posted
I have a jade that is about 2 years old. Its in a 12 inch pot and has been doing nicely, until recently. I know that the problem is lack of sunlight. The main branches are wilting; not all of them (yet) but about half of them. My question is this: should I prun them off, or prop them up? I am in a low light room and that cannot be helped. If I leave it under a desk lamp will that help at all? Does it require a special grow lamp? Please help! Thank.
From: Here and there | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Hello fellow fruit! If your desk lamp is a floresent one you can probably find a proper growing light to fit in it. There is a topic down the page a bit that might help you find out if it's actually a problem. I'm no expert though. I just got my first jade plant last week and am still learning about it. good luck
bbbbbbbbb The answers will come when needed. Otherwise, I'm guesing time will make me feel silly.
From: canada | Registered: Feb 2004
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Hi Peaches from Here and There!! Welcome to The Garden Helpers Forum! Someone who is more firmiliar with houseplants than I am will come through, sometime!! We have a plethra of house plant gardeners who come through on a regular basis....
But in the meantime, Welcome Aboard! While you're waiting for one of the gardeners to come through, take a peak at some of our sections here, we have recipes, crafts, and hobbies...... If there's something there, post a post, if there's not, post a new one............ We have Banter Hall for chatting and the Game Room to keep us outdoor gardeners busy until Spring!!!!
Stick around and join the fun..............
Weezie
bbbbbbbbb Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
Apples is right. You can change your desk lamp to a grow bulb and that sure would help. The most common problem with growing Jades is insufficient lighting.....then improper watering. You may be better off pruning off those branches. If they are still healthy you could try rooting them in their own pots....and if not...discard them.
Good luck!
bbbbbbbbb
From: Winnipeg | Registered: Jan 2003
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Thank you for all your help. I have pruned back the wilting parts and will hopefully be able to use some of the still healthy parts for cuttings. I don't water the plant more than once a month during winter months. I currently have it under a small halogen desk lamp. Will that help at all? If not, I will try and find a small growing lamp. Again, thanks for all the advice!
From: Here and there | Registered: Feb 2004
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peaches, halogen lamps get too hot to do any good. they just can't be left close enough. if you can, the best thing would be to pick up a $10.00 flourescent desk lamp. or, use one of those "under cabinet stick lamps" that are flourescent. they are reasonably priced at discount stores like wally world etc. they burn much cooler, use less energy, and will give your plant much more benefit.
bbbbbbbbb
From: Effingham County, GA USA Z 8b | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
What I use for my indoor plants is a regular incandescent desk lamp with a compact flourescent light (spiral, so it's about the same size as an incandescent bulb and thus fits into the desk lamp), relatively close to the plant. I put the lamp on a timer so that it gives the plants light from 12:30pm to 11:30pm -- the time when it is least disruptive to ME to have the light on. The plants don't mind working around my schedule, and this way they get the same amount of light every day, regardless of whether or not I forget about them.
posted
Wait... you can use any floresent light? I always thought it was a certin type of gass in it that produced positive light for the plants but then again I haven't thought about growing plants for very long.
bbbbbbbbb The answers will come when needed. Otherwise, I'm guesing time will make me feel silly.
From: canada | Registered: Feb 2004
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Any fluorescent light will provide light in the proper range for healthy plant growth. A combination of warm white and cool white fluorescents is ideal, but either one alone is nearly as good.
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted
I have had it under a fluorecent light, and it keeps wilting, even the stuff that was healthy when I first posted. Could it possibly be a nutrient issue? I understood that Jades did not need fertilizing often, though I do feed it every few months. I just seems to be getting slowly more and more sick. I am affraid if I cut it back any more, there will be nothing left of it. Thank you to everyone for you help, from both myself and my Jade!
From: Here and there | Registered: Feb 2004
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If you are fertilizing it every few months you are probably overdoing it. Once a year is plenty.
You say you have it under a flourescent light. How long is the light on each day? Jades do need a "rest" from the light, so they can "breathe" and photosynthesize.
posted
Hi Peaches, I'm wondering if you see any shriveling on the stems. If so, then the plant has been overwatered and you will probably lose your fight to keep it alive. To propagate a healthy stem cut it off, remove some of the lower leaves so that there is at least 1 1/2" of stem and leave in a shady spot for a couple of days so it forms a callous on the cut end. Then insert into damp soil. Water when the top inch of soil is dry. You can also do this same technique with some of the healthy leaves though it doesn't always work with them. If you do try the leaves, just insert them into the soil about 1/4" once they have calloused over.
bbbbbbbbb When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
From: Maryland zone 7 | Registered: Sep 2002
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Four days under a fluorescent light is not going to make up for many months (years?) in too little light. If the roots are still healthy, you are going to have to be very patient to nurse this plant back to health; not days or weeks, but months.
Registered: Sep 2002
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The stems are in fact the part that is wilting because the leaves on the end of the wilting stem seem green and healthy. I will wait it out the rest of the winter and see what happens; win or lose, I greatly appreciate all the advice, and I I am certainly armed with much more knowledge about the care of sick Jades.
Cheers to all, Peaches
From: Here and there | Registered: Feb 2004
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The stems may not be wilting, just straining under the weight of the leaves. I would prune them back even though that means losing some of the healthy new growth. If you don't prune, sooner or later that stems will break on their own.
Registered: Sep 2002
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