The delightful Jade Plant, called Crassula ovata or money plants, showcases glossy, oval-shaped leaves that usually grow in pairs along sturdy stems. As time passes, the Jade Plant matures, developing woody stems and branches, adding to its charm.
The Jade Plant is a fantastic choice for indoor gardening with its easy care and beautiful look, making it popular globally! However, if white spots appear on the leaves of your Jade Plant, it's time to take notice! These white spots can affect the appearance and growth rate of your Jade Plant.
Jade Plants are commonly affected by pest infestations, fungal infections, mineral deposits, or sunburns.
Pest Infestations
One common cause of white spots on Jade Plant leaves is pest infestations, such as mealybugs, red spider mites, and other insects. These insects feed on plant sap, leaving behind secretions that accumulate on the leaves, forming white spots.
Mealybugs: White
Solution
● Manual removal of affected areas using a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
● Remember to spray affected areas with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
You may wonder: How to use neem oil on your succulents and cactus?
Prevention
● Regular inspection of plants and immediate treatment of any mealybugs found.
● Periodic spraying of the plant leaves with organic insecticides such as olive oil soap to prevent mealybug infestations.
Red Spider Mites: Fuzzy Balls
Solution
● Manual removal of affected areas using a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
● Spraying affected areas with diluted neem oil or apple cider vinegar to kill remaining pests.
Prevention
● Regularly inspect plants and immediately treat any red spider mites found.
● Increasing air circulation and humidity by placing plants in a moist, well-ventilated environment to reduce the number of red spider mites.
Mineral Deposits
Did you know that Jade Plants store water in their leaves? If the soil has too much salt or if you use alkaline water to water it, the leaves will get rid of the extra salt through transpiration. However, these evaporated salts will leave behind white residues on the leaves, appearing as white spots.
Solution
● Gently wipe with a damp cloth.
● Water the jade plant with distilled or filtered water to avoid mineral accumulation.
Prevention
● Water the jade plant with distilled or filtered water to avoid mineral accumulation.
● Maintain moderation in watering, follow the specific watering needs of the plant, and ensure plant pots have sufficient drainage holes.
Fungal Infections (Powdery Mildew)
Fungi primarily cause powdery mildew in low-light, high-humidity, and low-temperature environments.
Powdery mildew on succulents can appear in several different ways. Powdery white coating on leaves and stems may occur on the outer shell or membrane of leaves and stems, sometimes with extreme color changes from green to yellow or red.
Symptoms of powdery mildew include the formation of white, powdery, or patchy spots on leaves and stems - which look like dust and can be wiped off. It usually appears first on the bottom of the plant and spreads upward until all parts are affected. The difference between powdery mildew and other white spot causes is that it has fluffy fungus in later stages.
Solution
● Prune affected Jade Plant leaves and isolated them to prevent fungal spread.
● Spraying infected plants with a mixture of 15ml baking soda, 5ml soap, and three to four liters of water, stirred evenly, can be sprayed once every seven days on plants infected with powdery mildew.
● In extreme cases, use systemic fungicides (such as Phyton-27) to treat the remaining surviving plants.
Prevention
● Avoid overwatering and maintain good air circulation around plants.
● Provide adequate sunlight and a warm environment for live succulents.
● Regularly clean weeds and fallen leaves around plants to reduce the spread of fungal pathogens.
Sunburn
Leaves of Jade Plants exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods will gradually turn from yellowor white to dark reddish-brown, and sunburned spots will eventually become crispy and fall off the plant, which is irreversible. Spots may appear anywhere on the leaves or any part. Usually, spots appear first on the tips of leaves, as they are the parts exposed to the sun.
Solution
● Position the plant in a partially shaded area and promptly remove damaged leaves to promote healthy growth and aesthetics.
Prevention
● Remember to place the Jade Plant in bright, indirect sunlight in the summer afternoon to protect it from intense sun exposure.
● Gradually acclimate Jade Plant to brighter light conditions to prevent sudden sunburns.
Regularly checking Jade Plant for pest, disease, and environmental stress issues allows for timely resolution and maintenance of plant health and appearance. Additionally, providing Jade Plant with 6 hours of solid sunlight exposure, temperatures between 65°F and 75°F, moderate watering and fertilization, and a well-ventilated environment helps prevent white spots on Jade Plant leaves.
