A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Ode to an overwatered jade

I thought I would post a short true story about an overwatered jade and why meter checking for moisture is really important rather than poking a finger 2-3" into the soil.

A little history: All my jades are special as they came from a 30-year-old 'tree' of my mum's. His name was Boris. My biggie jades are 'Sons of Boris,' the smaller, "Grandsons of Boris.' Friends of mine around the world have sons or grandsons. I plead the 5th as to how I got them from here to there hehehe!

Because I was overseas for 2005, I was lucky enough to have someone who would take my huge jade collection on loan (many small jades and two 12-year-olds which take three people to carry). I have had the grandchildren (3-6 years old) back for a few months in my greenhouse and after giving severe haircuts, they are doing very well.

The two oldest sons came back this weekend. I saw one was leaning but it looked healthy. Noticing an oval bulge on one side, I spied bubbles (gasp!). I took a sharp knife and careful not to cut into the trunk, I peeled back some bark. Hissssss. My heart sank. Initially I thought perhaps it had been knocked over, re-set in the pot and was settling on newly-added soil. No. It was leaning because it was slowly collapsing on itself. I called horticulturist 911 for a cure, sat down and had a stiff drink, and while waiting for the call-back, the jade simply fell over. I was looking at a beautiful jade tree filled with leaves and sturdy trunks and a pot with a mushy stump that smelled like baby vomit. They were no longer one and I was crying like a baby.

A box of Kleenex later, I regained my composure. Armed with a sharp knife, some bleach, and three huge mixing bowls, surgery began. I was so hoping that I could save maybe 10 good-sized pieces with large stems. Nope. For every large 'leg' I carefully cut, I had to keep cutting further up the joints until I could no longer see the brown vein of death. I was beside myself. Bowls were filling; the scrap heap of rejects and knuckles was growing. Finally I was done and carefully laid 112 grandchildren on the deck table to callous over.

An hour later I performed a post mortem on the potted stump. The top 3" of soil was dry. Inch #4 was metering a 6. Inch #5 was a 10 and so it went all the way down. It bears mentioning that it was in a plastic pot, not clay (not my preference but it's what I had). The insides were mush -- utter and complete.

I can't tell how long this has been going on (inside of a year) nor do I know when to apply a rooting compound (before or after the cuttings harden). I took pictures throughout the ordeal so perhaps someone else may benefit from knowing what will happen when a jade is overwatered. Like many have posted, better to err on the side of underwatering. I'll try to get those posted today.

Tomacco

I'm very interested in seeing the pictures. A sad tale - but one we can all learn from. It sounds like you have some serious experience with jades. It does seem that overwatering can be the "root" of all evil...

Here are the photos: http://tinyurl.com/fngxd

The pics loaded in reverse (oops), so please click "previous" to walk through the process from start to finish instead of finish to start!

Tomacco

That is really a crying, crying shame, Tomacco. Those pics tell the story, alright. You freaked me out sufficiently on this overwatering issue, that today, I actually replanted one of my indoor plants (from a plastic container to a clay one) and it was absolutely DRENCHED at the very very bottom of the pot!

The jade plant looks old. How old was it? Did the "grandsons" survive? How did it get in the situation of the terminal overwatering? I'm buying one of those meters TODAY!

Pekemom, This one and the surviving twin 'son' were started 12 years ago from a then 18-year-old (That was papa Boris). My math is crusty. If Boris were alive today, he would be 30.

The grandchildren (clones of the sons) are fine, thank god. The plant sitter probably stuck a finger in 2-3 inches down, felt it was dry, and watered. Who wouldn't? I'm on the 'net hunt for a large clay pot and will do as you did and re-pot the twin ASAP.

Hooray for your new meter; it's gonna save a lotta lives! I was shocked at how wet the soil was 4 inches down and to the bottom. Just got back from the nursery with 3 bags of vermiculite and 40 small containers. The plan is to take 4 rubber bands, wrapping 2 North/South, 2 East/West around a container, and plant the cutting through the intersection so it will be held in place until it takes root. I'm concerned about the lightweight vermic so will mix with a bit of sterile potting soil.

Needless to say, I have my work cut out for me over the next few days

Meter meter meter!!!

Tomacco

Now that's quite clever!

The surviving Twin Brother is absolutely beautiful!!!! I felt like I needed a box of Kleenex Welcome to the forum!!!

Hi Comfry, I can't seem to get that twin pic to display correctly but you got the gist. I, too, still get queasy just looking at the photos, and let me say that the smell lingers. The deck's been bleached and I can still catch a whiff... Wait until the binmen come for the rubbish today: One plastic pot, 5 bags carnage and soil, one carcass... I don't dare put it on the mulch pile.

Yes I have an all-glass sunroom for 12 well-established grandsons. The twin is outside at present until I can make a larger door opening ha ha!

As of last night, 78 cuttings were set in. Some of the larger cuttings needed to be separated so the final count will 150+. A proper flat nursery table with sides would be great but have no space. I'll need a few shelf units to stack the kids (I'm ready for g'daughters).

Some containers have as many as 4 cuttings, most have 2. Some needed trussing (rubber bands/popsicle stix), others I partially buried the bottom leaf pair for stability.

Absolutely, I am going back to clay at the next repotting marathon. Never thought much about a meter until this sad event.

