keep it and adjust your plant care according to your answers to these questions.
Jade Plants turning Red under Natural Conditions
Extreme environments are not necessarily bad for the jade plant. It should be remembered that jade is a succulent plant that grows in dry, barren areas where most plants cannot survive.
These harsh conditions usually include intense sunlight, heat, soil fertility, and lack of water. Jade Plants look and perform their best when they are not pampered, and it’s perfectly normal to turn a reddish hue. It’s time to put on your detective hat and pay attention to environmental changes that are occurring.
Most likely, your jade is suffering from one or more of the following conditions that promote redness:
- Jade that gets an excessive amount of sunlight turns red.
- Jade leaves can turn red when it is very hot or cold, like in summer and winter. By reducing the frequency of watering, jade plants lose some of their dark green hues and change colors, including red.
- Jade plants may be red because they grow in poor soil and are under-fertilized. If your jade leaves have turned a reddish color, but they look healthy and growing well, don’t worry.
- It survives in nature and thrives in less-than-ideal conditions where water and nutrients are paramount. One of the elements of these naturally occurring changes is jade with reddish leaves.
Basic Care for jade plants
- Jade is one of the lowest-maintenance houseplants and requires minimal care for healthy growth. They are not picky about soil and fertility, as long as they are well-drained.
- Watering is only necessary when the top few inches of soil are dry, as plants will rot and die if grown in damp conditions or overwatered.
- In terms of light conditions, jade plants do well in all areas from full sun to moderately indirect light, and if the indoor temperature is comfortable, jade plants will be comfortable.
We hope this post could help you understand different factors affecting the color of the jade plants and what you can do about them.