giant, gorgeous Jade in peril

Aaryn

I have 2 jade bonsai at home, but this concerns a plant that is not mine, but I'm in charge of taking care of. It's also not being kept as a bonsai, just a gorgeous plant.

My boss keeps his jade, which measures approximately 4 feet from pot rim to apex, and about 4 or 5 feet in diameter, in the office I manage. Since July I've kept it up fine. But lately, since early December or so, it has started shedding branches at what I think is an alarming rate, and one whole side of it is withering depsite my attempts to keep it hydrated. The other side looks gorgeous.

The plant is circular, so there's no front really and I rotate it so everything gets sunlight once in a while.

Help! I would hate to see this beauty go (and the look on my boss' face if it does!).

Photos on the way, but it only looks like it needs water.... on one side only tho??

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badlad52

more than likely the roots are rotting. these plants require very little water! let it dry out COMPLETELY before you water again, and new roots should begin to grow on that side....

Aaron_K

Hi Aaryn,

If you could post a picture (close ups) it would really help people to give you some specific advice.

In the absense of a photo - have you checked the soil a couple of inches below the surface? Is it very wet? Is it dry? Does it contain a lot of organic material and is compact? Are there drainage holes at the bottom of the pot? Is the tree located near to a heater or radiator? Is there an insect infestation in that area or mold?

My guess based purely on what you have said is that as its withering on one side, and being that its winter, the tree is getting baked by a heat source such as a radiator. Run through the questions above and hopefully some solid advise can be offered.

All the best,

Aaron

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TreeBay

I don't have any jades, but knowing their requirement for excellent drainage and how easy it is to get crown rot if it isn't draining well, this statement is a little alarming.

Regards,

Matt

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Aaryn

Darnm.

Can't see the soil because the trunks are so crowded together and dropped leaves create about an inch of cover. But it doesn't have good drainage. One hole in the bottom of the pot and water never leaks through. It sits next to a window, no heater around. At some of the trunk bases, there are delicate, little cobweb-looking things.

What do I do?

pootsie

Aaryn:

The delicate cobweb thingies are a sure sign of too much moisture in the soil. This I know, even though I have no experience with jade. No tree wants soil that mushy all the time.

Here's a thread with advice from some who know:
http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthr...&highlight=jade

pootsie

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node

Dry air, low light, too little water, all these things jade tolerates pretty well, but it can't stand being wet. I agree with badlad on this, it's the roots in all likelihood. Letting it dry out completely would be one way to go, and I'd even be willing to stick my head out, and say this is one of those times a repot would be in order, regardless of the tree's bad health.

Stefan

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ALDEVAUX

For a tree to have reached the size you mention, it must have been kept in a very good growing condition for many years.The person who was looking after it before you must have a lot of experience in growing jades and should normally know exacly what went wrong with it.
Is it possible for you to question that person ? Or did your boss give you some instructions of how to maintain the tree during his absence ?
There are lots of possibilities of what could have happened to that tree :Too much water, as was mentionned; a cold draft from the window that was left opened for too long; or someone, who does not like your boss and decided to put some sort of chemical or other stuff in the soil which are killing the roots etc...
You definitely need to get information from the person who was looking after it before you.

Aaron_K

LOL. Perhaps its a conspiracy. Maybe someone is poisoning the tree so that it looks like you killed it, so your boss fires you and they get your job!!

What? Come on. I mean if you don't get fired for killing the bosses tree... what do you get fired for?? Well apart from being caught on the photocopier with his secretary

All the best,

Aaron

__________________
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode

Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores!

"A fox may change its skin but never its character"