Soil Moisture Meter (example): http://snipurl.com/v2r4
Try Wal-Mart or Home Depot (avg $10).

Tip: I keep a spray bottle of 100% bleach and clean shop towels handy. After meter testing a plant, wipe down the wand so bacteria won't be carried from pot to pot. Also wash hands before moving on to another plant.

What varieties of cacti do you have?

Tomacco

Some of the cacti I have is unidentified, But I do have several varieities of Echinopsis, If you go here you can see one of my Echinopsis Blooming They seem to thrive on my neglect of them, maybe that is why I love cactus so much. Other species I have are opuntia subulata, euphorbia enopla & euphorbia mammillaris, I have three different types of aloe also.

That is cheap for the water meter, I was thinking it would be around $20. Thanks for the tip about the bleach bottle and cleaning the meter from plant to plant, I know that is important and I probable wouldn't have thought about that, nor would alot of other people who might decide they need to get one also.

Lucky you, Comfrey! Gorgeous flower

That bloom is exquisite, comfrey...That's why I love cacti so much. They're so surprising!!

Tomacco - thank you so much for sharing this upsetting episode with us!
I, too, have a rather large potted jade that I got as a gift about 4 years ago and would be devasted, as you are, if it were to fall apart like that!

I greatly appreciate your sharing your pictures with us - they were very detailed and quite clear.

I hope your survivors give you many years of pleasure. Whatever will you do with so many?

You're most welcome It helped to chronicle, if only so no one else suffers needlessly. This is preventable!!! In the caretaker's defense, I'm certain their being away for a few weeks at a time caused worry (and more watering).
Jade store? Jade salad? LOL! No! See what works best as far as planting methods and medium, with rooting hormone, without, etc. It's the best way I know to pay homage to a twin who, with his brother, flowered for me every year and tolerated being stuffed with Christmas ornaments, string lights, presents, and the occasional lounging cat wrapped around the trunk.

Tomacco

I can only begin to imagine how devastated you were. I, too, would have been a wreck. Thank you for sharing your story. We so often hear about the cons of over-watering, but your story and pictures show the reality. Please keep posting about the grand-babies, I'd love to know how they make out.

Just did a head count

53 containers
3 small bags Vermiculite
1 small bag potting mix
1/2 bag rubber bands
40 popsicle sticks
1 pail of stone
2 gallons water
1 very dirty table and deck

161 cuttings, not including 16 large multi-stem leftovers (need more containers!). There are at least 40 more cuttings there (need more vermiculite!)

Whew, I'm tired! All g'daughters are on wire shelving in the sunroom, which reaches 90 F on a sunny day. They should love it

Ironically, the twin was 5' tall and over 4 foot wide. Sitting on the shelves, dismantled, he is still 5' tall and 36" wide LOL!

Tomacco

Wow, what a job, Tomacco...I'm tired just reading your post!!

You have been one busy person. Alot of people would not have gone to that much trouble to save any of the plant let alone every savable piece. You are a great Mom to them I to am interested in their progress!!!

It just wasn't an option not to try. I mean it wasn't like performing CPR on a dying lizard I'll grant this was a grand effort. I won't tell you how I kissed each one as I put her on the shelf and said: "You have Grandpa Boris running through your veins. It's not an option to die. Make him proud."

Tomacco

Oh...pass the Kleenex, that is so touching Here's to each ones success

Kinda sappy, huh?! Oh for stock in Kimberly-Clark

Tomacco

Okay, Tomacco, now that we're ALL involved in these babies survival, don't forget to post up pics on their progress!!!

I'm really sorry about your BEAUTIFUL Jade. I want to get a box of tissues now I hope the babies are doing well. I will have to remember not to over water a Jade plant, it is one of the plants on my wish list and I have been looking around for one. Best of luck for your babies!

Thank you, Monica. There is still a way to go.
Today, I got an 18" clay pot (thank goodness for nursery sales!) and repotted the twin out of the plastic pot. I got a great suggestion from a horticulturist this morning to get some of the water out of the twin: Newspaper (acts as a wick, duh).

Who would have thunk it! After sitting all afternoon on newspaper, nekid as a jaybird, it's happily in a new pot in the hot sunroom with lots of stone in the bottom and no direct sun for a while. It's not going to see one drop of water for at least a month!

I'll get pictures of the girls and their dad up this week.

Thanks to all of you for wending your way through my posts. Although I didn't have many questions, per say, it really helped me to know there were others out there who understood. You are the greatest!

Tomacco

Well you inspired me to get a jade plant. I put it in a terracotta pot in a sunny, warm part of the Kitchen. After your experience, I know not to over-water. I think I'll invest in a water measuring tool. I've read a lot about jade plants on the internet, but would appreciate any advice on caring for them.
Thanks
Gail

Gail, Can you post a picture of your jade? As for advice on caring for your jade, here are my suggestions:

1. Turn your jade 1/4 turn every few days.
2. Pinching off the upper two leaves of long stems encourages growth elsewhere. Use your thumbnail or a sharp knife.
3. Discourage growth toward the inside of the plant.
4. Should stems and leaves start to cross, decide which one stays or goes
5. Prune off new growth that points down and pinch back stems that are top heavy and leaning over.
6. Save all viable cuttings for rooting

Your picture will tell the tale about how yours should be selectively and occasionally pruned. Congrats! It will give you years of beauty

Tomacco