My Trumpet Jade Plant is Sick

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Plantloverdeb Woodstock, MD Feb 26, 2015

My trumpet jade has the trumpets falling off in bunches and I do not know what to do. I have it in my office. Here us a picture about two months ago, but now if it is touched lightly, the trumpets just fall off. Can someone help me please please.

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Vestia San Francisco, CA Feb 26, 2015

First, your plant is Crassula 'Gollum'. Then, I would guess the basic problem is a lack of light, coupled with too much water. This combination of conditions often produces branch shedding.
The first thing to do is move it to a sunny window (such as you have in Feb. in MD). Don't water for a while (like until May). More branches will still fall before it stabilizes, but don't panic. When the long days of summer return it will be fine again.
This is such a common thing it should be a sticky at the top of many forums.

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Baja_Costero Baja California, Mexico(Zone 11) Mar 01, 2015

As I understand the original post, the problem is not branch shedding but leaf shedding (as the leaves on a Gollum do look a little like trumpets). In that case the problem could be the opposite, not enough water, as the plant will tend to let go of its leaves in response to drought. A current picture might help sort this out.

How are you watering the plant and how much light does it get?

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tapla Bay City, MI(Zone 6a) Mar 01, 2015

Both under-watering and over-watering produce the same drought response in this plant, made manifest in part by shedding of foliage. A high level of TDS/EC (salts in the soil) can cause the same response, but leaves would usually give a good indication this issue is in play before they are shed. Tight roots can also tend to force the plant to shed interior foliage, leaving the plant with concentrations of leaves near apices (branch tips). Changes in light levels or photo-exposure can also cause defoliation, particularly in instances where there is a decrease in light. Increases in light are better tolerated, but can still cause defoliation.

Often, determining what the issue IS, involves eliminating what it IS NOT. If you play the odds, odds are it's related to over-watering. If you're watering the plant while the soil is still moist to a finger plunged into the pot, you're probably over-watering. Test the moisture level deep in the pot with a wood dowel rod (cheap - buy at a hardware) about the thickness of a pencil and sharpened in a pencil sharpener. Insert a sharpened end deep in the pot. If it comes out moist, dark, or cool to the touch - no need to water. You might also be able to check for moisture at the drain hole. If a shred of paper towel of tissue paper is moist when pressed up into the drain hole - no need to water.

Al

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